Manama: Around 190,000 people drove into Bahrain through the King Fahad Causeway during the weekend.

Most of the passengers were from Saudi Arabia, but other Gulf nationals also used the 25-kilometre terrestrial over three evenings.

According to Saudi paper Al Yawm, 65,743 people drove into Bahrain on Friday, the eve of the New Year, celebrated with great fanfare in Manama.

The paper, quoting a Causeway official, said that the drive into Bahrain was smooth after the authorities opened all corridors at the borders.

People had often complained about slow procedures at the heavily used causeway due to staff shortage.

No Saudi was involved in accidents in Bahrain over the weekend, sources at the Saudi embassy in Manama said.

The King Fahad Causeway was opened in November 1986 and has been used by millions of passengers and vehicles both ways.