Spread across 2.5 km (1.6 mi), it serves as the sole border crossing between the two countries and is used for connecting Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province to Bahrain's Northern Governorate through the King Fahd Causeway.

The King Fahd Causeway opened in 1986 and included the building of the artificial island.

Its route was chosen as the shortest path between the island of Bahrain and mainland Saudi Arabia.

It is named after King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, then ruler of Saudi Arabia.

The island belongs to the Northern Governorate in Bahrain, and the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia.