Riza Castillo – PowerUp City Magazine https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:12:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.1 https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/powerup-city-icon.png Riza Castillo – PowerUp City Magazine https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine 32 32 Qatari “Himyan” Card Support Expands to Bahrain Retail and Tourism Sectors https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/qatar-himyan-card-accepted-bahrain-retail-tourism/ https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/qatar-himyan-card-accepted-bahrain-retail-tourism/#respond Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:15:56 +0000 https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/?p=13866

MANAMA, Bahrain. Qatari visitors to Bahrain can now use their national debit card for retail purchases and cash withdrawals across the kingdom, following a new regional payment integration.

The Qatar Central Bank announced Thursday that its national payment card, Himyan, is officially accepted at all Bahraini points of sale and ATMs.

The expansion aims to simplify cross-border transactions and encourage regional travel and commerce within the Gulf Cooperation Council. Bahrain is the second GCC nation to support the card, following a similar rollout in Kuwait.

For local businesses and premium brands in Bahrain, the integration opens up a smoother shopping experience for Qatari tourists, who represent a significant segment of the kingdom’s luxury and hospitality market.

The Himyan card is Qatar’s first homegrown payment brand, designed by its central bank to provide secure digital transactions.

]]> https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/qatar-himyan-card-accepted-bahrain-retail-tourism/feed/ 0 Inside the New BBK Sustainability Report and What it Means for Local Business https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/bbk-2025-sustainability-report-bahrain/ https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/bbk-2025-sustainability-report-bahrain/#respond Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:12:12 +0000 https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/?p=13878

MANAMA, Bahrain. The Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK) has released its 2025 Sustainability Report, detailing significant strides in environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices and signaling a clear change in the kingdom’s corporate landscape.

The Green Standard for Premium Brands

Modern luxury requires strong value alignment. Premium brands increasingly prefer to partner with socially responsible institutions. BBK’s latest milestones highlight the growing influence of sustainable finance in Bahrain, empowering eco-conscious travelers, corporate professionals and local merchants to make informed business choices.

Impact and Innovation

BBK Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Mohamed Alaali noted the past year brought strengthened governance and expanded digital capabilities. Standout achievements include 188 million Bahraini dinars in sustainable finance assets, a 39% reduction in paper consumption and a 2.4 million dinar investment directly into local community initiatives.

Fostering Inclusive and Local Growth

The institution is taking direct action on inclusive growth. Women now make up 42% of the workforce, and independent directors account for roughly 60% of the board. To ensure seamless service continuity, the bank also recently integrated employees from the former HSBC Bank Middle East retail branch.

Community development remains a clear priority. Over the last year, BBK engaged 640 local suppliers and broke ground on a new health center in Galali.

Powering Up Environmental Action

BBK launched a Sustainable Finance Framework designed to align its funding with international standards. This initiative directly fuels renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure projects across Bahrain. The bank also recently issued its first Climate Risk Position Statement and collected 755 kilograms of electronic waste through an internal campaign, reinforcing a strong commitment to green finance.

The full report is available on BBK’s website at [www.bbkonline.com/sustainability].

]]> https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/bbk-2025-sustainability-report-bahrain/feed/ 0 Bahrain: Built by Continuity https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/built-by-continuity-bahrain-resilience-progress/ https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/built-by-continuity-bahrain-resilience-progress/#respond Tue, 26 May 2026 16:03:30 +0000 https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/?p=13782

BUILT THROUGH TIME
Where continuity begins.

Long before Bahrain became a regional hub for finance, culture, and modern living, life here was built around the water. Days started before sunrise. Boats drifted quietly into open sea while divers prepared themselves for hours beneath the surface, relying on instinct, endurance, and trust in one another.

The work was repetitive. Demanding. Unpredictable.

Dive. Surface. Breathe. Repeat.

Some days returned with pearls. Others came back empty-handed. Yet every morning, the boats went out again. No shortcuts. No guarantees. Just consistency and the understanding that progress only comes through persistence.

That mindset shaped more than an industry. It shaped a culture.

Even today, traces of that discipline remain embedded in Bahrain’s identity, in the way people work, build businesses, create communities, and continue moving forward regardless of uncertainty.

This issue begins there.

Not with modern Bahrain, but with the foundation that quietly shaped it.

 

 

History here has never been defined only by major events or political timelines. More often, it is shaped by response. By the way a country adapts when circumstances suddenly shift beneath it. 

Over the decades, Bahrain has lived through moments that tested patience, stability and identity. The Gulf War changed the region. The Arab Spring reshaped conversations across the Middle East. The pandemic brought an unfamiliar stillness to everyday life. Yet somehow, each chapter left the Kingdom more connected to itself than before. 

That resilience does not arrive loudly. It reveals itself gradually.

During the pandemic, the phrase “Team Bahrain” stopped sounding like a campaign and started feeling personal. Communities checked on one another without hesitation. Businesses adapted overnight. Frontline workers became everyday heroes. There was an unspoken understanding that everyone had a role in helping the country move forward together.

Today, as the region navigates another period of tension, that same atmosphere feels familiar again. Calm. Measured. Steady.

And perhaps that is Bahrain’s real strength. Not panic. Not performance. Perspective.

This is a country that has learned how to continue living while carrying uncertainty with grace.

“We aren’t just a country that survives the storm. 

We are a Kingdom built to move right through it.”

A COUNTRY LED WITH PRESENCE

Leadership can often feel distant during moments of crisis. Statements are released. Protocols are followed. Systems operate behind closed doors.

But reassurance is sometimes far more visible than that.

In recent months, Bahrain’s leadership has projected something quietly powerful: presence. Under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the guidance of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the Kingdom’s response balanced security with humanity.

While defence and security forces operated carefully behind the scenes, daily life across the island continued with remarkable normality. Markets stayed active. Businesses remained open. Families continued gathering. For many residents, that continuity mattered deeply.

What people remembered most, however, were the moments that felt personal.

His Majesty visiting hospitals and the Royal Bahraini Defence Force. HRH the Crown Prince personally checking markets and supply conditions. These were not symbolic gestures performed from a distance.

They were reminders that leadership here still understands the importance of being physically present when people need reassurance most.

Because sometimes stability is not communicated through announcements.

Sometimes it is communicated simply by showing up.

KEEPING THE ISLAND CONNECTED

You rarely think about logistics until they are tested.

A supermarket shelf fully stocked. A flight still operating. A delivery arriving on time. These small routines shape a population’s sense of security more than people realize.

As regional supply chains faced pressure, Bahrain’s infrastructure responded with speed and flexibility. 

Retailers like LuLu Hypermarket became steady anchors for households across the Kingdom, maintaining food availability while absorbing rising operational pressures behind the scenes. 

 

At the same time, Gulf Air demonstrated how adaptability can become part of national identity.

As regional air routes shifted, operations quickly adjusted through King Fahd International Airport, with shuttle links across the King Fahd Causeway helping travelers continue their journeys with minimal disruption.

But beyond logistics, what people felt was reassurance. For an island nation deeply connected to the wider Gulf, movement matters emotionally as much as economically.

Bahrain’s ability to pivot quickly reinforced something residents already know instinctively: resilience is often built long before it is needed.

BUILT BY ITS PEOPLE

The true character of Bahrain has always lived in its people.

Not only during celebrations or national milestones, but during the quieter moments that ask more from everyone.

The campaign “Bahrain is Well because you are its people” captured that spirit with unusual honesty. More than 60,000 registered on the National Volunteering Platform to support the community. Yet the deeper story was never really about numbers.

It was the smaller moments people still remember.

Café staff serving exhausted frontline workers late into the night. Small businesses refusing to disappear despite uncertainty. Families holding onto familiar traditions because routine itself became comforting. Hospitality spaces opening their doors to support people who needed shelter, calm or simply a place to breathe.

