Private jet to Bahrain

Bahrain is a small island kingdom in the middle of the Gulf, joined to Saudi Arabia by the King Fahd Causeway. Private traffic comes for banking and business meetings in Manama, for the Formula 1 race at Sakhir in spring, for the Bahrain International Airshow every two years in November, and as a base for trips to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Doha or Kuwait, all about an hour or less away.

Every private flight lands at Bahrain International on Muharraq island, about 6 km from central Manama, the only civil airport in the country. It works 24 hours, its main runway of almost 4,000 m takes any business jet, and private passengers clear passport control in a VIP terminal. As a broker, we compare aircraft from operators in Europe and the Gulf and coordinate the landing permit, the handler and the visas.

Send the route, the dates, the number of passengers and whether the trip continues to Saudi Arabia or Qatar. A consultant replies with aircraft, permit timing and price.

Reasons to fly in privately

Prices for private flights to Bahrain

All rows end at Bahrain International. A price covers the whole aircraft one way, assuming one is free near the departure airport; the landing permit, handling, VIP terminal, airport charges and taxes are extra. Times refer to the first aircraft of the row.

From the European hubs

The Praetor 600 flies every row non-stop: EUR 37,000 from Vienna and EUR 40,000 from Munich or Milan; from London it takes 6:53 h for EUR 47,000. The Falcon 2000LXS, with a stand-up cabin and room for up to ten, costs EUR 53,000 from Vienna and EUR 64,000 from London. From Larnaca the trip takes 2:51 h for EUR 23,000.

From Istanbul, Athens and eastern Europe

From Istanbul a Citation Latitude costs EUR 25,000 for 3:43 h. Warsaw - Bahrain takes 5:19 h in the same aircraft, close to its range with a full cabin, and a Challenger 350 at EUR 39,000 gives more reserve.

Short flights across the Gulf

Typical hops to the Saudi east coast, Qatar, Riyadh, Kuwait and the UAE:

Dammam and Doha cost EUR 7,500 in a Citation CJ3, Riyadh, Kuwait and Dubai EUR 9,000. Each leg crosses a border, so it needs its own landing permit and passport check at both ends, and a Saudi stop needs a Saudi e-visa for every passenger.

Where the aircraft starts from matters as much as the distance: a jet that has to fly out empty, or go back to its base without passengers, adds those hours to the quote. Overflight fees, crew hotels and, with some operators, war-risk insurance follow, and the Grand Prix and Airshow weeks cost more. Taxes per passenger come from the departure country. France charges about EUR 1,015 per passenger on a jet, since its tax grows with distance (about EUR 420 within Europe); Italy EUR 200 on any sector over 1,500 km in either direction, Austria EUR 12; German and Norwegian departure taxes and the Dutch tax on aircraft of 5.7 t or more are shown in the quote with the Bahraini charges. From the UK, Air Passenger Duty is due at the higher private-jet rate on jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats and at the standard rate of the distance band on other jets.

Business jet price per flight hour

Heavy Jets from EUR 8,300 / hour

Light Jets from EUR 3,200 / hour

Ultra Long Range Jets from EUR 12,000 / hour

Super Midsize Jets from EUR 6,300 / hour

Very Light Jets from EUR 2,500 / hour

Long Range Jets from EUR 9,800 / hour

Midsize Jets from EUR 4,500 / hour

Turboprops from EUR 2,000 / hour

Two trips worked through

Price per person and calculator

For another departure airport, the calculator e-mails a first estimate:

Treat it as a first figure on the direct distance; the offer then reflects the actual route and where the nearest free aircraft is.

The airport, Sakhir and the alternates

Bahrain International (BAH, OBBI) lies on Muharraq island, about 6 km north-east of central Manama, linked to the main island by causeways and bridges. It is open 24 hours, every private flight needs a slot, and a handling agent is compulsory. The agent books the VIP terminal, where passport and customs checks take minutes; this service is not part of the airport charges and appears as a separate line in the offer. Parking for more than one night is confirmed before departure from Europe, especially in the race and Airshow weeks.

The other airfields on the islands are military, so the operator chooses alternates in Saudi Arabia or Qatar.

