Why does Bahrain import crude oil from Saudi Arabia?

Bahrain imports crude oil from Saudi Arabia primarily because its own domestic oil production is limited and its reserves are rapidly depleting. Although Bahrain was the first state in the region to discover petroleum in 1932, its only oil field, Al-Baḥrayn (Awali), is nearing exhaustion.12

Consequently, the country has shifted its economic focus toward refining crude oil imported via an underwater pipeline from Saudi Arabia. This refining capacity is a cornerstone of the nation's economy, allowing Bahrain to export refined petroleum products despite its own dwindling natural resources.132