Bahrain International Airport is recognized as the preferred airport of the Gulf region in terms of the quality of its location, staff, Facilities and services and has earned an international reputation for Bahrain as the hub of Middle East aviation.

Its new US$ 80 million terminal building is the most modern in the region and, through the Civil Aviation Authority, the government is investing over US$ 50 million in a new improvements and expansion programme. This includes additional passenger and cargo aircraft parking stands, a new control tower and construction of a cargo village.

The home base of Gulf Air, Bahrain plays host to many of the world's international carriers and is the number one airport in the region for charter flights. Numerous cargo operators have also chosen Bahrain as their regional operating base. Altogether, some 40 airlines operate through Bahrain with 300 regional passenger flights and 60 cargo flights each week. Some 3.5 million passengers pass through the airport every year.

The airport has won several prestigious international awards for the services it provides, including aircraft punctuality, baggage handling, check-in and boarding facilities, aircraft cleaning and catering. Bahrain Duty Free has won the Airport Retailer of the year award on two occasions, making Bahrain the only airport in the world to achieve such international recognition.

Serco-IAL, who supply air traffic control, meteorological services, ground navigational aids and engineering for the Airport, recently celebrated 50 years of operation in Bahrain. In 1997, the United Nation's World Meteorological Organization praised Bahrain's Met Office, rating its state-of-the-art tracking and integrated weather detection systems as the most modern and efficient anywhere in the world.

In support of government policies to encourage business conferences and exhibitions to Bahrain, the Civil Aviation Authority has a special Marketing and Promotions Group which works closely with aviation operators, tour companies and travel organizations.