King Fahd Causeway could re-open by July end, with strict protocols

TDT | Manama

The King Fahd Causeway connecting Bahrain with Saudi Arabia is likely to re-open to travellers by the end of this month, with strict protocols in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported yesterday.

The international Arabic-language daily said that it was discussed during a high-level government meeting to possibly open the bridge to traffic from both sides on July 27. Since the causeway was first closed in early March to mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak, the tourism sector in the Kingdom has been awaiting its reopening to welcome back visitors travelling from or through Saudi.

With the easing of restrictions in GCC countries, including Bahrain, the tourism industry is hopeful of bouncing back. The sector, according to the Economic Development Board (EDB), contributes 6.3 per cent of Bahrain’s GDP, with annual revenues of about $13billion.

EDB statistics estimate that a daily average of 75,000 travellers frequent the King Fahd Causeway. In 2019, 88 per cent of Bahrain’s visitors were from Saudi (approximately nine million out of 11million)