Choosing the aircraft

Summer heat and humidity shorten what a jet can lift on take-off, so the crew prefers evening or dawn departures, and with every seat taken the operator may limit fuel or luggage. Cabin sizes are compared in the midsize jets and heavy jets sections.

Bahrain through the year

The pleasant months are October to April, when days are warm and evenings mild; business trips continue in summer too. Empty Legs are most frequent after the Grand Prix and the Airshow, when many jets return to Europe, and on short Gulf routes all year. During Ramadan, which comes about 11 days earlier each year, offices close early and life moves to the evening. The weekend is Friday and Saturday, so offices work Sunday to Thursday.

Empty Legs to and from Bahrain

Jets that bring guests to the race or the Airshow often fly back to Europe without passengers, and short empty sectors between Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Riyadh, Kuwait and the Emirates appear all year. The operator fixes the date and time, and the visas and the landing permit must be ready even for an Empty Leg. A short e-mail to empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and your possible days is enough.

Bringing a dog or cat

Your pet stays with you in the cabin, subject to the operator's approval. For entry the EU pet passport alone is not enough:

• Import permit from the Bahraini veterinary quarantine service, requested first; its number and validity are written into the health certificate.
• Microchip, valid rabies vaccination and core vaccines: for dogs among others distemper and parvovirus, for cats panleukopenia.
• The certificate templates for Bahrain also require a rabies antibody result of at least 0.5 IU/ml.
• Health certificate from a government vet, valid for 30 days from issue.
• Bahrain is on the EU list of approved countries, so the return to the EU needs only the EU pet passport and a valid vaccination.

Visa, permit and customs

Leaving the Schengen area means a passport check at the European airport on the way out and again when you come back.

How to book

1. Send the departure airport, dates, number of passengers and any further stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar or Kuwait.
2. We check the visa route for every passenger and choose a midsize, super midsize or heavy jet for the distance and the luggage.
3. Each offer names the operator and the aircraft, shows the cabin, the flight time and the price, and lists the VIP terminal, parking and permits on their own lines.
4. Once the contract with the operator is signed and paid by bank transfer or card, the landing permit is filed and the agent reserves the VIP terminal and the car.
5. Cancellation terms depend on the operator and the time left before departure and are set out in the contract; on the day, the handler meets you at the aircraft.

Questions about private flights to Bahrain

• • How much does a private jet to Bahrain cost?

  • A Praetor 600 costs EUR 23,000 from Larnaca and from EUR 37,000 (Vienna) to EUR 48,000 (Madrid) from the main hubs, one way for the whole aircraft. From Istanbul a Citation Latitude costs EUR 25,000, and from Dammam or Doha a light jet EUR 7,500.

• • Where do private jets land?

  • At Bahrain International on Muharraq island, about 6 km from Manama, the only civil airport in the country. It is open 24 hours, and private passengers use the VIP terminal.

• • Do we need a visa?

  • Yes. EU and UK citizens get it online before the trip or on arrival; the basic tourist visa allows a stay of up to two weeks. Passports must be valid for six months.

• • How long is the flight from London?

  • London Farnborough - Bahrain takes 6:53 h non-stop in a Praetor 600. Detours around closed airspace may lengthen it.

• • Can we bring alcohol?

  • Yes, within the duty-free allowance for adults. On onward flights to Kuwait, Qatar or Saudi Arabia, bringing alcohol into the country is not allowed, so the bar is planned with the operator.

• • Can we continue to Saudi Arabia?

  • Yes, by air to Dammam in 0:37 h or by car across the King Fahd Causeway. Every passenger needs a Saudi e-visa.

• • When is the Grand Prix?

  • Usually in March or April. Book the aircraft, the return and the parking well ahead, as it is the busiest weekend of the year.

• • Can our dog come?

  • Yes, with a Bahraini import permit, microchip, vaccinations, an antibody result and a health certificate valid 30 days. Bahrain is on the EU list, so coming home needs no antibody test.

• • Are there Empty Legs?

  • Mostly after the race and the Airshow towards Europe, and on short Gulf routes all year. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights.