{{Short description|Artificial island on the Bahrain–Saudi Arabia border}} {{use dmy|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox islands | name = King Fahd Island | image_name =File:ISS023-E-18224 - View of Bahrain.jpg | image_caption = King Fahd Island as seen from the International Space Station in 2010 | image_size = | image_alt = | map = Bahrain | map_caption = Location of King Fahd Passport Island in Bahrain | native_name = جزيرة الملك فهد | native_name_link = Arabic language | native_name_lang = ar | sobriquet = <!-- or |nickname= --> | location = Gulf of Bahrain | coordinates = {{Coord|26.184|N|50.324|E|region:BH_type:isle_dim:50000_source:enwiki|display=inline,title}} | archipelago = Bahrain | waterbody = Arabian Gulf | area_km2 = 0.88 | length_km = 2.5 | width_km = 0.6 | elevation_m = 3 | country = Bahrain | country_admin_divisions_title = Governorate | country_admin_divisions = Northern Governorate | country_largest_city = Border Station | country_largest_city_population = 10 | country1 = Saudi Arabia | country1_admin_divisions_title = Province | country1_admin_divisions = Eastern Province | demonym = Bahraini | population = 10 | population_as_of = 2016 | density_km2 = 11 | ethnic_groups = Bahraini, non-Bahraini | timezone1 = SAST | utc_offset1 = +03:00 | website = {{URL|http://www.kfca.com.sa}} | iso_code_type = ISO code | iso_code = BH-14 }} The '''Passport Island''', known officially as the '''King Fahd Island''', is an artificial island partitioned between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in the Gulf of Bahrain. Spread across {{convert|2.5|km|abbr=on}}, it serves as the sole border crossing between the two countries and is used for connecting Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province to Bahrain's Northern Governorate through the King Fahd Causeway.<ref name=cn />
==History== The King Fahd Causeway opened in 1986 and included the building of the artificial island. Its route was chosen as the shortest path between the island of Bahrain and mainland Saudi Arabia. It is named after King Fahd, then ruler of Saudi Arabia. Initial planning started in 1981 when the Minister of Finance in Saudi Arabia and the Minister of Industrial Development in Bahrain signed an agreement to finance the border crossing between the two states.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.famousdaily.com/history/king-fahd-causeway-opens.html|title=The King Fahd Causeway is officially open, it helps to stimulate a link between Saudi Arabi and Bahrain|website=Famous Daily|accessdate=5 July 2025}}</ref>
==Geography== The island is located on the King Fahd Causeway. The artificial island is also named Middle Island, Embankment 4.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://explanders.com/europe-arctic-circle/spain/shortest-borders-in-the-world/|title=The 5 Shortest International Borders in the World|date=12 August 2022|website=Explanders|accessdate=5 July 2025}}</ref> The buildings of King Fahd Causeway Authority and other government Directorates were erected on the Border Station, as well as two mosques, two Coast Guard towers and two {{Convert|65|m|ft|adj=mid|-high|0}} tower restaurants. The border station also has extensive landscaping all around the islands in addition to the services and road stations.<Ref name=cn /> The Border Station was designed as two islands connected by an isthmus, with the west side designated as Saudi Arabian and the east as Bahraini.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kfca.com.sa/cause_border.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091022192557/http://www.kfca.com.sa/cause_border.htm|url-status=dead|title=المؤسسة العامة لجسر الملك فهد|archivedate=22 October 2009|language=ar|accessdate=5 July 2025}}</ref>
The inhabitants on the island are engaged in official duties for incoming citizens and visitors to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The Saudi side of the border station has outlets of McDonald's and Kudu and the Bahraini side of the border station has a McDonald's outlet.<ref name=cn>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cntraveler.com/story/passport-island-mosques-mcdonalds-and-bahrains-only-land-border|title=Passport Island: Mosques, McDonald's, and Bahrain's Only Land Border|first=Ken|last=Jennings|date=17 October 2016|website=Condé Nast Traveler|accessdate=5 July 2025}}</ref>
==Image gallery== <gallery widths="180"> File:Un-bahrain.png|Bahrain Map and the King Fahd Causeway File:Northern Governorate in Bahrain 2014.svg|District Map File:King Fahd causeway satellite.png|The King Fahd Causeway as seen from space File:KingFahdCauseway01.jpg|View of the causeway, facing east. File:King Fahd Causeway (3206595761).jpg|The causeway from the Bahrain side, leading to Saudi mainland. File:Saudi Bahrain Bridge.jpg|The bridge leading to Bahrain. File:Bahrain-Saudi_border_crossing.jpg|Signboard displayed while heading into Bahrain through the Saudi customs, 2023 </gallery>
==See also== * List of islands of Bahrain * List of islands of Saudi Arabia
== References == {{reflist|2}}
== External links == {{Commons category|King Fahd Causeway}} {{Portal|Bahrain}} * {{Official website|http://www.kfca.com.sa/}}
{{Islands of Bahrain}} {{Northern Governorate of Bahrain}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Passport Island}} Category:Islands of Bahrain Category:Islands of Saudi Arabia Category:International islands Category:Artificial islands