Turkish Embassy in Manama organizes bus service to Riyadh for citizens leaving Bahrain

The Turkish Embassy in Manama announced Friday that it will organize bus services between Bahrain's capital and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for Turkish citizens who wish to leave Bahrain amid escalating regional tensions. The initiative comes in response to Iranian retaliatory strikes against US-Israeli attacks and the subsequent closure of Bahraini airspace, which has disrupted normal travel routes.

Logistics and requirements

Turkish citizens wishing to travel by land from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia will be transported to Riyadh Airport by buses arranged by the embassy, according to an official statement. The bus journey is expected to take approximately six to seven hours. Citizens must obtain Saudi Arabian visas online before the trip, in accordance with current regulations, and register through a link provided by the embassy. Those who register will receive additional information regarding the buses via the email address provided during registration.

Regional context

The evacuation measure comes as the US-Israeli offensive against Iran, now in its second week, has killed more than 1,000 people including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Bahrain, which hosts the US Fifth Fleet headquarters, has been directly affected, with Iranian strikes targeting civilian facilities in Manama and Bahraini air defenses actively engaged in intercepting incoming projectiles.

Ongoing updates

The embassy advised citizens to be prepared for possible disruptions during the journey and recommended regularly following the embassy's social media accounts for updates, as conditions on the ground may change at any moment. Türkiye continues to monitor regional developments closely, with the Foreign Ministry's Consular Call Center operating 24/7 to provide assistance to Turkish citizens affected by the expanding conflict.