Bahrain: An Island Country In The Arabian Gulf

Bahrain is an island country in West Asia, situated in a bay on the southwestern coast of the Persian Gulf. It is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and around 30 smaller islands. The name Bahrain comes from the Arabic term 'al-baḥrayn', meaning 'two seas'. The island of Bahrain makes up around 83% of the country's land mass and is surrounded by smaller islands. The country's capital, Manama, is located on the northeastern tip of Bahrain Island.

Bahrain is an archipelago of islands, with Bahrain Island being the largest

Bahrain is an archipelago of islands located off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf. It is officially known as the Kingdom of Bahrain and consists of 50 natural islands and 33 artificial islands. The name Bahrain is derived from the Arabic term 'al-baḥrayn', meaning 'two seas'.

Bahrain Island, also known as al-Awal Island, is the largest island within the archipelago and makes up the majority of the country's land mass and hosts most of its population. It is surrounded by smaller islands, including Al-Muharraq and Sitrah to the northeast, which are connected to Bahrain Island by causeways. The island's interior contains an escarpment that rises to 134 m (440 ft) to form the Mountain of Smoke, named as such due to the mists that often wreathe its summit. Most of the country's oil wells are located near the mountain.

The island of Bahrain accounts for seven-eighths of the country's total land area. It is widely believed to be the site of the ancient kingdom of Dilmun, a commercial centre that traded with ancient Sumer. Bahrain Island is located in a relatively shallow inlet of the Persian Gulf known as the Gulf of Bahrain. The seabed adjacent to the island is rocky and covered by extensive coral reefs.

Manama, the capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain, is located on the northeastern tip of Bahrain Island. The main port, Mina Salman, as well as the major oil refining facilities and commercial centres, are also located on the island. Bahrain Island is split between three of Bahrain's governorates.

Bahrain is situated in the Persian Gulf

Bahrain is an island country in West Asia, situated in the Persian Gulf. It is a small archipelago consisting of 50 natural islands and 33 artificial islands, with Bahrain Island making up around 83% of the country's landmass. The country is located between Qatar and the northeastern coast of Saudi Arabia, with a causeway connecting it to the latter.

Bahrain Island is situated in a relatively shallow inlet of the Persian Gulf, known as the Gulf of Bahrain. The seabed adjacent to the island is rocky, and the northern part of the island is covered by extensive coral reefs. The island is mostly low-lying and barren desert, with outcroppings of limestone forming low hills, cliffs, and ravines. The limestone is covered by various densities of saline sand, capable of supporting hardy desert vegetation such as thorn trees and scrubs. A fertile strip of land exists along the northern coast, where date, almond, fig, and pomegranate trees grow.

The island's interior contains an escarpment that rises to 134 meters, forming the Mountain of Smoke. This name is derived from the mists that often surround the summit, which is also the site of most of the country's oil wells. Bahrain Island is widely believed to be the site of the ancient kingdom of Dilmun, a commercial centre that traded with ancient Sumer.

The capital of Bahrain, Manama, is located on the northeastern tip of Bahrain Island. The main port, Mina Salman, as well as the major oil refining facilities and commercial centres, are also situated on the island.

Bahrain is an independent constitutional monarchy

Bahrain gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1971, and the first constitution of the State of Bahrain was promulgated in 1973. However, the National Assembly was disbanded in 1975 when it attempted to end the rule of the Al Khalifa family.

In 2001, a referendum was held on political reform, and Bahrainis overwhelmingly supported proposals for Bahrain to become a constitutional monarchy with an elected lower chamber of parliament and an independent judiciary. On February 14, 2002, King Hamad officially proclaimed Bahrain a constitutional monarchy, with himself as king.

The 2002 Constitution of the Kingdom of Bahrain recognises the country's Islamic faith by placing Islamic Shariah law as its principal source for legislation. It also guarantees freedom of religion, expression, and the press. The Constitution establishes a government with powers divided among the King, the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers, a bicameral National Assembly, and a Constitutional Court.

The King of Bahrain has broad powers under the Constitution, including the ability to ratify constitutional amendments, propose legislation, and veto laws. The King appoints the Prime Minister and ministers, commands the army, chairs the Higher Judicial Council, and appoints the parliament's upper house. The head of government is the Prime Minister, currently Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Bahrain's National Assembly consists of the Shura Council, with 40 members appointed by the King, and the Council of Representatives, with 40 members elected by universal suffrage. For a bill to become a law, it must be approved by both councils and ratified by the King.

While Bahrain is officially a constitutional monarchy, there have been criticisms of human rights violations and a lack of democratic freedoms. The monarchy has been accused of systematically eliminating a broad range of political rights and civil liberties since crushing a popular pro-democracy protest movement in 2011. There have also been reports of arbitrary arrests, detention without trial, torture, and forced exile.

Bahrain's economy has diversified away from oil

Bahrain is an island country in West Asia, situated in the Persian Gulf. It is officially known as the Kingdom of Bahrain and comprises a small archipelago of 50 natural islands and 33 artificial islands.

Bahrain's economy has traditionally been defined by oil and gas, but the country has been working to diversify away from this dependency. Oil and gas still play a dominant role, with oil comprising 60% of export receipts, 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP. However, Bahrain has heavily invested in the banking and tourism sectors, and petroleum now makes up less than 20% of Bahrain's GDP.

Bahrain's finance industry is very successful, and the country was named the world's fastest-growing financial centre by the City of London's Global Financial Centres Index in 2008. Bahrain's banking and financial services sector, particularly Islamic banking, have benefited from the regional boom driven by demand for oil. Bahrain's other exports include aluminium, finance, and construction materials.

Bahrain has also sought to diversify its economy by investing in manufacturing, refining, trade, and services. The country has a successful aluminium smelter, and manufacturing accounts for 30.1% of its non-oil exports. Bahrain has also established itself as a regional trading hub and a popular tourist destination, particularly for visitors from neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain's urgency to embrace economic liberalisation and move away from its limited oil supplies is due to the fact that, unlike its Persian Gulf neighbours, Bahrain has little oil wealth. The country has expanded into banking, heavy industries, retail, and tourism to compensate for this. Bahrain's success in diversifying its economy has been recognised by the World Bank, which acknowledged it as a high-income economy.

Bahrain is home to the ancient Dilmun civilisation

Bahrain is an island country in West Asia situated in the Persian Gulf. It is officially known as the Kingdom of Bahrain and comprises a small archipelago of 50 natural islands and 33 artificial islands.

Dilmun was an important trading centre, controlling the Persian Gulf trade routes and connecting Mesopotamia with the Indus Valley Civilisation. It is also believed to have had commercial ties with ancient sites in Oman, Syria, and Turkey. The civilisation is thought to have dated back to the third millennium BCE and was likely located on Bahrain Island, which forms the bulk of Bahrain's land mass.

At the Qal'at al-Bahrain site on Bahrain Island, archaeologists have uncovered seven successive levels of settlements, including three consecutive Dilmun cities and a Greek city dating back to 200 BCE. The site also includes massive carved stones marking the entrance to a chamber containing an altar once flanked by copper-faced pillars. Another structure is believed to be a chamber for sacrifices, with the presence of blackened animal bones and charred earth.

The abundance of sweet water flowing from springs is believed to have been one of the cornerstones of Dilmun, making the island an oasis of fertility in an otherwise desolate region. This may have given rise to the legend that Bahrain was the biblical Garden of Eden.

The Dilmun civilisation declined between 1000 BCE and 800 BCE due to piracy in the Arabian Gulf, and it eventually came under Assyrian and Babylonian rule.

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