Manama: More than 260,000 people arrived in Bahrain in one week, a senior official said.

“Our figures indicate that 262,588 people entered Bahrain between October 1 and 7,” the Assistant Undersecretary for Ports, Search and Follow-up at the General Directorate of Nationality, Passports & Residence (GDNPR), said.

According to the weekly figures, 203,208 arrived from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries via the King Fahd Causeway, while 58,840 landed at Bahrain International Airport and 540 entered Bahrain through seaports.

The 25km causeway, Bahrain’s only terrestrial link with a neighbouring country, remains the key route for travellers to the kingdom.

Inaugurated by the late King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz and the late Emir Shaikh Eisa Bin Salman Al Khalifa on November 26, 1986, the causeway has been a crucial factor in the increase in the numbers of people arriving in Bahrain, mainly from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, and of Bahrain-based people travelling beyond the island kingdom.

According to official figures, 281,755,297 people have used the causeway since it was opened until the end of 2014, an average of 26,618 travellers a day.

The number of vehicles for the same period was 112,863,043, representing an average of 10,663 a day and making it one of the busiest traffic areas between Arab countries.

In 2014, Saudi cars totalled 3,546,557, compared with 1,058,279 from Bahrain, while 197,135 cars were from other countries.

However, the numbers of passengers from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were almost equal, with 11,015,552 travellers from Bahrain and 11,335,525 from Saudi Arabia.

Around 5,000 employees work in three shifts on the link.

Drivers who use the causeway pay a BD2 (Dh19.50) or a SR20 fee, but no charges are imposed on passengers, regardless of their numbers.

Authorities in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have issued statements about increasing the number of lanes for cars, buses and trucks to help deal with traffic congestion, particularly during the weekends and holidays.

Several Saudi Arabia-based Saudi nationals and foreigners who work or study in Bahrain commute daily while a large number of Bahrain-based expatriates and Bahrainis use the causeway daily to go to their work or universities.

Strong family links between Gulf citizens are a significant factor in the exchange of visits over the causeway.

Movie theatres screening the latest movies and shopping complexes are considered among the top reasons for trips by Saudi families or Saudi Arabia-based foreigners to Manama.

The causeway is also used by trucks, mainly from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE, heading towards Bahrain to deliver or load products.

Queues of long vehicles are often seen at the entrance or exit of the causeway.