Places like malls became more than lifestyle destinations. They became safe havens for displaced families. 

Local and international businesses, together with the wider Bahrain community, came together to support one another. 

That is the thing about Bahrain. When pressure rises, people rarely pull apart. They move closer together. 

Not dramatically. Not performatively. 

Just naturally. 

And maybe that is why the Kingdom continues to move forward with such quiet confidence. Because resilience here has never belonged only to institutions or systems. 

It belongs to the people who continue showing up for one another every single day.

]]> https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/built-by-continuity-bahrain-resilience-progress/feed/ 0 THE AI STACK POWERING 2026’s MOST PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/the-ai-stack-powering-2026s-most-productive-people/ https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/the-ai-stack-powering-2026s-most-productive-people/#respond Tue, 26 May 2026 14:36:02 +0000 https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/?p=13760

One tool is never enough anymore. Here’s what the smartest operators are actually running and why.

The AI conversation has moved way past “should I try ChatGPT?” The platforms are mature, the use cases are proven, and the people winning right now aren’t picking one tool. They’re building stacks. Strategic combinations of AI that cover every angle of their work.

Whether you’re running a business, building a product, creating content, or just trying to get through your week without burning out, these are the tools dominating real workflows in 2026.

No hype.

Just what they’re actually built for.

ChatGPT

The one that started it all and still runs the show.

Power Zones 

Writing | Brainstorming | Strategy | Research | Content | Everyday productivity

The original and still the most versatile AI platform in the game. ChatGPT’s real superpower isn’t any single feature. It’s pure flexibility. Marketers, students, founders, and developers use it because it bends to fit almost any workflow you throw at it. If you only have one AI tool, this is still the one.

Perplexity AI

Search, but actually intelligent.

Power Zones

Fast research | Fact-checking | Source summaries | Current events

Perplexity is eating Google’s lunch for research-heavy users. Journalists, consultants, and analysts are running it as their primary search experience because it cuts straight to answers with cited sources. No sifting through ten tabs just to find what you need. Speed and clarity every time.

Claude

The heavy lifter in the room.

Power Zones

Long documents | Report writing | Strategic analysis | Brand voice | Complex thinking

Quietly becoming the go-to for professionals who live inside dense reading and structured output. Claude handles large context windows better than most, which means long briefs, research reports, and layered documents don’t trip it up. Analytical, measured, and thorough. The tool that doesn’t cut corners.

Gemini

Google’s entire ecosystem, activated.

Power Zones

Gmail | Google Docs | Workspace productivity | Research | Visual understanding

Google isn’t building a chatbot. It’s wiring AI into everything it already owns. Search, Android, Docs, Gmail, and Cloud. Gemini is threading through all of it. If your workflow lives inside Google’s universe, this integration is becoming too powerful to leave on the table.

NotebookLM

The research weapon most people are sleeping on.

Power Zones

Studying | Research organisation | PDF analysis | AI-generated audio summaries

Drop in PDFs, reports, meeting notes, or web links and NotebookLM transforms them into clean, navigable insights. The standout feature everyone is talking about is AIgenerated audio conversations from your own uploaded content. Nobody runs just one tool anymore. The advantage goes to the people who understand what each platform is actually optimised for and build their stack accordingly.

]]> https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/the-ai-stack-powering-2026s-most-productive-people/feed/ 0 Hidden Spots in Bahrain https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/hidden-spots-in-bahrain-quiet-corners-worth-seeking-out/ https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/hidden-spots-in-bahrain-quiet-corners-worth-seeking-out/#respond Tue, 26 May 2026 10:27:09 +0000 https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/?p=13744

Sometimes you don’t need a destination. You need a reason to wander.

When everything outside feels a little too much (and lately, it always seems to) the instinct isn’t to find the busiest rooftop or the most tagged brunch spot. It’s to find somewhere that slows everything down. A place that echoes somewhere in your chest and makes you feel, somehow, like yourself again. Somewhere cosy, unhurried, and far removed from all of it.

Bahrain has more of these places than most people realise — they’re just not shouting about themselves on every feed. We’ve tracked down five of the most quietly kept spots in the Kingdom: the kind locals who know them are quietly, protectively proud of. Honestly? We nearly kept them to ourselves.

Ready to disappear for a while?

Arte de Cafe

Arte de Cafe is what agenuine creative community space actually looks like in practice, not just aesthetically, but in the way the place is used. It blends coffee culture with real artistic energy rather than treating art as décor, and the result is something calm, intimate and quietly assured.

Pull up a seat and you’ll find people sketching, writing, editing quietly, or simply watching the afternoon unfold over a reasonably priced cup of something good.

There’s a focus here that other creative spaces accidentally design out of themselves: no ambient noise engineered to signal cool, no crowd performing leisure. Just space to think. The fact that it’s one of the more affordable aesthetic cafés in Adliya makes it better still, you can stay as long as the creative urge takes you, no tab anxiety required.

Food is simple, satisfying, never the main event.

📍 Block 338, Manama

📸  artedecafebh

There

There Bahrain is one of Bahrain Bay’s most chic hidden gems, and honestly, we’re not gatekeeping this one.

Head in and you’ll immediately feel the difference. The space is all soft curves, natural light, and muted tones that understand restraint better than most places trying to look premium. Nothing competes for your attention here, which is exactly why it works so well.

Conversations stay low, coffees linger, and the whole place nudges you into slowing down without making a thing of it. If you’re the type to seek out spaces where the atmosphere does the heavy lifting, you’re in for a treat.

The menu keeps things simple and the design does most of the talking, and really, that’s all it needs to do.

📍 Bahrain Harbour

📸  there.bahrain

Higher Grounds Cafe

Higher Grounds in Tubli feels less like a café and more like a creative compound someone built for themselves, and then generously left the door open. Industrial-rustic interiors, greenery everywhere, books on every surface, community journals left out for anyone to add to. The pace is deliberately unhurried in a way that makes you wonder why more spaces don’t operate this way. The workshop culture is real, the quiet creative crowd genuine. This isn’t a place that gestures at community. It lives it. Higher Grounds hasn’t chased a trend in its life. Good coffee, thoughtful bites, nothing overcomplicated.

📍 Tubli

📸highergrounds.bh

]]> https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/hidden-spots-in-bahrain-quiet-corners-worth-seeking-out/feed/ 0 Glow Against The Heat https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/glow-against-the-heat-bahrain-summer-beauty-essentials/ https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/glow-against-the-heat-bahrain-summer-beauty-essentials/#respond Tue, 26 May 2026 09:53:50 +0000 https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/?p=13728

The heat is relentless, the humidity is undefeated, and your skin is keeping score. Between the air conditioning that dries you out, the sun that shows no mercy and the sweat that undoes everything by noon, summer here is genuinely a full-time skincare challenge. The products you reach for when the temperature spikes above 40 degrees, a sunscreen that doesn’t pill, a mist that actually cools, a moisturiser light enough to wear and effective enough to matter, those aren’t luxuries. Those are the essentials.

We’ve rounded up this summer’s best beauty finds across Bahrain, the ones worth your counter space, your budget and your five minutes of quiet. 

Whether you’re after serious sun protection, a new signature scent or just something that makes mornings feel less like a chore, there’s something in here for you. Glowing through the heat was never the worst plan.

Cooling SPF for City Days and Beach Escapes

The ultra-light SPF 50 mist protects against UVA and UVB rays while delivering lasting hydration through Vichy Mineralizing Water. Cooling, invisible and nonsticky, it’s designed for everyday wear, from beach days to long city afternoons under the sun.

RECOMMENDED PICK

Capital Soleil Invisible Hydrating Mist SPF 50

 

Available across selected pharmacies, beauty retailers, and skincare stores in Bahrain, including major wellness and cosmetic outlets nationwide.

