Plizio Visual Lab

Suwad al-Shamaliyah

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Landmark

Weather…

Suwad al-Shamaliyah is a flat, uninhabited island located within the Hawar archipelago of Bahrain. Geologically simple, its terrain consists of low-lying sand dunes and ancient limestone deposits that rise only slightly above the crystalline waters of the Arabian Gulf. Despite its sparse desert vegetation and lack of human inhabitants, the island is of immense ecological value. It serves as a crucial sanctuary for marine bird life, most notably hosting significant breeding colonies of the Socotra cormorant, a species indigenous to the region. The shallow waters surrounding the island are rich in seagrass meadows, providing essential grazing grounds for the endangered dugong populations that frequent the area. Its isolation has preserved it as a pristine natural laboratory, where environmentalists study the survival strategies of flora and fauna in high-salinity and extreme heat conditions. For visitors to the Hawar group, Suwad al-Shamaliyah has a glimpse into a tranquil, undisturbed maritime environment, emphasizing the importance of island conservation in preserving the Gulf's unique biodiversity.

Location: Bahrain
Nearby: Jaww (31 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	27	32	35	36	36	34	30	25	20
Rain mm	6	5	4	5	0	0	0	0	0	2	10	9

📋 Practical info

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Visiting

Suwad al-Shamaliyah is a flat, uninhabited sand island that can only be visited from the outside. Landing is possible but there is no infrastructure; the visit is at your own risk.

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Typical hours

The island has no opening hours as it is freely accessible, but landing is only safe during daylight and good weather. Typically the calm morning hours are most suitable.

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Photography

Photography is allowed everywhere; the simple sand and limestone landscape has minimalist subjects. The surrounding waters and birdlife can also be captured well.

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Time needed

Allow about one to two hours for a visit to explore the coast and watch birds. The boat crossing from Bahrain takes an additional 30-60 minutes depending on the operator.

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Combine with

As Suwad al-Shamaliyah is part of the Hawar archipelago, it can be excellently combined with nearby Suwad al-Janubiyah. A day trip to several islands of the group is recommended.

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Getting there

Access is by boat, typically from the Bahrain coast. There are no regular ferry services; you need to charter a private or group excursion boat.

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Insider tip

A tip: pay attention to tides as landing can be more difficult at low water. It's best to ask local boat operators beforehand about optimal conditions.