Bahrain: A Country In Transition And Transformation

Bahrain is an island country in the Persian Gulf, situated between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. It is officially known as the Kingdom of Bahrain and consists of a small archipelago of 50 natural islands and 33 artificial islands. Bahrain declared independence from the United Kingdom in 1971 and has since developed into an international banking centre. The country is ruled by a Sunni king, and its population is predominantly Muslim, with a Shia majority. While Bahrain was once viewed as a promising model for political reform, the monarchy has faced criticism for eliminating civil liberties and political rights. The country's economy, initially reliant on oil, has diversified into sectors such as tourism, banking, and aluminium smelting. Bahrain is known for its rich history, including its ancient Dilmun civilisation, and its modern attractions, such as Formula One racing and one of the world's largest underwater theme parks.

Bahrain's independence from the UK

Bahrain is an island country in West Asia situated in the Persian Gulf. It is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and about 50 other natural islands, with an additional 33 artificial islands.

In the 19th century, the ruling House of Khalifa offered to support Britain against the Persians in exchange for occasional help from British gunships. In 1820, the British signed the General Maritime Treaty with tribal chiefs of the Persian Gulf, including the Al Khalifa, who were recognised as the "legitimate" rulers of Bahrain.

In 1861, the British forced the ruler of Bahrain to sign a Perpetual Truce of Peace and Friendship, under which the ruler was not to engage in "prosecution of war, piracy and slavery at sea", and Britain was to provide maritime protection. The treaty also recognised the Khalifa ruler as an "independent ruler". However, the increasing Ottoman influence in the region threatened the status quo in Bahrain, and in 1880 and 1892, the British signed new treaties with Bahrain that effectively turned it into a British protectorate, giving them control over defence and foreign relations.

In 1960, the United Kingdom put Bahrain's future to international arbitration and requested that the United Nations Secretary-General take on this responsibility. In 1968, the British Government announced its decision to end the treaty relationships with the Persian Gulf sheikdoms, including Bahrain. However, by 1971, the nine sheikhdoms had still not agreed on the terms of the union, prompting Bahrain to declare itself fully independent on 15 August 1971. The United States recognised the State of Bahrain on the same day, and the British withdrew from Bahrain on 16 December 1971, making it an independent emirate.

The Bahraini monarchy

The Kingdom of Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy ruled by the Al Khalifa family since 1783. The current monarch is Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who has been in power since 1999. The king enjoys wide-ranging powers, including the ability to appoint the prime minister and cabinet, command the army, and chair the Higher Judicial Council. Bahrain's parliament is bicameral, with the Council of Representatives being elected by universal suffrage and the Consultative Council (Shura Council) being directly appointed by the king.

Bahrain gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1971, with Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa as its first ruler. In 2002, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa changed his title from emir to king and declared Bahrain a kingdom. This came after a referendum in which Bahrainis overwhelmingly supported the National Action Charter, which included provisions for a constitutional monarchy and an elected lower chamber of parliament.

The Bahraini economy

The economy of Bahrain is heavily dependent on oil and gas, with petroleum being the country's most exported product, accounting for 60% of export receipts, 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP. However, Bahrain has the most diversified economy in the GCC region, with particular strengths in the financial services, ICT, manufacturing, logistics, and tourism sectors.

Bahrain has the second-highest-valued currency unit in the world and is recognised by the World Bank as a high-income economy. Bahrain's finance industry is very successful, with many large financial institutions having a presence in the country's capital, Manama. Bahrain was named the world's fastest-growing financial centre by the City of London's Global Financial Centres Index in 2008.

Bahrain has a liberalised environment, advanced infrastructure, and industries open for opportunity. The country has a talented population, a free economy, and the lowest establishment costs in the region. Bahrain is also a gateway to the GCC's $2.1 trillion trade market.

Bahrain's other exported products include aluminium, finance, and construction materials. The country has benefited from the oil boom since 2001, with economic growth of 5.5%. Bahrain's urgency in embracing economic liberalisation is due to its need to diversify the economy away from its limited oil supplies.

In recent years, the government has undertaken several economic reforms to improve its financial dependency and boost its image as a tourist destination. Bahrain depends heavily on food imports to feed its growing population and relies on meat imports from Australia and fruit imports to meet 75% of its total fruit consumption needs.

Bahrain's gross domestic product (GDP) was USD 46 billion in 2023, with a GDP per capita of USD 28,698, compared to the global average of USD 10,589. Bahrain's economy recorded average annual growth of 2.8% in the decade leading up to 2022. The country's fiscal deficit averaged 11.3% of GDP in the same period.

In 2023, Bahrain's GDP grew by 2.45%, with the non-oil sector showing robust growth of 4.48%, indicating the country's successful efforts towards economic diversification.

The Bahraini media

Bahrain's media landscape is predominantly state-controlled, with the government maintaining tight oversight of news and information dissemination. While the country has a range of media outlets, including newspapers, television, and radio, self-censorship is common among journalists due to restrictive laws and the risk of prosecution for criticising the government or religion.

Newspapers

Bahrain's newspaper industry includes publications in multiple languages, such as Arabic, English, and Malayalam, catering to the country's diverse population. Major Arabic dailies include "Akhbar Al Khaleej" and "Al Ayam". English-language newspapers such as the "Gulf Daily News" and "Daily Tribune" are also widely circulated.

Television and Radio

The country's television network is state-run and operates five channels under the Information Affairs Authority. Radio Bahrain, the long-running English-language radio station, and "Your FM", catering to the Indian subcontinent expat community, are among the radio stations available.

Internet

Bahrain has one of the highest internet penetration rates in the Arab world. However, internet content is heavily filtered, targeting political, religious, and human rights-related material. The government closely monitors online activities, and online activists and bloggers have faced detention and prosecution for their online content.

News Agencies

Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the state-run news agency, provides news in both Arabic and English. Additionally, there are independent news websites, such as "Bahrain Mirror", which offers an opposition-leaning perspective.

Media Freedom Concerns

Media watchdog organisations like Freedom House have criticised Bahrain's media environment, noting the use of legislation to detain and jail critical journalists. The government's tight control over the media has led to concerns about a lack of press freedom and the suppression of dissenting voices.

The Bahraini population

The population of Bahrain is around 1.5 million, with a density of 2,036.8 people per square kilometre. The population is made up of a diverse mix of ethnicities and nationalities, with roughly half of the population being Arab, and the other half being foreign-born, mainly from Iran, India, Pakistan, Britain, and the United States. The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken, and other languages such as Persian, Urdu, and Hindi are also common among expatriates.

Bahrain has a young population, with a median age of 33.2 years. The population is predominantly urban, with 100% living in urban areas. The country's capital and largest city, Manama, is a modern and cosmopolitan city, known for its restaurants and bars, and is a popular destination for visitors from neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

The majority of Bahrainis are Muslim, with Shia Muslims making up the largest group, followed by Sunni Muslims. There are also small native communities of Christians, Jews, and Hindus. The country's two Muslim communities are united on some issues but disagree sharply on others, with Shia Muslims often complaining of political repression and economic marginalisation.

Bahrain has a high literacy rate, particularly among young people, with a rate of 99.39% for the 15-24 age group. Education is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 14 and is free for Bahraini citizens in government schools.

Frequently asked questions