Manama - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Crime isn't a major concern, occasionally one hears of the attempted purse snatching. People will definitely try and steal your mobile phone if you leave it unattended. However, Bahrain, like most of the GCC is basically a police state, and it's also an island. You won't get away with serious crimes, so people generally don't try. Murder is rare, and guns are unheard of.
There is a considerable risk for a terror attack. ISIS has threatened to strike Bahrain. Since the Arab spring there are weekly protests in Shia neighborhoods, resulting in clashes between the police and young men. Cars often get burnt, and there is a police presence everywhere. It generally won't affect the areas that expats frequent, but if you happen to make a wrong turn, you could end up in the crossfire between police and protesters. Luckily the protesters don't have guns, but they do have Molotov cocktails, and rocks. The police fire rubber bullets and tear gas - just be mindful of your surroundings at all times. - Apr 2017
The shia routinely protest the government with tire fires on the road and throwing Molotov cocktails at the police. They do not pose a threat to expats though. I do not feel unsafe here at all. If anything it is just annoying when you get stuck in traffic because of a protest. Mostly easy to avoid by just avoiding shia areas (no reason to go to them generally). - Sep 2016
There are areas we cannot go to but for the most part I feel extremely safe here. The police are very good and are all over to keep things under control. It used to be much worse here, but as of now, it is good. There are protests occassionally but the RSO is great at notifying us, and they are usually in spots we arent supposed to go anyways. - Nov 2015
MANY. When we first arrived in Bahrain, it was very safe and you could pretty much go anywhere, anytime. All that changed on Feb. 14, 2011 when the Bahrain Arab Spring began. Since then, life has gotten horrible for expats. Many Western expats evacuated to Dubai. U.S. Embassy went on authorized departure for 3 months. Embassy personnel were moved to safer neighborhoods after we were getting tear-gassed on a nightly basis. When we left in late 2012, things were stabilized to what is now referred to as "the new normal". Embassy personnel are severely restricted in freedom of movement. About half the island is now off-limits. Despite taking all recommended precautions, we were twice caught in the middle of violent demonstrations. In one incident, police on one side of the street were firing tear gas and rubber bullets over our car, while protestors on the other side of the road were hurling rocks and debris at police. - Aug 2014
Since February 2011, there have been ongoing and frequent clashes between protesters and police. These take place in a few key spots on the island which you can mostly avoid, especially by following the daily announcements from the US Embassy. Protesters burn tires, block traffic, and throw Molotov cocktails; police respond by blocking access to the neighborhoods and using tear gas to dispel the groups. To this date, protesters have not targeted Westerners. In many ways it feels as though there are two Bahrains – the bubble we live in on the Western side of the island and these Shia village hotspots where there is nightly activity. At present I feel completely safe and experience only occasional inconveniences from the political unrest. There was an authorized evacuation from March to May 2011 but it’s back to business as usual now. Earlier this year, the US Embassy moved families that were near protest areas to quieter neighborhoods (Jasra/Hamala and Janabiya) so that we would not be affected by the tear gas and road blocks. - Sep 2012
Bahrain suffers from seemingly cyclic tensions between the Shia majority and the Sunni ruling Muslim sects. We see an increase in anti government demonstrations and tire burnings during the cooler weather. This can result in violence, but it is almost never directed at expats. It's wise to keep away from it if you can avoid it. It's a bit scary to be stuck in traffic near burning tires and chanting kids. - Apr 2010
It is fairly safe here. I do not go out much late at night. Not too much petty crime, but car accidents are daily events, and you will have at least a fender-bender during your tour. - Jun 2009
Not really. Small country, crime is there but largely limited to theft and not really murders or violent crime. - Dec 2008
