Rules & Regulations
Below are some useful road rules that you should make sure that you are aware of before you start your journey in Bahrain.
- Drive on the right-hand side.
- Seatbelts are compulsory for the driver and the front-seat passenger. However, you should ensure that all passengers wear a seat belt when travelling.
- Small children and babies must be seated in the back of the vehicle.
- The use of mobile phones whilst driving is not allowed unless you have a hands free set attached.
- It is prohibited to drink and drive in Bahrain. The permitted blood alcohol level is 0.0%.
- Eating, drinking, and smoking are prohibited whilst driving.
- At roundabouts, drivers must give right of way to vehicles inside the roundabout.
- If a driver wants to turn left at a roundabout or go back the way he came, he must hold the left lane.
- It is not permitted to turn right on a red traffic light.
- At red traffic lights, drivers should always stop their cars behind the white line since most traffic lights on main roads and highways have road sensors behind the white line.
- Drivers who flash their vehicles high light beam usually want to pass.
- Parking on the road is not permitted except in marked bays.
- Drivers should pay attention to the painted arrows on the lane; they indicate directions possible from the lane.
- Even at a green light, intersection with yellow markings should not be crossed if exits or turns are blocked due to congestion.
Please make sure that you are aware of all the road regulations before you start driving in Bahrain.
Speed Limits
| Within city limits | 60 kph (37 mph) |
| Outside city limits | 80-100 kph (50-62 mph) |
| Motorways | 120 kph (75 mph) |
Things to Bring Along
It is compulsory to have the following equipment with you when driving in Bahrain:
- Full UK driver’s licence
- International driving permit
Additional Information
Drivers must carry their driver licences with them at all times.
The traffic police phone number is 199.
In case of emergency, you can call 999.
In the case of non-injury accidents, drivers should get their vehicles off the road and call the police. They will be directed to one of the centres to file the accident report which must be filed within 24 hours of the accident. Drivers are be not allowed to leave Bahrain until the matter is resolved if an accident results in legal proceedings.
Drivers in Bahrain use a danger signal (a.k.a. Double Signal) to indicate immediate stopping or a hazard ahead (such as an accident, or obstacle in the middle of the street.)
Directional and advice signs are written in Arabic and English languages.
Bahrain has a good system of major highways. All highways have street lighting.
Sixt has 6 branches in the capital city of Manama including one located at Bahrain International Airport.
