What to do in Bahrain

If you’ve ever hesitated before asking an AI assistant something personal, WhatsApp is about to release a new feature that might make those chats feel a lot more comfortable. Incognito Chat is a new private mode for AI conversations on WhatsApp and Meta AI app. The feature focuses on privacy, especially for people using AI for sensitive topics like finances, health questions, work issues, or personal decisions. According to Meta, conversations inside Incognito Chat stay completely private. The company says nobody else can view the chats, including the company itself. Messages are not stored, and chats disappear automatically by default....

Bahrain has officially declared Thursday, May 1, 2025, as a public holiday in observance of Labour Day. The announcement came through a circular issued by Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, confirming that all ministries and public institutions will remain closed for the day. Labour Day, also known as International Workers’ Day or May Day, is recognised globally in over 80 countries. Held annually on May 1, the day pays tribute to the contributions and rights of workers, highlighting the importance of fair labour practices and social protections in the workforce. The holiday provides...

Paying for apps usually comes down to two choices. Pay for a full year upfront and save, or pay monthly and spend more over time. Apple makes that choice easier with a new option that splits a yearly plan into monthly payments, with the same annual price. Annual subscriptions usually come with better pricing, but paying for a full year in one go isn’t always easy, especially for expensive apps. Monthly plans solve that problem, but they cost more. Here’s how the new option from Apple works: You sign up for a yearly subscription The total is divided into 12...

Public sector employees in Bahrain can start planning for a long Eid Al Adha 2026 break. HRH Prince Salman officially announced the holiday dates for ministries and public institutions. The Eid Al Adha holiday in Bahrain will begin on Tuesday, May 26 and continue until Friday, May 29. Since Friday falls during the holiday period, Sunday, May 31 will also be given as a compensation day off. It means a six-day long weekend during the Eid holiday period. If you’re looking for festive ideas and things to do during the long weekend, check out best places to visit during Eid...

Bahrain has been selected by FIBA (International Basketball Federation) to host the 14th 3x3 Basketball World Tour Final. This exciting event will take place on November 21-22, 2025, in Manama. It’s the grand finale of a global tour that will visit 15 cities across three continents before wrapping up in Bahrain. Bahrain has successfully hosted this tournament for the past two years, earning recognition as a trusted destination for international sports events. Alaa Madar, President of the Bahrain Basketball Federation, highlighted that this achievement shows the country’s growing role in global sports. He also acknowledged the efforts of Sheikh Khalid...

The FIFA World Cup always takes over everything else happening that year. Now the 2026 edition has a huge surprise for music fans too. Nobody knows yet which national teams will battle for the trophy in the final, but FIFA has just revealed who’s taking the stage for the halftime show and the lineup is massive. BTS, Madonna, and Shakira will co-headline the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show on July 19 at New York-New Jersey Stadium. Shakira is also returning to the World Cup with brand-new music. The singer released a new FIFA anthem called Dai Dai on...

If you use WhatsApp and want better visuals and a few extra features, you might get that soon. It looks like a premium version called WhatsApp Plus is now in testing. The feature has been spotted in the Android beta version of the app, where a limited number of users can already try it. Right now, it's only available to a small group of Android beta users. There’s no iOS version yet, and no confirmed date for a wider release. Here’s what’s currently included in this version: Premium stickers Custom themes Custom app icons More pinned chats Premium ringtones Extra...

If you’ve ever been stuck in the long lines on the King Fahd Causeway, you’ll probably understand why this story is making waves online. A commuter recently shared how he managed to skip all the traffic while traveling from Khobar to Bahrain, thanks to a brand-new Express Lane — and it cost him SAR 230 (BHD 23). This new feature is part of a trial project on the Saudi side of the Causeway aimed at making cross-border trips much faster. The system relies on smart cameras at the customs gates that handle self-clearing before leading drivers directly to passport control....

The GCC Railway is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the region — a 2,117-kilometre high-speed rail network set to connect key cities across the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries. While the vision is bold, bringing it to life is proving to be a complex and multifaceted undertaking. According to SYSTRA, a global expert in mobility solutions and a key player in the Etihad Rail development, cross-border high-speed rail (HSR) systems come with layers of logistical, technical, and political complexity. HSR networks promise plenty — shorter travel times, economic growth, environmental benefits, and tighter...

Eid Al Fitr is coming up soon, and if you plan wisely, you can turn it into a long, relaxing break. With just two days of annual leave, residents in Bahrain could enjoy a full nine-day holiday. Sounds tempting, right? Eid Al Fitr will likely start on either Sunday, March 30, or Monday, March 31, 2025. By strategically using your annual leave days, you can extend your holiday from a few days to over a week. Here’s how: If Eid starts on Sunday and ends on Tuesday, take annual leave on Wednesday and Thursday. If Eid starts on Monday and...