Michael Jackson's Life In Bahrain: Fact Or Fiction?

In 2005, Michael Jackson moved to Bahrain after being offered sanctuary by the king's son, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa. Jackson had been battling mental health issues, financial woes, and legal troubles, having recently been acquitted of child abuse charges in the U.S. During his 11-month stay in Bahrain, Jackson worked on a comeback album, collaborated with local musicians, and enjoyed the support and hospitality of the Bahraini people, who still admired the King of Pop. However, Jackson's time in Bahrain ended in a lawsuit, as Sheikh Abdulla sued him for reneging on their music contract.

Michael Jackson's reasons for moving to Bahrain

Michael Jackson's move to Bahrain was precipitated by a perfect storm of personal and legal troubles. In 2005, Jackson was battling mental health issues and bankruptcy, and was defending himself in a California court against charges of intoxicating and molesting 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo. The trial took a toll on Jackson's health, and he was acquitted of all charges in June of that year.

However, the ordeal left him a broken man, and he sought refuge in Bahrain, having been offered sanctuary by Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the son of the King of Bahrain, and a friend of Jackson's brother, Jermaine.

Jermaine, who had converted to Islam and was a regular in Bahrain, had introduced the pair, and Abdulla offered Jackson a chance to recover from his troubles, as well as the opportunity to record music together. Jackson accepted, and he and his children moved to Bahrain, where they lived for 11 months.

During his time in Bahrain, Jackson gradually emerged from his shell, mixing with locals and shopping in malls, although he often disguised himself in a woman's abaya. He also began therapy sessions, addressing persistent nightmares and signs of what his inner circle claimed was post-traumatic stress disorder.

However, Jackson's friendship with Abdulla would ultimately end in a lawsuit, as it did with so many of Jackson's personal relationships. The singer reneged on a music contract with the Sheikh, and in 2008, Abdulla sued him for $7 million. Jackson claimed the money was a gift, and the case was settled out of court.

In June 2006, Jackson left Bahrain for an undisclosed location in Europe, and he died in Los Angeles in 2009, aged 50.

His life in Bahrain

Michael Jackson's life in Bahrain began in 2005, when he was offered sanctuary in the Persian Gulf kingdom by Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the second son of the king of Bahrain, following his acquittal on child abuse charges in the US. Jackson had been defending himself in a California court against charges of intoxicating and molesting 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo. News channels beamed daily footage of Jackson's deteriorating health during the trial, and he appeared increasingly frail.

Jackson spent 11 months in Bahrain, living in a luxury villa near the Sheikh's quarters, with a chauffeured Rolls-Royce and security detail. He gradually emerged from his reclusive shell to mix with locals and shop in malls, disguised in a woman's abaya.

During his time in Bahrain, Jackson worked on a comeback album, recording some of it in a state-of-the-art studio set up by Omar Shaheen at the Sheikh's request. He also signed a contract for a collaborative album with the Sheikh, which included a song to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. However, Jackson's erratic behaviour and mental health struggles sent these plans off course.

Jackson's financial situation was also precarious during this time. He was reportedly on the verge of bankruptcy, with a staggering $272.5 million personal loan costing him $4.5 million in monthly interest, as well as an uncontrollable spending habit. His Bahraini advisers worked with Sony Music to refinance his debt, giving him a cash infusion of about $30 million.

Despite these efforts, Jackson's time in Bahrain ended in a lawsuit, with the Sheikh suing him in 2008 for $7.7 million, claiming he had reneged on their music contract. Jackson claimed the payments were gifts and that he signed the contract under duress. The dispute ended with an amicable settlement, the details of which remain confidential.

His friendship with Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa

Michael Jackson's friendship with Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa began in 2005, when the singer was facing child molestation charges in California. The Sheikh, a long-time fan and personal friend of Jackson, loaned him $2.2 million to assist with legal fees. After Jackson was acquitted of the charges, the Sheikh invited him to Bahrain, where he lived for nearly a year.

During his stay, Jackson and the Sheikh collaborated on several songs, including a Hurricane Katrina charity single entitled "I Have This Dream", which the Sheikh had written lyrics for. Jackson recorded sessions for the track in London, but the single was never officially released through the Sheikh's co-owned record label, 2 Seas Group.

