Bahrain received its first ever vehicle in 1914, when Sheikh Abdulla bin Isa bin Al-Khalifa imported himself a car from India. Petrol then was unexplored, and fuel had to be imported through special shipments from countries abroad. It is to mark this milestone in history that the government of Bahrain has announced to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the vehicle it first allowed to run on its streets.
The General Directorate of Traffic has devised a versatile programme to mark the 100th year celebrations and preparations in this regard are in their final phases. Though details of this programme have not been issued as yet, it does sound to be a major event.
While throwing some light on the background of this celebration, the Media Advisor of The General Directorate of Traffic, Abdulaziz Mohammed Bouhajji recounted that it was Manama Municipalities which was back then responsible for managing traffic. Though cars were very few and only limited to the super elite, the gradual expansion forced the Manama Municipalities to hire ten policemen for roads, which by 1926 was being used by 26 cars.