Lucrative work draws Britons to Middle East

Published on Saturday 1 April 2006 01:27

BRITISH workers have flocked to Bahrain to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the burgeoning Middle Eastern construction trade.

According to Steve Harrison, the British charge d'affairs in Bahrain, there are now between 7,000 and 8,000 Britons living in the country.

Many of them work for British companies which have secured lucrative contracts after establishing good reputations in the region.

Western tourism is also on the increase and trips aboard boats such as the one which sank yesterday are an integral part of tourism in the area.

Historic dhow sailing boats such as the banoosh involved in the sinking disaster are frequently used for pleasure trips for tourists in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Dhow cruises offered in Bahrain at present range from one-hour to full-day trips.

One of the most popular trips is the one out to Dar Island, which lies just south of the capital, Manama, in the north of Bahrain.

The British embassy said boats were regulated by the Bahrainian authorities.

Bahrain became a member of the International Maritime Organisation in 1976.

The IMO, which has its headquarters in London, has a list of 50 or so safety conventions to which members who sign up must abide.