Discovering Bahrain: A Unique Country And Its Culture

Bahrain is an island country in West Asia, situated in the Persian Gulf. It is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and about 30 smaller islands. The name Bahrain is derived from the Arabic word 'Bahr', meaning 'sea'.

Bahrain has a rich history, having been inhabited since prehistoric times and settled by Sumerians in the third millennium BCE. It was the seat of the ancient kingdom of Dilmun, a prosperous trading centre linking Sumer with the Indus Valley.

Bahrain has a diverse population, with about half of its inhabitants being Arabs, and the other half being foreign-born, mostly from Iran, India, Pakistan, the UK and the US. The country is predominantly Muslim, with a Shia majority and a Sunni ruling minority, which has led to long-running tensions.

Bahrain has a unique culture, with a blend of traditional and modern influences. While Arabic is the official language, English is widely spoken, and the country is known for its cosmopolitanism and tolerance towards other religions. Bahraini citizens are ethnically diverse, with Shia Bahrainis divided into the Baharna and Ajam, and Sunni Bahrainis divided into urban Arabs and Huwala.

Bahrain's economy has traditionally relied on oil production and processing, but the country has diversified, with growing financial, commercial, and tourism sectors.

Bahrain is an archipelago of 50 natural islands and 33 artificial islands

Bahrain Island is the largest island in the Kingdom of Bahrain, both by size and population. The second-largest island is the Hawar Islands, followed by Muharraq Island, Umm an Nasan, and Sitra.

Bahrain has a coastline of 161km and does not share land boundaries with any other countries. The country's territorial sea is 22km, and it has a contiguous zone of 44km.

The archipelago has a varied landscape, with central regions that are rocky and barren, rising to 134m above sea level at the country's highest point, Al-Dukhan Hill. The southern and western lowlands consist of sandy plains and salt marshes, while the northern and northwestern coasts feature date palms and vegetable gardens irrigated by artesian water from springs and wells.

The Hawar Islands, situated near the coast of Qatar, are believed to hold petroleum and natural gas reserves. They were the subject of a dispute with Qatar, which was resolved in 2001 when the International Court of Justice awarded them to Bahrain.

Bahrain is the third-smallest nation in Asia

Bahrain is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and about 30 smaller islands, with the main island accounting for seven-eighths of the country's land area. The country's capital, Manama, is located on the northeastern tip of Bahrain Island and is known for its modern architecture and cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Bahrain has a unique geographical location in the Persian Gulf, situated near the Arabian Peninsula, with Saudi Arabia to the west and the Qatar Peninsula to the east. This strategic position has made Bahrain a significant hub for trade and commerce throughout history.

With a population of around 1.5 million people, Bahrain is a melting pot of diverse ethnicities and cultures. The country is predominantly Muslim, with a mix of Sunni and Shia sects, but it also has the largest Christian minority within the Arab states of the Arabian Gulf. Additionally, Bahrain is known for its tolerance towards other religions, with Catholic and Orthodox churches, Hindu temples, and a Jewish synagogue present on the island.

Bahrain's economy has traditionally relied on petroleum processing, but it has successfully diversified into other sectors, including finance, tourism, and communications. The country has also invested in developing its post-oil economy, with a focus on the banking and tourism sectors.

Bahrain's unique characteristics extend beyond its geography and demographics. Its name, "Bahrain," derives from the Arabic term "al-baḥrayn," meaning "two seas." This name is believed to refer to the bay east and west of the island or the salt and freshwater present above and below the ground.

With a rich cultural heritage, Bahrain stands as a nation that seamlessly blends tradition and modernity. Its people are known for their warmth and hospitality, making Bahrain a fascinating and welcoming destination in the heart of the Persian Gulf.

Bahrain's population is ethnically diverse, with a mix of Arabs, Persians, Indians, Pakistanis, Southeast Asians, Europeans, and Americans

Bahrain is an ethnically diverse country, with a population made up of Arabs, Persians, Indians, Pakistanis, Southeast Asians, Europeans, and Americans. The country is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and about 30 smaller islands, with the capital, Manama, located on the northeastern tip of Bahrain Island.

