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CT Insight Report: What’s new in Bahrain?
Kingdom targets 52% rise in passenger traffic in 2026
Bahrain ranks among the top five inbound markets in the GCC region, according to the 2026 Connecting Travel Insight Report, with data from travel analytics firms RateHawk and Emerging Travel Group.
Following record passenger traffic in 2025, Bahrain’s 2026-27 National Aviation Strategy targets a 52% increase in volume and an expanded network from 66 to 100 destinations by 2030. The plan is backed by new partnerships with business-class airline Beond, which will base up to 10 aircraft in the kingdom, and The Helicopter Company, set to introduce helicopter transfers between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
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Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air, also continues to strengthen links between the kingdom and major international hubs, introducing its first-ever transatlantic flight in October 2025 to New York’s JFK International Airport. For summer 2026, the airline is launching seasonal flights to Málaga in Spain and Al Alamein in Egypt. Málaga services will run until 25 September, while Al Alamein will operate until 30 August.
The hospitality pipeline, from 2024 to 2026, has added more than 3,000 rooms across 16 properties, including new waterfront resorts at Bilaj Al Jazayer and Shangri‐La at Bahrain Marina, while Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain earned a Michelin Key.
Key Developments
Bahrain Surf Park – Club Hawaii Experience
Set to host 300,000 visitors a year, Bahrain’s first surf park will be home to a Wavegarden‐powered lagoon generating 1,000 waves per hour, as well as a coaching academy.
Tivoli & Avani Bilaj Al Jazayer Bahrain Resorts
Minor Hotels will open two adjacent properties in Bahrain’s newest beachfront destination in late 2026, bringing 210 keys to the sands with shared wellness and family-friendly amenities.
Bahrain’s Best Restaurant
Named Bahrain’s Best Restaurant in MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 list, Greek concept Lyra at Vida Beach Resort on Manama’s Marassi Beach is the place to go for Friday brunch.
Accommodation Performance
The accommodation sector posted slight growth between 2024 and 2025, reflecting longer trip durations and increased visitor expenditure, with Average Daily Rate (ADR) increasing by nearly 6% year-on-year.
Want to know more?
This feature is an extract from the Connecting Travel Insight Report 2026. With exclusive data from industry heavyweights RateHawk and Emerging Travel Group, the 35-page report forecasts key developments in the GCC travel and tourism sector as well as revealing this year’s top 10 outbound destinations for GCC travellers, providing a roadmap to new opportunities. Get your complimentary copy here today.
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