Bahrain's mosquitoes are a nuisance. CDC lists no disease they spread there.
- No CDC travel notice for mosquito-borne disease
CDC's Bahrain page lists no mosquito-, tick- or sand fly-borne disease, WHO lists Bahrain among malaria-free countries, and no locally acquired dengue has been reported. A small bottle of repellent for evenings outdoors covers a visit or a posting.
Are there mosquitoes in Bahrain? Yes, mostly nuisance mosquitoes in residential neighborhoods after rain. CDC's Bahrain page lists no mosquito-, tick- or sand fly-borne disease, the World Health Organization lists Bahrain among malaria-free countries, and no locally acquired dengue has been reported.
No insect-borne disease on CDC's list
CDC's Bahrain page has no malaria section and recommends no malaria medicine. WHO's list of malaria-free countries puts Bahrain among those where malaria never existed or disappeared without specific measures, and a review of 1992–2001 found that all 1,572 malaria cases recorded in Bahrain over that decade were imported. Bahrain isn't on CDC's global dengue list, and there is no CDC travel notice for any mosquito-borne disease.
It isn't known whether Aedes aegypti, the day-biting mosquito that spreads dengue, has become established in Bahrain, as it has in Qatar and Dubai. Our Qatar and Dubai briefings cover what that change has meant next door.
What bites, and when
Bahraini newspapers have run stories about mosquito swarms in residential areas, and nuisance mosquitoes tend to be worst after rain and in humid spells. For a visitor, that usually means the odd bite on an evening outdoors. Repellent on exposed skin before dinner on a terrace covers it. If you're living in Bahrain, for example near Naval Support Activity Bahrain in Juffair, emptying standing water around the house also cuts down on bites.
November to March tends to be the mild main visiting season. Summer, June to September, is very hot, and most time is spent in air-conditioning. No month carries a documented disease risk.
CDC's Bahrain page lists MERS, which may spread to people from camels, so skip close contact with camels and raw camel milk.
Where you're going
Manama & Juffair
The capital and the Juffair district around Naval Support Activity Bahrain. No dengue or malaria transmission has been reported, and the mosquitoes in the local news are a nuisance in neighborhoods with standing water.
Muharraq
The old town, the pearling trail and Bahrain International Airport. There are no Muharraq-specific figures, and an evening repellent habit covers a walk through the old town.
Across the causeway: Khobar & Dammam
CDC lists Saudi malaria only in Asir and Jazan near the Yemen border, and Saudi dengue is concentrated in Jeddah and Mecca, on the west side of the country. There are no Eastern Province figures.
Driving the causeway? Our Saudi Arabia briefing covers dengue in Jeddah and Mecca and the sand flies of the desert.
The Bahrain kit
- Picaridin 20% travel sprays: odorless in the heat, for evenings outdoors after rain. The 3.4 oz size rides in a carry-on.
- A full-size bottle for the house if you're moving to Bahrain for a posting or a contract.
Two last notes. Yellow fever vaccine isn't recommended, and Bahrain requires proof only from travelers 9 months or older arriving from a country with yellow fever risk, including layovers of more than 12 hours there, which can matter on a rotation from East Africa. And any fever during or after your trip means a doctor visit, and you tell them you were in Bahrain and anywhere else you traveled.
Traveler questions
Is there dengue in Bahrain?
No locally acquired dengue has been reported. CDC's Bahrain page lists no mosquito-borne disease, and Bahrain isn't on CDC's global dengue list. It isn't known whether Aedes aegypti, the day-biting mosquito that spreads dengue, has become established in Bahrain, as it has in Qatar and Dubai.
Do I need malaria pills or a yellow fever vaccine for Bahrain?
No malaria medicine is recommended. CDC's Bahrain page has no malaria section, and WHO lists Bahrain among countries where malaria never existed or disappeared without specific measures. A review of 1992–2001 found every malaria case recorded in Bahrain had been imported. CDC doesn't recommend the yellow fever vaccine, and you need no certificate when you fly in directly from the US.
Do I need repellent in Bahrain?
For comfort more than health. Nuisance mosquitoes tend to bite in residential areas after rain and in humid spells, so a small bottle of picaridin or DEET for evenings outdoors is enough for most visits. If you're moving there, empty standing water around the house to cut down on the mosquitoes that breed in it.
Sources
Health authorities, surveillance reports and news coverage of official bulletins used for this briefing, last checked October 2026. Traveler reports are linked where they appear. This page summarizes public-health guidance and is not medical advice.