King Fahd Passport Island, or simply Passport Island, is an artificial island partitioned between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in the Gulf of Bahrain. Spread across 2.5 km (1.6 mi), it serves as the sole border crossing between the two countries and is used for connecting Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province to Bahrain's Northern Governorate through the King Fahd Causeway.

King Fahd Passport Island
Native name:
جزيرة الملك فهد
Signboard displayed while heading into Bahrain through the Saudi customs, 2023
King Fahd Passport Island is located in Bahrain
King Fahd Passport Island
King Fahd Passport Island
Location of King Fahd Passport Island in Bahrain
Geography
LocationGulf of Bahrain
Coordinates26°11′02″N 50°19′26″E / 26.184°N 50.324°E / 26.184; 50.324
ArchipelagoBahrain
Adjacent toPersian Gulf
Area0.88 km2 (0.34 sq mi)
Length2.5 km (1.55 mi)
Width0.6 km (0.37 mi)
Highest elevation3 m (10 ft)
Administration
GovernorateNorthern Governorate
Largest settlementBorder Station (pop. 10)
RegionEastern Province
Demographics
DemonymBahraini
Population10 (2016)
Pop. density11/km2 (28/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsBahraini, non-Bahraini
Additional information
Time zone
ISO codeBH-14
Official websitewww.kfca.com.sa

History

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The King Fahd Causeway opened in 1986 and included the building of the artificial island. Its route was chosen as the shortest path between the island of Bahrain and mainland Saudi Arabia. It is named after King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, then ruler of Saudi Arabia.

Geography

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The island is located on the King Fahd Causeway. The artificial island is also named Middle Island, Embankment 4. The buildings of King Fahd Causeway Authority and other government Directorates were erected on the Border Station, as well as two mosques, two Coast Guard towers and two 65-metre-high (213 ft) tower restaurants. The border station also has extensive landscaping all around the islands in addition to the services and road stations.

The Border Station was designed as two islands connected by an isthmus, with the west side designated as Saudi Arabian and the east as Bahraini.[1]

Demography

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The only inhabited place is the staff building on the center of the island. The staff belong to the King Fahd Causeway Authority.

Administration

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The island belongs to the Northern Governorate in Bahrain, and the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia.

Transportation

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The causeway has two segments from the island:

  1. From the Border Station to Al-Aziziyyah, south of Khobar.
  2. From the Border Station to Nasan Island in Bahrain.

Economics

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The inhabitants on the island are engaged in Ministry duties for incoming citizens and visitors to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The Saudi side of the border station has outlets of McDonald's and Kudu and the Bahraini side of the border station has a McDonald's outlet.

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References

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