A Sunscreen You Will Actually Look Forward To Wearing

If your sunscreen leaves you greasy, ghostly, or emotionally exhausted, it is time to move on. Bahrain summers demand lightweight formulas that survive humidity, sweat, and long drives under the sun.

RECOMMENDED PICK

La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF 50+

Available at Boots Bahrain, select pharmacies across the GCC, and international beauty retailers shipping to the region.

The Signature Summer Scent

The ultra-light SPF 50 mist protects against UVA and UVB rays while delivering lasting hydration through Vichy Mineralizing Water. Cooling, invisible and nonsticky, it’s designed for everyday wear, from beach days to long city afternoons under the sun. 

RECOMMENDED PICK

Kayali Vanilla 28 Eau de Parfum

Available at Sephora Middle East and luxury fragrance boutiques across Bahrain malls.

]]> https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/glow-against-the-heat-bahrain-summer-beauty-essentials/feed/ 0 Prepared, Packed & Ready https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/essential-travel-gear-gulf-travelers/ https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/essential-travel-gear-gulf-travelers/#respond Tue, 26 May 2026 08:43:30 +0000 https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/?p=13711

UNIVERSAL TRAVEL ADAPTER

The smallest item in your bag might save the entire trip.

USB-C fast charging, surge protection, multi-device support and a foldable design that doesn’t hog the outlet. Moving between GCC countries, Europe and Asia? Non-negotiable. At under BD 18, there is no excuse not to have one in your kit.

PORTABLE COOLING FAN

In Gulf summers, staying cool is part of smart travel.

Compact, USB-rechargeable and genuinely brilliant during airport queues, outdoor events and city walks when the heat is relentless. Some models double as mini power banks, the best kind of multitasking.

SMART CARRY-ON LUGGAGE

The smartest travelers are packing lighter and moving faster.

TSA-approved lock, silent 360-degree spinner wheels, USB charging port, cabin-approved sizing for Gulf airlines. Go polycarbonate or aluminium, it takes the knock. Samsonite and Delsey Paris are your best bets at this price point.

HIGH-CAPACITY POWER BANK

Your battery is now part of your travel survival kit.

20,000mAh or higher. USB-C fast charging. Airline-compliant carry-on design because a power bank that can’t board the plane is useless. Anker and Belkin are the names worth trusting; don’t cut corners here.

]]> https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/essential-travel-gear-gulf-travelers/feed/ 0 The Shore Thing https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/shore-thing-watersports-bahrain-guide/ https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/shore-thing-watersports-bahrain-guide/#respond Tue, 26 May 2026 07:50:03 +0000 https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/?p=13686

There is something about the Bahraini coastline that pulls you in. It is no longer just a view from a car window. It has become a place where ordinary weekends turn into full-scale adventures. Whether you are after a heart-pounding rush or a quiet moment of stillness at dawn, the water has a spot for you.

Flying Above the Waves

If you have ever wanted to feel like you are living in the future, eFoil boarding is worth your Saturday. You stand on an electric board and glide almost silently above the surface. It feels weightless, like hovering just above the sea with the city skyline ahead of you. It is one of the most unexpectedly serene things you can do at speed.

The Need for Speed

On the days when you need to let loose, nothing comes close to the raw energy of a jet ski. Bahrain has a generous stretch of open water to tear across. Leaning into a fast turn with salt spray in your face is a reliable way to reset after a long week. “Whether you’re chasing the sunset on an eFoil or finding your balance at dawn, Bahrain’s waters don’t just move your body. They move your spirit.”


WATER GARDEN CITY 

Best for eFoils, jet skiing, floating bikes

 

BAHRAIN BAY 

Best for Sunrise and sunset paddleboarding

 

BILAJ AL JAZAYER 

Best for family beach days, kayaking

 

MARASSI BEACH

 Best for fishing trips, jet skiing, cafés


 JARADA ISLAND

Best for snorkeling, crystal-clear water


 ZALLAQ 

Best for parasailing, wakeboarding

Finding Your Zen

When speed is not the point, head to Bahrain Bay for paddleboarding. The sunrise sessions are particularly good: the water sits flat as glass and the city has not yet woken up. Sunset paddles carry their own appeal when the sky behind the buildings goes deep orange and purple.


