Plizio Visual Lab

Rubud al-Sharqiyah

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Landmark

Weather…

Rubud al-Sharqiyah is one of the eastern islands in the Hawar archipelago, situated in the shallow turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf between Bahrain and Qatar. Geologically, the island is part of an elevated marine shelf, characterized by its remarkably flat and low-lying limestone topography. This unique coastal landscape makes the island a critical sanctuary for biodiversity, particularly as a nesting ground for migratory and resident birds. It is internationally recognized for hosting vast colonies of Socotra cormorants, which find safety on its uninhabited shores. The vegetation is sparse, consisting mainly of salt-tolerant halophytes that thrive in the arid, saline environment. While Rubud al-Sharqiyah remains untouched by commercial development, it is a focal point for Bahrain's environmental conservation efforts. The surrounding seagrass beds and shallow reefs are rich feeding grounds for marine life, including endangered dugongs and sea turtles. As part of a UNESCO-nominated site, the island represents a pristine example of the Gulf's delicate marine ecosystem, preserved by its isolation and protected status.

Location: Bahrain
Nearby: Hawar Islands (7 km)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Feb, Mar, Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	18	19	22	26	30	33	35	35	33	30	26	21
Rain mm	10	7	6	6	0	0	0	1	0	2	11	12

📋 Practical info

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Visiting

Rubud al-Sharqiyah is an eastern island of the Hawar group with flat coastal zones and an elevated marine shelf. The island is public, but only reachable by ferry.

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Typical hours

The island itself has no opening hours, but ferry services are time-bound. Schedule your arrival and departure according to the ferry timetable.

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Photography

The flat coasts and clear water provide well-suited conditions for wide-angle shots. The elevated marine shelf is especially photogenic at low tide when structures become visible.

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Time needed

A stay of one hour is enough to explore the island on foot. For an extended exploration of all coastal zones, plan two hours.

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Combine with

Rubud al-Sharqiyah is ideally combined with the neighboring island Rubud al-Gharbiyah. A tour of the entire Hawar group features several diverse islands.

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Getting there

The only way to get there is by ferry from Bahrain to the Hawar Islands. On the island you can walk or use a boat for landing.

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Insider tip

Watch the tides as some coastal sections may become inaccessible at high tide. A waterproof bag protects your gear during boat landing.

Geography

Coordinates

25.75100, 50.78500

Facts

Area: 0.1 km²
Diameter: 300 m
Max elevation: 2 m
Average depth: 0.8 m
Nesting gull pairs: approx. 100
Distance from Rubud al-Gharbiyah: 0.3 km

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Rubud al Sharqiyya1 km · SExplore →

Suwad al Janubiyya2 km · WExplore →

Suwad al Shamaliyya3 km · NExplore →

Rubud al Gharbiyya3 km · SExplore →

Hawar Island5 km · WExplore →

Suwad al-Shamaliyah5 km · NWExplore →

Jazirat al Hamra6 km · NExplore →

Bu Thaur7 km · SWExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Start Destination Via (optional)

Overnight stops

Vehicle

Only stops with (optional): 💧 Water ♻️ Disposal 🔌 Power 🚻 Toilets 🚿 Shower

Sights nearby

Frequently asked questions

What is Rubud al-Sharqiyah?

A small island in the Hawar archipelago.

What birds can be found here?

It is an important nesting site for herons.

How do you reach the island?

Only by private boat or special permits.

Are there beaches there?

There are narrow sandy strips, but no infrastructure.

Is the water deep?

No, the surrounding coral reefs make it very shallow.

Rubud al-Sharqiyah: where is it located?

Rubud al-Sharqiyah is located in Bahrain.

Rubud al-Sharqiyah: when is the best time to visit?

The most pleasant time to visit is Feb, Mar, Dec.

Rubud al-Sharqiyah: why is it worth visiting?

Rubud al-Sharqiyah is one of the eastern islands in the Hawar archipelago, situated in the shallow turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf between Bahrain and Qatar.

View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →