The dinar is the official currency used in Bahrain. The standard code for this currency is BHD. The dinar is sub-divided into 100 fils, which makes it a decimal system.
The dinar was first introduced in 1965. It was brought in to replace the Gulf rupee, which had been the standard unit of currency. The Gulf rupee had also been known as the Persian Gulf rupee and this was the standard currency used in the differing countries of both the Persian Gulf and the Arabian peninsula. The Persian Gulf rupee was issued, somewhat ironically by the government of India and it was in circulation between 1959 and 1966.
The rupee's origins stem from the fact that the Indian rupee was used quite widely as a standard currency within many of the countries located on the Persian Gulf or Arabian Peninsula. Given this widespread use, the Indian government found that gold smuggling was putting pressure on Indian foreign reserves. So it introduced the Persian Gulf rupee for use outside of India.
And so Bahrain used the Persian and Gulf rupee until it became an independent state in the year 1965.
Coins are issued in denominations of 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 and 500 fils. Initially a coin with the value of 1 fils was issued, but this is no longer in circulation.
Notes are available in denominations of ½, 1,5,10 and 20 dinar.
The notes are issued by the Central Bank of Bahrain.
Most people travelling to Bahrain will exchange money at the airport. Here there is a wide variety of exchange bureaus available. If this is not convenient then it is possible, to go into any of the major towns including Manama, which is the capital of Bahrain and you can exchange money there.
One issue that you should be aware of is that banks tend to open from 7.30 in the morning and then close at 2:00pm. The days of opening are Sundays till Wednesday but some banks may be open from 7.30 in the morning until or 1 pm on a Thursday. So don't try to use the bank after 2 pm. No banks are open on Fridays or Saturdays
ATM's can be found throughout Bahrain and accept most major credit cards, however, before you travel you should ensure that you can actually use your credit card in Bahrain, just to be on the safe side.
There are no restrictions on how much money you can take in or out of the country, but travellers cheques are much more secure than carrying large amounts of cash.
Most of the shops in the larger shopping centres will accept credit cards as well, but if you are going into the souks to do some shopping, then you will find that you have to pay in cash.
Crime rates are actually very low in Bahrain. Although crime does exist it is not a serious problem in Bahrain. On occasions travellers may report did they have been the victim of a pick pocket or that they have had their bags snatched, but in reality this is very much a rarity and crime rates really are very low. Bahrain is very keen to welcome people into the country and therefore any one perpetrating a crime against a traveller would experience a very harsh sentence. But this seems to work and certainly keeps crime levels down.
However whenever you are in a taxi, then you should be a little bit vigilant. Taxi-drivers in Bahrain seem to often be a little unscrupulous and they may try to overcharge you for your journey. Sometimes they may take you a very long route or have been known to drive someone round in circles whilst obscuring the meter with a tissue box……
But compared with many other countries that you may travel to, Bahrain really is extremely safe.
The culture of Bahrain is one that you should acquaint yourself with prior to visiting the country. It is a tolerant country, but you should remember that it is predominantly a Muslim country, which means that drinking is not allowed in public.
It is also an offence to be drunk in public and if you are found to be drunk in public then you will be arrested, thrown in jail and you will face a heavy fine. Drinking and driving is also against the law and if you are found to have alcohol in your system whilst driving, then again you will be arrested, you will be sent to jail, for possibly a week or two and you'll also face a heavy fine. So, it really is not worth the risk.
Women should also be aware that certain standards of dress are expected. Women are not expected to cover themselves from head to toe, but they are expected to dress somewhat modestly by Western standards. This means that arms should not be exposed and skirts should not be very short mini-skirts. In public areas it is also considered quite rude and offensive to show off a lot of cleavage. In souks and areas where there may be a lot of men in the vicinity, women should also dress respectfully and not show off a great deal of their bodies.
Do not attempt to take people's pictures without their express permission. This is particularly important where women are concerned, since many will object to having their photograph taken. So be careful where you take photos.
If someone offers you a cup of tea or coffee it is considered very impolite if you refuse, so you should always try to drink it.
People will only pass things or eat with their right hand in Bahrain, because the left hand is seen as unclean so, it is considered to be polite to only used to your right hand when passing something to someone, even money.
There is plenty of different things to do and see when you are in Bahrain. One of the most striking aspects of Bahrain is the fact that it is a very wealthy country. It is one of the busiest tourist destinations in the whole of the Middle East and is host to around 2 million visitors every year.
Many of these visitors come from the Arab states located in the Persian Gulf, but increasingly more and more visitors are coming from Europe.
One of the main attractions for visitors is the in Bahrain Grand Prix which is the first Formula One Grand Prix to be staged in the Middle-East. This is an annual event and it attracts tourists from all over the world.
Bahrain has many sites of cultural interest, including various castles and palaces which offer a fascinating insight into both past and present life in Bahrain.
Some of the buildings in Bahrain are quite stupendous and very modern with some amazing hotels, apartments and villas which have recently been completed.
In the marinas you will see some amazing yachts as well as some very rich people, so it is worth taking a stroll down and to see how the other half live.
The souks in Bahrain are well worth a visit, just to see how many different things are on offer and the hustle and bustle of such a lively market. For those who like their shopping experience to be just that little bit more modern there are lots of shops and shopping centres where you can buy designer outfits right down to chain-store (and cheaper) clothes.
Some of the shops are quite specialist and they may carry hand-made rugs imported from Iran and other parts of the Middle East as well as Afghanistan and India. These may not be cheap but they are generally much more affordable than if you are buying them in Europe.
People in the Middle East tend to value gold and so some of the jewellery on offer is absolutely beautiful. It is not cheap but it tends to be of a much higher quality and to have more gold in it than anything that you may buy in Europe. So if funds permit, jewellery can be quite a shrewd investment.
There are lots of places to go to enjoy some fabulous food. Even though Bahrain is a Muslim country there are lots of different types of cuisine on offer throughout most of Bahrain. You can eat Indian, French, Mexican, Japanese or Italian. In fact you can almost eat any type of cuisine here. McDonald's has even arrived in Bahrain as well as Kentucky Fried Chicken!
Not all restaurants in Bahrain will serve alcohol and you should be aware that pork is never eaten because it is contrary to Islamic beliefs.
Some of the local dishes tend to be orientated towards fish and there are a great many fish and seafood restaurants which offer fantastic dishes of freshly caught fish, so you should try some of these.
With almost 162kms of coastline, Bahrain can offer a really different holiday to anyone who is interested in experiencing different ways of life. Although it is a Muslim country, it has a reputation as being one of the most liberal within the Middle-East. This makes it the ideal place to visit if you are interested in what life is like within a Muslim country, but you don't want sacrifice creature comforts or having a drink or just being able to relax.
Due to the low crime levels, it is a lovely place to visit in terms of feeling safe and secure and not having to worry too much about your valuables being stolen or someone trying to get money from you.
It does have a very Middle Eastern feel to it and yet you are surrounded by the most impressive modern buildings, which gives Bahrain a really cosmopolitan feel. At times you feel you could be in Europe and yet you are in the heart of the Middle East.
So to get a feel for the Middle-East, Bahrain really is the ideal choice to see whether or not you fall in love with the Middle East. Most visitors do and can't wait to return.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahraini_Dinar
http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/bahrain