Hamad town, bahrain gay sauna

Despite its petite stature, Bahrain holds immense significance, not only for its inhabitants but also for its neighboring Gulf countries and the United States. It lures in weekend voyagers from countries like Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, attracted to its infamous nightlife. The elephant in the room here is the perception of homosexuality in Bahrain. The once-pearl-rich land of Bahrain, whose pearls once proudly sailed across the world from its thriving ports, has seen its marine treasures overshadowed by the new black gold — oil.

Doha is sleek rooftop terraces, vast apartment complexes, a world-class skyline, lavish infinity pools, scorching beach clubs, and, well, just an excessive amount of wealth and gold. Many would argue this grand experiment has been a supreme success, but for the LGBT community, this leap into modernity is very much a facade. As forward-looking as Doha aims to be, the absolute monarchy rulers here are definitely cherry-picking which parts of progress and modernity they want to embrace. In Doha and in all of Qatar, it is still absolutely illegal to be gay.

In this guide, we set out our practical tips for gay travelers to Bahrain, as well as information about the underground gay scene, the best places to stay, things to do, and more. This small island nation is linked to the mainland of the Arabian peninsula by a mile causeway. Hence why Bahrain has developed a reputation for being a place for hedonism. We did, however, visit fellow Arab neighbor Qatar as a gay couple , but do also check out my article about my experience visiting Saudi Arabia.

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