Bahrain's population is concentrated in two principal cities: Manama and Al Muharraq. The country's population is ethnically diverse, with the Financial Times noting in 1983 that Bahrain is a "polyglot state, both religiously and racially". The Baharna are the indigenous inhabitants of Bahrain and are a Shia-Muslim ethnoreligious group. They make up two distinct ethnic groups: the Ajam and the Baharna. The Ajam are Persian Shias, while the Baharna are Arabs. The Shia Bahrainis also include a smaller group known as Hasawis, who came from Al-Hasa.

Bahrain is also home to Sunni Arabs, who are the most influential ethnic group in the country and hold most government positions. They have traditionally lived in areas such as Zallaq, Muharraq, Riffa, and the Hawar Islands. Other ethnic groups in Bahrain include Africans, mainly from East Africa; Lurs, Achomis, and other Shia groups; Sunni Arabs from Persia; and urbanized Sunni Bahrainis of Bedouin ancestry, such as the Utoob and Dawasir.

In addition, Bahrain has a significant number of expatriates, who make up about half of the country's population. The majority of these expatriates come from South and Southeast Asia, with large communities of Indians, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Filipinos, and Indonesians. There are also smaller communities of Europeans and Americans, with an estimated 4,000 to 8,000 people from the United Kingdom living in Bahrain.

Bahrain's economy has diversified beyond oil to include aluminium smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing, and tourism

Bahrain has successfully diversified its economy beyond oil and gas, with a range of sectors contributing to its economic growth. Here is a closer look at some of these sectors:

Aluminium Smelting

Bahrain is home to Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), one of the world's largest aluminium smelters. With a proud 50-year legacy, Alba has a production capacity of more than 1.62 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa). Alba produces high-quality aluminium, with an average purity exceeding 99.85%. In 2023, Alba set a new record with a production of 1,620,665 metric tonnes, an increase of 20,554 MT from the previous year.

Offshore Banking

Bahrain has a well-developed banking and financial services sector, recognised as the fastest-growing financial centre in the world by the City of London's Global Financial Centres Index in 2008. The country is home to more than 400 licensed financial institutions, including a mix of international, regional, and local entities. The financial sector accounts for more than 16% of Bahrain's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Bahrain's banking system includes both conventional and Islamic banks, with Islamic banking benefiting from the regional boom driven by oil demand.

Ship Repairing

Bahrain has a ship repairing and engineering company, BASREC, which provides maintenance and repair services for ships in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf regions. BASREC has a team of highly qualified technicians and engineers, specialised in working with thin steel with minimum distortions. They have received recognition from the U.S. Navy for their fabrication processes and possess facilities for block fabrication, assembling, and post-weld heat treatment.

Tourism

Bahrain has successfully promoted itself as a tourist destination, attracting over eleven million visitors in 2019, mainly from surrounding Arab states but also internationally. The kingdom combines modern Arab culture with its rich archaeological heritage, offering forts, museums, and ancient temples as attractions. Additionally, activities such as bird watching, scuba diving, and horse riding are popular among tourists. Bahrain's capital, Manama, is also a shopping hub, with malls and souqs that draw visitors from the region. The country's Formula One race track and annual festivals, such as the Spring of Culture, further enhance its appeal as a unique tourist destination.

Bahrain is ruled by a Sunni king, while the majority of the population is Shia

Bahrain is a small Arab state situated in a bay on the southwestern coast of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by a Sunni king, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah, whose family holds the main political and military posts. The Al Khalifa family has ruled Bahrain since the late 18th century.

The country is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and about 30 smaller islands. The population of Bahrain is predominantly Shia, with estimates suggesting that they make up about 55-60% of the Muslim population. However, the ruling Al Khalifa family are Sunni Muslims, and tensions between the Shia majority and the Sunni rulers have led to civil disobedience.

In 2011, inspired by the Arab Spring, Bahrain's Shia majority started large-scale protests against the Sunni rulers. The government responded by requesting security assistance from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries and imposed a three-month state of emergency. A crackdown on the opposition followed, with thousands of arrests and reports of systematic torture.

The Al Khalifa family's rule over Bahrain's Shia majority has been criticised for violating human rights, including those of dissidents, political opposition figures, and the Shia population. Despite this, Bahrain remains a welfare state, providing free and comprehensive healthcare for both nationals and expatriates.

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