The $2 billion mega bridge over the sea connecting two nations with stops on artificial islands

An impressive $2 billion mega bridge over the sea connects two different nations. The King Fahd Causeway is a major piece of infrastructure that links Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, allowing drivers to cross the Gulf of Bahrain by road. The route runs over the water, offering views of the surrounding sea, and stands as one of the most important land connections between the two countries.

Construction began in 1981, and the official opening took place in 1986. The causeway was named in honor of the Saudi king at the time, who passed away in 2005. When it entered service, the project required Bahrain to change its traditional direction of traffic, since Saudi Arabia drives on the right while Bahrain had previously driven on the left.

The idea for the causeway emerged much earlier, in 1954, following a visit to Bahrain by King Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. During the visit, he saw the need for a maritime connection between the two territories. The infrastructure consists of five bridges and seven embankments, includes four traffic lanes plus an emergency lane, and spans a total length of 15.5 miles (25 km). The full journey by car typically takes between 20 and 45 minutes.

Natural and artificial islands

Along the route are several artificial islands that provide services to travelers. One of them is Passport Island, which features restaurants such as McDonald’s, two mosques, government buildings, coast guard watchtowers, and landscaped areas. Bahrain itself is made up of an archipelago of 33 natural islands and around 50 artificial islands.

The causeway was designed with an expected service life of 75 years, placing its projected end date in 2061, although there are initiatives aimed at extending its operation. Since 2018, women have been allowed to drive on this route following the lifting of the driving ban in Saudi Arabia. At the same time, Italy is advancing a project to build a suspension bridge over the Strait of Messina to connect the mainland with Sicily, with an estimated cost of about $15.9 billion (€13.5 billion).

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.