Deep Dives and High Heights

The connection to the sea here runs deep. You can still explore coral reefs and marine life that trace back to Bahrain’s legendary pearl-diving history. For those after a different kind of thrill, parasailing lifts you high above the Gulf for a coastal perspective you will not find anywhere else.

]]> https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/shore-thing-watersports-bahrain-guide/feed/ 0 Where to Escape This Summer Without Leaving Bahrain https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/where-to-escape-this-summer-without-leaving-bahrain/ https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/where-to-escape-this-summer-without-leaving-bahrain/#respond Tue, 26 May 2026 06:59:31 +0000 https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/?p=13646

Across the island, hotels are no longer just places to stay. They have become weekend escapes, social destinations, family hubs, wellness retreats, and beachfront lifestyle spaces designed around slowing down without leaving the country. From private villas and island-style pools to beach clubs, spa retreats, and waterfront dining, these are the Bahrain resorts turning local staycations into part of the summer lifestyle.

Hawar Resort by Mantis

For those who are looking to experience a completely different side of Bahrain, Hawar Resort by Mantis feels like a genuine escape from the mainland. Located on the protected Hawar Islands, the resort blends beachfront luxury with raw natural surroundings, turquoise waters, and a slower island rhythm that feels worlds away from the city.

Days revolve around private beaches, water activities, sunset views, and uninterrupted quiet. It is one of Bahrain’s most unique staycation experiences, especially for anyone craving nature, privacy, and a true island atmosphere.

☎️ +973 32 183 610

🌐 mantiscollection.com

The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain

Few resorts in Bahrain balance city luxury and beachfront escape quite like The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain. Hidden behind the palm-lined entrance in Seef, the property feels less like a hotel and more like its own private coastal world.

There’s a private beach, lagoon, marina, flamingos wandering the grounds, and enough restaurants to turn an entire weekend into a food itinerary on its own. Spend the morning at the spa, settle into a beach cabana by afternoon, then move into sunset dinners at Primavera, Plums, or Trader Vic’s. It remains one of Bahrain’s most enduring luxury resorts.

☎️ +973 17 580 000

🌐 ritzcarlton.com

Address Beach Resort Bahrain

Steps from the beach, connected directly to Marassi Galleria, and surrounded by great casual dining, Address Beach Resort has one of the most brilliantly convenient locations on the island.

Escape to the pool for a long afternoon, stroll the waterfront before dinner, and treat yourself to a spa session before checkout. The interiors are polished without ever feeling stiff, and the whole property hums with that easy resort energy that makes you forget you haven’t actually left Bahrain.

☎️ +973 77 998 888

🌐 addresshotels.com

Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay

Some resorts feel exciting for a season. Four Seasons Bahrain Bay simply remains one of Bahrain’s finest, and for good reason.

The private island setting delivers uninterrupted skyline views, a pace that is softer and slower than the city behind you, and pools that still rank among the finest in the Kingdom.

Soak up the spa experience before a long, unhurried dinner as the sun drops over the bay with the best views of Bahrain Bay you’ll find anywhere.

☎️ +973 17 115 000

🌐 fourseasons.com

Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort

Positioned further away from the city, Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort focuses on privacy, wellness, and large-scale beachfront living. The resort offers a more secluded atmosphere, making it ideal for travelers looking to properly disconnect for a few days.

The property combines elegant architecture with expansive outdoor spaces, private beachfront access, luxury spa facilities, and multiple dining concepts spread across the resort. For guests looking for a luxury coastal retreat that feels removed from the pace of Manama, Jumeirah offers one of Bahrain’s most polished resort experiences.

