Art and antiquities on display at Bahrain International Airport’s cultural heritage galleries
Her Excellency Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) President, and His Excellency the Minister of Transportation & Telecommunications and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) Chairman, Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed launched two cultural heritage galleries at the new Bahrain International Airport (BIA). In collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, BAC and BACA, the galleries will serve as an important platform to showcase Bahrain’s cherished history, art, and culture to departing and transit passengers.
BACA President, Her Excellency Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa said: “The launch of these two galleries will allow us to introduce our long-standing cultural heritage to visitors from around the world while also delivering a unique travel experience. BACA was keen to ensure the availability of comprehensive collections of art and archaeological artifacts, which will be exhibited in an interactive display to give travellers a glimpse into the Kingdom’s identity and culture. The new terminal will allow passengers to travel into the past to learn about the richness of the land. This was an idea that was conceived from the beginning of the building’s construction.”
Her Excellency also thanked the Ministry of Transportation & Telecommunications and BAC for their support in delivering this cultural achievement and everyone who contributed to the success of the project. The spaces were designed by Laméduse in collaboration with Agence Natalie Crinière.
His Excellency the Minister of Transportation & Telecommunications and BAC Chairman, Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed said: “The creation of museum spaces at BIA aims to enhance the passenger experience, providing comfortable and culturally relevant spaces for travelers to enjoy. The selection highlights the cultural wealth of Bahrain’s past and present, and celebrates local creativity. BACA will host regular cultural and art exhibitions at the galleries to connect passengers to the local community beyond the airport. I would like to thank Shaikha Mai for her continuous support towards the Ministry of Transportation & Telecommunications and her tireless efforts to preserve the Kingdom’s heritage and culture.”
The galleries, located in the Departures Area, have been curated and produced by BACA with the support of the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and BAC. BACA will host regular cultural and art exhibitions at the galleries and the displays will be updated periodically with artifacts from the Bahrain National Museum. The exhibitions aim to connect the passengers to the Kingdom and the local community beyond the airport. The airport has a distinctly Bahraini character and the galleries further highlight this heritage while enhancing this travel experience.
In the Antiquities Hall, BACA presents collections showcasing 6,000 years of human settlement history in Bahrain, which was once considered a land of eternity and wealth. Items on display include prehistoric granite tools, seals and pottery from the Dilmun and Tylos eras, ceramic artifacts from the early Islamic period, and pearling equipment. These artefacts give travellers a glimpse into the many civilizations that flourished in the Kingdom, the authenticity of its local culture, and the distinctive skills of its inhabitants.
The Art Gallery focuses on the diversity and vitality of the Kingdom's artistic movement and the creations of Bahrain artists, including Ibrahim Boussed, Ahmed Baqer, Jafar Al Oraibi, Jamal Abdul Rahim, Khalil Al Hashimi, Rashid Al Oraifi, Abdul Jabbar Al Ghadban, Abdul Rahim Sharif, Abdul Latif Mufeed, Abdul Karim Al Arrayedh, Adnan Al-Ahmad, Ali Al-Mahmeed, Ghada Khonji, Mohsen Al-Taitoon, Nasser Al Yousef, Hisham Al Zubari, and Youssef Qassem.
