Al-Budayyi'

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A View of Budaiya Beach

Al Budaiya (Arabic: البديع) is a coastal town located in the northwestern corner of Bahrain Island, in the Northern Governorate of the Kindgdom of Bahrain. It neighbours the villages of Diraz and Bani Jamra.

The town was founded by the Dawasir tribe, but most of the tribe left en masse to mainland Saudi Arabia in 1923, after a conflict with the British colonial authorities. Many Dawasir tribe members later returned to Budaiya, and they continue to play a leading role in the village today.

Most of the inhabitants are Sunnis. There exists a large community of Afro-Arabs in the town, as descendants of former slaves from East Africa, or later immigrants, largely from the Sudan. It also hosts a large community of South Asian expatriates from South India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, who are employed in the local retail trade economy.

Prior to the discovery of oil in Bahrain, most Budaiya residents were involved in fishing, or the pearl diving industry.

[edit] Budaiya Road

Budaiya village serves as one end-point of the Budaiya Road, which runs to Manama. The villages and the region on either side of road is sometimes mistakenly called Budaiya.

Thr northern region adjacent to Budaiya Road is the most fertile area in the country, irrigated from freshwater springs. It is the location of most growing farms, traditional family farms/resorts (nakhal), and animal stables.

The biggest problem the Budaiya Road region is facing is deforestation due to construction, and the seeping of sea water into natural underground fresh water reserves as a result of the pre-construction building process of the Mina Salman seaport in the 1950's.

The Budaiya Road connecting it to Manama is still remembered as one of the only "naturally shaded" parts of Bahrain where thousands of wild palm trees acted as filters from the hot, glaring desert sun. Most of the trees were cut down to expand the route and 'modernize' the area.

Today the Budaiya Road region houses expatriates living in the kingdom and has few a places that serve as a niche to the youth Bahraini subcultures (Goth, skater/punk, etc.)