☎️ +973 77 771 000

🌐 jumeirah.com

The ART Hotel & Resort

Set along the waterfront in Amwaj Islands, The ART Hotel & Resort is one of the island’s family-friendly staycation spots. The resort blends beachfront relaxation with a more social summer atmosphere through multiple pools, waterslides, private beach access, spa facilities, and spacious rooms designed for longer weekend escapes.

The outdoor areas become especially active during summer, with poolside dining, beach club energy, and sunset views across the marina giving the property a more laid-back coastal feel. It is the kind of resort built for families, group staycations, and slow weekends by the water without needing to leave Bahrain.

☎️ +973 13 110 110

🌐 palavraresort.com

Palavra Resort

For anyone who finds Bahrain’s bigger resort hotspots a little too charged with social energy, Palavra is a quieter, more personal alternative.

The waterfront setting and villa-style accommodation create a calm, unhurried atmosphere that is genuinely easy to settle into. Head here for a slower kind of weekend—one that revolves around the water views and a pace that feels closer to switching off than simply changing location. It is a particularly good fit for families or couples who want coastal beauty without the noise.

☎️ +973 13 110 110

🌐 palavraresort.com

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa

For a more traditional beachfront resort atmosphere, Sofitel Bahrain in Zallaq is one of the island’s strongest coastal escapes. The property offers wide beach access, expansive pools, palm-lined outdoor areas, and one of the country’s best-known wellness spas.

The resort feels slower and more relaxed compared to the city hotels, making it especially popular for spa weekends, family escapes, and long afternoons by the beach. Dining options focus heavily on waterfront experiences, with outdoor terraces becoming particularly active during the evenings.

☎️ +973 17 636 363

🌐 sofitel.accor.com

Jaw Resort & Spa

Jaw Resort takes a different approach to the Bahrain staycation, and for the right crowd, it works brilliantly.

More private, more personal, and more of a villa weekend than a polished hotel. Head here with friends or family and you’ll find outdoor gathering spaces, private pools, and a relaxed atmosphere built around actually spending time together. Lounge through a slow morning, fire up a BBQ by the pool, and let the afternoon drift into evening without anyone checking the time.

On the food front, the casual, crowdpleasing menus complement the laidback vibe and work especially well for group stays.

☎️ +973 77 979 797

🌐 jawresort.com

Vida Beach Resort Marassi Al Bahrain

Vida feels younger, lighter, and more lifestyle-driven than most resorts on the island, and that is entirely the point.

The atmosphere is built around beach culture, wellness, and social spaces with genuinely contemporary design. The spa and gym facilities are topnotch and well worth building the stay around.

On the food front, expect casual, social dining with cafés, beachfront options, and relaxed evening menus that suit the Vida energy perfectly.

☎️ +973 77 488 888

🌐  vidahotels.com

For more listings, visit 🌐 www.powerup.city

]]> https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/where-to-escape-this-summer-without-leaving-bahrain/feed/ 0 Where Equestrian Heritage Meets Modern Movement https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/hak-bahrain-equestrian-heritage-modern-movement/ https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/hak-bahrain-equestrian-heritage-modern-movement/#respond Tue, 26 May 2026 05:22:35 +0000 https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/?p=13629

Haya Jamal didn’t set out to build a brand. She set out to find activewear that actually worked, for riding, for training, for a full-speed life that doesn’t slow down. When she couldn’t find it, she made it. That decision became HAK.

Rooted in Bahrain and built around the realities of an active woman’s day, HAK gets it right where it counts: fit, fabric and effortless versatility. Clean silhouettes, performance fabrics that breathe and flex on demand, and a lightness that feels intentional. Every piece is engineered for movement without ever trying too hard.

More than a product, HAK represents a new wave of female-founded Gulf labels designing from lived truth rather than market trends.

Functional without being clinical. Stylish without being precious. Unmistakably, unapologetically Bahraini.

📸 HAKBH_

]]> https://www.powerup.city/bh/magazine/hak-bahrain-equestrian-heritage-modern-movement/feed/ 0