A unique collection of pure-bred Arabian horses has been preserved on the island for over 200 years by the rulers of Bahrain, the Al Khalifa family, and most recently by the King, His Majesty, Shaikh Hamad Bin Isa al Khalifa.  In 1983, the then Crown Prince relocated the stud to its present site at Rowtha’t Alghar to ensure the protection and careful supervision of the breeding program.  The stud presently consists of 312 registered horses, 20 of which are stud stallions.  In 1999-2000, 52 foals were born and 45 new foals are expected in the 2000-2001 season.

The Royal Arabian stud continues the family tradition of protecting the purity of the 20 different strains bred at the stud, including such rare ones as the Al Dahmeh, Kuheila't Jellabieh, Kuheila't Aafas and Kuheila't Umm Zorayr lines. Six or seven new stallions are selected to be tested as studs each year, when they are about 6 years old. They are chosen for their conformation, bloodlines and performance. Mares are bred at 5 to 6 years of age and the lineage is passed through them, the foals taking the name of their dam’s strain.

These Bahraini Arabian horses are famous for their unusual and beautiful coats. Regardless of colour, they all have a fine iridescent sheen to them.  This is totally natural.  The horses are fed bran, barley and oats in the early morning, alfalfa twice during the day, and an evening mash of bran, barley, oats and dates.  No extra nutritional supplements are needed or given, with the exception of mineral-salt licks.  The horses are noted for their exceptionally gentle disposition and are handled easily with just a rope halter, even the stallions.

The Royal Arabian stud continues to preserve these rare desert horses, to breed them selectively, to maintain their fine qualities and  pure blood-lines. The Royal Stud does not import horses for stud purposes, only the Bahraini strains are bred.  All the foals are freeze branded and blood typed when they are a year old.

Given names are allotted to all horses at the Royal Arabian Stud. All names start with the strain name. Given names were not allotted to horses which had died or had been exported at the time of naming in 1993. Bahrain in general uses the strain names for all Bahraini Arabians.