Bahrain Oil Museum
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Bapco's Oil Museum, Dar Al Naft, opened in 1992 beside the first oil well to tell the story of Bahrain's 1932 oil discovery.
About Bahrain Oil Museum
Dar Al Naft, the Bahrain Oil Museum, is a small museum next to Oil Well No. 1 at the foot of Jebel Dukhan. It was inaugurated in 1992 by the late Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa to mark 60 years since oil was found in Bahrain in 1932. The museum is run by Bapco, now part of Bapco Energies.
Displays cover the history of oil exploration on the island, with historic documents, photographs of early oil pioneers, equipment used in the first exploration work and models of drilling rigs. Next to the museum stand the restored well head of Oil Well No. 1 and Bapco's original office building from the early 1930s, so the site gives a clear sense of how the industry began.
The story reaches beyond oil. The 1932 discovery came as Bahrain's pearling economy was collapsing, and it led to the Sitra refinery, the town of Awali and the first crude export in 1934. The museum places these changes in context for visitors who want more than a photo stop.
Opening is limited and irregular. Several travellers and tour listings report finding the museum closed, so treat it as a bonus rather than the main reason for a trip. The well head and surroundings can still be seen, and the site fits easily into a loop with Jebel Dukhan and the Tree of Life.
Highlights
- Opened in 1992 for oil's 60th anniversary
- Beside Oil Well No. 1
- Historic documents and pioneer photographs
- Early drilling equipment and rig models
- Bapco's original 1930s office nearby
Good to know
- Opening is irregular and the museum is often reported closed; check with Bapco Energies or a tour operator first.
- The well head beside it can be seen even when the museum is shut.
- The site is inside an oil field, so follow access signs.
- Many desert tours list it, but confirm whether entry is actually included.
Getting there
By car into the oil field below Jebel Dukhan, south of Awali, next to Oil Well No. 1.
Questions people ask
When did the Bahrain Oil Museum open?
Dar Al Naft was inaugurated in 1992 by the late Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa to mark the 60th anniversary of Bahrain's oil discovery.
Is the Bahrain Oil Museum open to the public?
Opening is limited and visitors often report finding it closed. Check with Bapco Energies or a tour operator before you go.
What is in the Oil Museum?
Historic documents, photographs of early oil pioneers, exploration equipment and drilling rig models, next to the restored first oil well.