In addition to his songwriting, the Sheikh also provided financial support to Jackson, funding "a contract for a new album, an autobiography, and a stage play", according to the singer's lawyers. The Sheikh's lawyers, however, claimed that these expenses were part of a business deal and that Jackson had reneged on their agreement.

The friendship between Jackson and the Sheikh eventually soured, and in November 2008, the Sheikh sued Jackson for £4.7 million in London's High Court, claiming that the singer had failed to uphold their agreement. Jackson claimed that the money was a gift and that he had signed the contract under duress. The dispute was ultimately settled out of court, with the details remaining confidential.

Despite the legal troubles, Jackson's time in Bahrain was marked by his growing friendship with the Sheikh, who provided him with support and collaboration during a difficult period in his life. The singer described his host as "the very best, amazing, so kind".

The music he recorded in Bahrain

Michael Jackson's time in Bahrain was marked by his collaboration with the second son of the country's king, Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad al-Khalifa. The Sheikh was a fan of Jackson and had recently been introduced to the singer through Jackson's brother, Jermaine, who had converted to Islam and was a regular in Bahrain.

Sheikh Abdulla offered Jackson sanctuary in the Persian Gulf Kingdom in 2005, after the singer was acquitted of child abuse charges in the US. Jackson's health and finances were in a poor state, and he was eager to escape the spotlight.

The Sheikh built a recording studio on his grounds and offered Jackson a contract for a collaborative album. Jackson, who had not released a studio album since 2001's "Invincible", was keen to get back into the music industry.

During his 11 months in Bahrain, Jackson worked on a Hurricane Katrina charity single, "I Have This Dream", co-written by the Sheikh. The song also featured James Ingram, Ciara, Snoop Dogg, and gospel singer Shirley Caesar. However, Jackson never completed his final vocal track for the song, and it was never released.

In addition to "I Have This Dream", Jackson worked on several other songs with the Sheikh, including "Light the Way" and "He Who Makes the Sky Gray". These songs were also never released.

Jackson also worked with producers and songwriters John Barnes and Bill Bottrell, who had worked on his "Bad" and "Dangerous" albums. Bottrell recalled Jackson telling him:

> "Billy, we're gonna make the best music ever! When the time is right, Billy, we are going to make Mozart music!"

However, Jackson's time in Bahrain was plagued by health issues and depression, and he struggled to consistently show up for recording sessions. Despite the efforts of his team, including the hiring of a "mind mapper", Jackson was unable to consistently create music during this time.

In 2006, Jackson left Bahrain and severed ties with the Sheikh and his team. The Sheikh later sued Jackson in London's High Court, claiming he had spent $7 million on the singer in the form of loans and expenses. Jackson claimed these were gifts and that he had signed the contract under duress. The case was settled out of court.

None of the recordings Jackson made in Bahrain have been released to the public.

His departure from Bahrain

Michael Jackson's departure from Bahrain was triggered by a series of events that marked the end of his 11-month stay in the country.

Jackson's friendship with Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the son of the King of Bahrain, ended in a lawsuit. The singer had collaborated with the Sheikh on a music contract, which included plans for a comeback album. However, Jackson pulled out of the deal in May 2006, claiming that the payments were gifts and that he had not reneged on the agreement. This dispute resulted in Sheikh Abdulla suing Jackson in Britain's High Court for £4.7 million ($7.7 million).

During this time, Jackson was also facing financial troubles and was involved in numerous lawsuits. His financial adviser, Ahmed al-Khan, described the situation as "a real avalanche of shit." Jackson's spending habits and a staggering $272.5 million personal loan contributed to his financial woes.

In addition to his legal and financial troubles, Jackson's health was also a concern. Sources observed that he was probably suffering from depression and was self-medicating. His physical health had deteriorated during his court trials, and he was described as "skin and bones" after the court case.

The combination of legal disputes, financial troubles, and health issues likely influenced Jackson's decision to leave Bahrain and seek opportunities to perform on stage again. By June 2006, Jackson had left the country, severing ties with his Bahrain team and moving on from the collaboration with Sheikh Abdulla.

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