LabTech 2008 Conference & Exhibition

KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands, with a total area of about 700 sq. kms. The Kingdom is situated midway in the Arabian Gulf and its capital is Manama. Its population consists of a significant percentage of expatriates from all over the world. Locals and expatriates live together and interact in rare bond of fraternity and brotherhood. Such charms, along with an excellent network of hotels, apartments and restaurants, attract an increasing number of regional and international tourists. The Kingdom of Bahrain has become one of the premier locations for successful international conferences because of its central location within the Gulf region, its extensive conference facilities, hotel accommodations, banking, cultural and social activities, in addition to the easy access for international delegates to the Kingdom. Although Bahrain’s temperature averages 36° in the summer months, during the period of the Conference, the weather is ideal, with temperatures in the range of 20°-25°. Bahrain is located at an important juncture between the East and West and has long flourished as an important trading center for the Gulf region. Historically, it has been known as Dilmun, Tylos and Awal, names reflecting the various civilizations of Bahrain in the past. The National Museum in Manama maintains an excellent exhibition on the history of Bahrain. Please note the following general information about Bahrain: Arabic is the official language, English is the common language used Bahrain’s local time is GMT+3 The electrical current is 220-240 volt, (50Hz) Metric system is used in Bahrain Thursdays and Fridays are the weekend days.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The conference will be held at the Gulf International Convention Center, Gulf Hotel. The hotel is providing a special rate for delegates, which includes late check-out privileges based on availability and prior approval, daily newspaper and airport pick up. The hotel will also assist in obtaining an entry Visa to Bahrain. As hotels in Bahrain are always heavily booked during international conferences and exhibitions, delegates are strongly advised to book early. "Hotel Reservation Form” should be completed and mailed or faxed to the Gulf Hotel directly.

The Gulf International Convention and Exhibition Centre is The largest and most impressive convention and banqueting facility in Bahrain. Its celebrated reputation has made GICEC the favorite venue for the island’s most prestigious events. From international conferences to corporate parties and exhibitions, the Gulf International Convention & Exhibition Centre is a showcase of professionalism offering every facility and resource support for mounting any type of event to the highest standards. Conveniently located within the grounds of Gulf Hotel, it offers more than 4,780 sq. m. of ballroom, exhibition, meeting and pre-function areas with unequalled state of the art facilities.

Note : People who require visa to travel to Bahrain need to submit a copy of their passport to the Gulf Hotel two months before the conference date (please copy Khawla Khlaifat kkhlaifat@rcsi-mub.com social committee chair to better assist you).