Is it better to pay taxis in Bahrain with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
My time in Bahrain taught me that taxis really run on cash. A couple of drivers said they had machines but never got them to work. The ride-hailing apps were a lifesaver, because those took my card without issue. For anyone planning to use taxis directly, I’d suggest carrying local currency and not counting on electronic payments. Bahrain as a country is modern with payments, but this one corner of transport hasn’t caught up yet. Cash keeps things easier and faster.
From my experience, taxis in Bahrain are still quite old-school. While malls and restaurants are super card-friendly, taxis lag behind. I tried using a card once, and the driver said the machine was broken. That felt more like he preferred cash than a technical issue. Since rides aren’t cheap, you’ll want to make sure you have enough dinars ready before heading out. Honestly, I switched to Uber after the first few days, and it made everything simpler because the payment was digital.
I stayed in Manama for work, and every taxi I took wanted cash. The drivers were polite but simply didn’t have terminals. When I asked about payment apps, one mentioned that only ride-hailing services accept them. It’s not a huge inconvenience since ATMs are easy to find, but you should withdraw smaller bills because drivers rarely carry much change. For tourists, I’d recommend booking through apps or hotels if you want to use cards, but otherwise expect a cash-only experience.
In Bahrain, I found that most standard taxis strongly preferred cash. A few had card machines, but drivers often claimed they weren’t working. What made life easier was using the local ride-hailing apps like Karim or Uber, which let me pay by card automatically. If you’re just hailing a taxi off the street, cash in Bahraini dinars is the safest option. At the airport, some taxis accept cards, but even then it’s not guaranteed. Keep some cash handy for shorter rides.