This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Bahrain address formatting, postal code structures, and localization practices. It includes information on postal services, languages, time zones, and address validation standards across Bahrain.
Address Format
Structure for standardized Bahrain postal addresses:
- Addressee
- Organization
- Flat / VillaNumber
- Building / ComplexNumber
- RoadNumber / Name
- BlockNumber
- AreaName
- Country
- ContactNumber
Address Verification Data
Bahrain postal addresses verification data
| Available | Yes |
| Does the country use postal codes? | Yes |
| PO Box Indicator | PO Box |
| ISO-2-Code | BH |
| ISO-3-Code | BHR |
| Phonecode | 973 |
Address Example
Example of standardized Bahrain postal addresses.
Country Info
Full Country Name: Kingdom of Bahrain
| Country Alpha-2 code | BH |
|---|---|
| Country Alpha-3 code | BHR |
| Numeric Code | 048 |
Time Zone
Bahrain Time Zone Details
| Time Zone | UTC | DST |
|---|---|---|
| Arabia Standard Time | UTC+3 | N/A |
Daylight saving time is not observed
Official Language
Arabic is the official language. English is widely used in business and government.
Fun Facts
- The total area of Bahrain is about 760 sq km / 293 sq miles, comprising an archipelago of 33 natural islands plus extensive land reclamation. (CIA World Factbook)
- Bahrain is a Persian Gulf island nation, connected to Saudi Arabia by the 25 km King Fahd Causeway. (CIA World Factbook)
- The terrain is mostly low desert plain rising to a central low escarpment. (CIA World Factbook)
Postal Authority
Bahrain Post is the national postal operator of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the country’s Designated Postal Operator under the Universal Postal Union. It provides domestic and international mail and parcel services across the country and has launched the eNAS (electronic National Addressing System) for GIS-based addressing.
Reference: https://bahrainpost.gov.bh
Name Conventions
Population Names
In Bahrain, names follow Arabic naming convention with the given name preceding a patronymic and the family or tribal name:
[opt: title] [given name] [bin/bint father’s name] [FAMILY/TRIBAL NAME]
Examples:
- Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
- Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa
- Abdullah Al Mahmood
- Dr. Khalid Al Dossari
- Dr. Ahmed Al Khalifa and Dr. Fatima Al Zayani
Arabic names typically include the given name, a patronymic with “bin” (son of) or “bint” (daughter of) plus the father’s name, and the family or tribal name (often beginning with “Al”). Common Bahraini family names include Al Khalifa (the ruling family), Al Mahmood, Al Dossari, and Al Saqer, among many others. In official documents the given names + the patronymic chain are collapsed into the Given Names field.
Common honorifics include Sheikh (male royal or tribal leader) and Shaikha (female counterpart), as well as Sayed and the standard Mr., Mrs., and Dr.
Addresses and names may be written in Arabic script or in Latin transliteration. Multiple Romanization conventions exist (for example, Mohammed/Muhammad/Mohamed), so spellings can vary across documents.
Organizational Names
Bahraini businesses register through Sijilat, the electronic commercial register operated by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Common legal entity designations include:
- W.L.L. (With Limited Liability) – Limited liability company
- B.S.C. (Bahrain Shareholding Company) – Public joint-stock company
- B.S.C. (Closed) – Closed joint-stock company
- S.P.C. – Single person company
- Branch of a Foreign Company
Company names must be unique within the Sijilat register, must not be misleading, and must not suggest unauthorized affiliation with the state. The legal entity designation typically appears at the end of the company name.
