![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S5FEHHSZH7TVIRDQ2W6NDGALV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e041f45246f77dd015099bab03eabd644b6e3099a8c894742c9d11e950001213&width=400&height=225)
Once travel restrictions are removed, many thousands of visitors are expected to cross into Bahrain and provide a timely boost to its tourism and hospitality sector. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YWJF4SIMECDRBQ6PVCKNHVO6GQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ca67644c11dd7d2e81e97d5632e354b227a5584fe45f3d7badfe14fdf5e974e&width=400&height=225)
King Fahd Causeway completes preparations to receive travelers between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. SPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SZDSF2JUGSVU3MHS2XOHBHCKPE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e25dab585df29a39ba2488baa9185b6b1cb1885a4c6ffc883d9ff6f2f9b5327&width=400&height=225)
King Fahd Causeway completes preparations to receive travelers between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. SPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H6SZ2XCEY3QAIO2EBHQ5ZZJ43M.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec7a952695481f973979384d395ac6199c859d6d5393bfa8bae8d843473d624e&width=400&height=225)
King Fahd Causeway completes preparations to receive travelers between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. SPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CB4MTAI2GBE5OVNPQFVGGX2XAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd020a04e3206f53f88525a1185622940684576be179367491fdd7e16e54abc8&width=400&height=225)
The King Fahd Causeway links Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. It was due to re-open on March 31, but the date has been pushed back to May 17. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SGZE5X4E274UED2J33VBGKNL6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=5e6308dcf87788203a907bfd087065bfec7f729ac843ac84ec0b78d1f4459787&width=400&height=225)
A satellite view of the King Fahd Causeway. The causeway has been closed since March 8 last year, under restrictions in Bahrain to control the spread of coronavirus. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PZEXTMZJKKOYVQ7HM5WS6IOYCQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=9dc0fa734ddb219da8542969e73c9a7026a63fa870bb80c2ff99c99c6fdfb4ba&width=400&height=225)
Prior to the pandemic, Bahrain welcomed around 11 million tourists a year - with more than 88 per cent arriving across the causeway. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K4PJUGG2MAMRSNCA4UAMJ37KHU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e4259a6e6494fe8935d54367252b5152218d6ce2473feeba3d37378db28bfb60&width=400&height=225)
A view of the causeway from the King Fahd Causeway Observation Tower in Bahrain. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/46DYEHKUZDURHND74GSAWQJIWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=612176acbbbf8432df35d3d61f9dc58971e4f7081d8559c8ac26652695450ed6&width=400&height=225)
The King Fahd Causeway linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. This is the view towards Saudi Arabia from the mid-point services area. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S5FEHHSZH7TVIRDQ2W6NDGALV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e041f45246f77dd015099bab03eabd644b6e3099a8c894742c9d11e950001213&width=400&height=225)
Once travel restrictions are removed, many thousands of visitors are expected to cross into Bahrain and provide a timely boost to its tourism and hospitality sector. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YWJF4SIMECDRBQ6PVCKNHVO6GQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6ca67644c11dd7d2e81e97d5632e354b227a5584fe45f3d7badfe14fdf5e974e&width=400&height=225)
King Fahd Causeway completes preparations to receive travelers between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. SPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SZDSF2JUGSVU3MHS2XOHBHCKPE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e25dab585df29a39ba2488baa9185b6b1cb1885a4c6ffc883d9ff6f2f9b5327&width=400&height=225)
King Fahd Causeway completes preparations to receive travelers between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. SPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H6SZ2XCEY3QAIO2EBHQ5ZZJ43M.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec7a952695481f973979384d395ac6199c859d6d5393bfa8bae8d843473d624e&width=400&height=225)
King Fahd Causeway completes preparations to receive travelers between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. SPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CB4MTAI2GBE5OVNPQFVGGX2XAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd020a04e3206f53f88525a1185622940684576be179367491fdd7e16e54abc8&width=400&height=225)
The King Fahd Causeway links Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. It was due to re-open on March 31, but the date has been pushed back to May 17. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SGZE5X4E274UED2J33VBGKNL6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=5e6308dcf87788203a907bfd087065bfec7f729ac843ac84ec0b78d1f4459787&width=400&height=225)
A satellite view of the King Fahd Causeway. The causeway has been closed since March 8 last year, under restrictions in Bahrain to control the spread of coronavirus. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PZEXTMZJKKOYVQ7HM5WS6IOYCQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=9dc0fa734ddb219da8542969e73c9a7026a63fa870bb80c2ff99c99c6fdfb4ba&width=400&height=225)
Prior to the pandemic, Bahrain welcomed around 11 million tourists a year - with more than 88 per cent arriving across the causeway. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K4PJUGG2MAMRSNCA4UAMJ37KHU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e4259a6e6494fe8935d54367252b5152218d6ce2473feeba3d37378db28bfb60&width=400&height=225)
A view of the causeway from the King Fahd Causeway Observation Tower in Bahrain. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/46DYEHKUZDURHND74GSAWQJIWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=612176acbbbf8432df35d3d61f9dc58971e4f7081d8559c8ac26652695450ed6&width=400&height=225)
The King Fahd Causeway linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. This is the view towards Saudi Arabia from the mid-point services area. Alamy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S5FEHHSZH7TVIRDQ2W6NDGALV4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e041f45246f77dd015099bab03eabd644b6e3099a8c894742c9d11e950001213&width=400&height=225)
Once travel restrictions are removed, many thousands of visitors are expected to cross into Bahrain and provide a timely boost to its tourism and hospitality sector. Getty Images
Reopening of Bahrain to Saudi Arabia route promises billion-dollar boost
King Fahd Causeway offers the prospect of huge tourism influx, but opening delayed until May 17
![Nick Webster](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F9cfba7f3-8cc8-4789-bcec-97bd0007d9ef.png?smart=true&auth=96a9a5766af20e4704e52306e74ecd02669a7e0ffd084d4151d31e0039a945d3&width=70&height=70)
Nick Webster
16 February, 2021
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