A 400-year mystery in a country with no natural rivers

When mentioning Bahrain, most tourists immediately think of the glass towers in the capital Manama, the Formula I racing cars or the noise in the souq markets – where bargaining is loud around the spice and pearl stalls. But just driving south, past the last clusters of houses, the vibrant sounds of the city gradually disappear, visitors will encounter the flat, empty space, stretching almost endlessly of the desert.

A lone tree appeared on the sandy ground, with no green areas or any water source around. Local people call it the Tree of Life – Shajarat al-Hayat.

Shajarat al-Hayat is nearly 10 meters high, its canopy is wide enough to shade visitors from the sun in the fiercely hot weather, and has existed for nearly 400 years in a “seemingly impossible” way in the arid sand of the desert. Within a radius of nearly a kilometer around, no streams, rivers or other vegetation grows.

The mystery of its ability to survive has turned the Tree of Life into a legend for centuries, a must-see destination for most visitors when arriving in this wealthy island nation in Asia.

For visitors, the tree’s existence raises a series of questions: How can a tree live so long without rivers, rain or irrigation systems? Why did it take root in such a harsh place? And why has it become a symbol revered by the people of Bahrain? Part of the answer lies in science, the rest lies in faith and myth.

Shajarat al-Hayat’s scientific name is prosopis cineraria, belongs to the genus prosopis, mainly living in the Americas, commonly known as mesquite (devil tree). Particularly, prosopis cineraria originates from Asia, is famous for its outstanding ability to adapt to dry desert environments, and can grow in low rainfall conditions, about 150 mm per year. The key factor lies in the deep root system, which can reach 40-50 m underground to find underground water sources. The tree’s small, waxy leaves help retain every drop of moisture, and the tree’s bark is built to withstand harsh high temperatures.

However, for many Bahrainis, science cannot fully explain. For generations, they believed that the tree’s life was a blessing, even a remnant of the legendary Garden of Eden. The Tree of Life is associated with memories, pride and ancient stories, becoming a symbol of the resilience of Bahraini people in the face of harsh natural conditions.

For those who led camels across the desert, the Tree of Life was not just a myth but became a matter of survival. The tree provides shade when they have no other place to take shelter or rest and becomes a landmark to help them know they are not lost in the sea of ​​sand.

Today, many tourists say that the feeling of standing under a tree canopy brings a different experience, both attractive and mysterious. The tree is not just a geographical landmark, but has become part of Bahrain’s cultural life, appearing in artwork, jewelry and souvenirs.

Schools in Bahrain organize tours for students to visit this place, seeing it as a visual lesson in the adaptability and vitality of nature.

The tree is located deep in the desert, about 35-40 km from the capital Manama. If you drive straight from the city, the travel time is about 45 minutes. There are no buses to get there, so most visitors rent a car for the day or take a taxi.

Each year, the tree welcomes about 50,000 visitors. Faced with the damage caused by tourists carving and drawing on tree trunks, the Bahraini government has built a protective fence around it.

Bahrain is located in the Persian Gulf, including the main island of Bahrain and about 30 small surrounding islands, whose name comes from the Arabic word al-bahrayn (two seas). The island nation has an area of ​​more than 780 square kilometers, 1.3 times the area of ​​Phu Quoc island, has no natural rivers, and the terrain mainly consists of desert and low rainfall. People mainly rely on groundwater sources and seawater desalination methods to meet their daily needs.

Located in one of the world’s most important oil production areas, Bahrain’s oil reserves are modest. The country’s economy mainly relies on refining and processing crude oil imported from neighboring countries. In recent years, the island nation has gradually shifted into the fields of finance, commercial services, and communications.

Bahrain’s population is more than 1.6 million people, gross domestic product according to purchasing power parity (GDP PPP) reaches 108 billion USD (2025 data) and HDI (human development index, measuring the socio-economic development of a country) ranks 38th globally.

Bahrain offers exceptional travel convenience with direct flights to more than 70 destinations around the world. Bahrain International Airport possesses modern infrastructure, equipped with advanced technology, currently serving more than 35 passenger and cargo airlines.