Re: Gulf Air and Bahrain airport
Gulf Air was owned before by Bahrain but nows its a Pvt company. I travlled via Gulf Air some 10 -12 years ago don’t know how its services nowadays.
I live in Bahrain and Bahrain airport is small nice with easy guidance. You r transit passenger than at second level (departure lounge) you’ll find duty free shop, cafes, mini mart, hotel, shopping space, separate Masjid for ladies and rigth after that, terminals for departure with views of airport where flight land and departure. At ground floor they created a new departure lounge which was under construction in last year i.e. May 2011. Its a very big hall with only two or three shop at that time. If your flight goes from there than the official will guide you there (maybe not sure). First floor is for entrance in Bahrain and that is at a separate level you won’t go from there. 
Things are very cheap. Dollar rate is fix i.e. 1US$ = 0.366 local currency (0.365 and 0.367 buying/selling rates).
Bahraini are more friendly and show more hospitalities to the visitors regardless to their nationality. In fact Bahraini pplz are on top compairing to many other arab countries in good behaviour.
Beside this you’ll find many pplz from different nationality i.e. Paki, Indian, Bengali, Philipino, Nepali etc., working there. I hope your stay will be more comfortable and you’ll enjoy.
One more thing when aflight land, you’ll see some ‘arab’ pplz (non-official wearing badges) r from pvt company i.e. agent who guides those pplz who arrived in Bahrain on visit or labour visa. They r rude to every1.
Anything else u wanna know?