Page 157 - Bahrain Gov annual reports(V)_Neat

45
PASSPORT DEPARTMENT
(From the Report of Mr. Kadhim al Asfoor, Passport Officer).

Revenue. During the period under review, sixteen months, from 11th September, 1953
until the end of 1954, the Department collected Rs. 77,530 in revenue from Travel Passes,
Book Passports, Renewals, Entry Forms, etc., etc. The amount collected during the 12
months of 1954 exceeded the revenue of 1372 by about Rs. 8,000.
Pilgrims. During the Haj Season 1,300 people from Bahrain made the pilgrimage to
Mecca. This is the largest number in any year which has been recorded. In the previous
season there were only 280 Bahrain pilgrims. Most of the pilgrims were from the Shia villages.
This apparent religious revival was to a great extent due to the activities of several local Mullahs
who organised pilgrim trips at Rs. 600 per head, inclusive of food, transport and lodging. Over
400 Pakistani pilgrims came to Bahrain on their way to and from Saudi Arabia.

Over 4,000 Shias visited the Holy Shrines of Iraq. The pilgrimage to Iraq is longer and
considerably more expensive than the Haj and the amount spent by over 4,000 persons must
have been considerable.
Passengers.
Arrivals. Departures.
By Air 27,788 30,140
By Steamer 26,187 29,814
By Local Craft 62,708 52,883
116,683 112,837

The nationalities of passengers was as follows :
Bahrainis 39,875 39,084
Saudis 20,797 20,375
Muscatis 14,905 13,028
Trucial States subjects 8,608 8,555
U.K. Citizens................................. 6,592 6,482
Pakistanis 5,923 5,278
Indians 4,851 4,087
U.S. Citizens 3,243 3,054
Qataris 1,867 1,754
Kuwaitis 831 763
Other Asiatics 5,037 5,373
Other Europeans 1,978 1,899
Other Nationals 2,176 3,105

116,683 112,837

Free passes were issued to 1,500 persons including Shaikhs and their followers and students.
Several large parties went on hunting trips to Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Permits to land
were granted to 451 Persian divers on the personal guarantee of the Nakhudas with whom the
divers worked ; 5,199 dhows and launches arrived in Bahrain and the crew and passengers
were registered in order to ensure that people did not remain behind.

Bahrain Nationality. During the year 92 applications for naturalization were received ;
of these 61 were granted to persons long resident in Bahrain who owned immoveable property.
Among those who acquired Bahrain nationality were 8 Indians, 2 Pakistanis, 2 Iraqis and
2 British Protected Persons. The Bahrain courts investigated the claims of 45 Persians who
asserted that they had been born in Bahrain. Only 21 of these persons produced proof of birth
in Bahrain, they were granted Bahrain nationality. Among the reasons which cause people to
acquire Bahrain nationality are the preferential treatment afforded to Bahrainis in Saudi
Arabia and the ease with which people holding Bahrain passports can travel abroad.