Bahrain: Unraveling The Intriguing Meaning Behind The Country's Name

The name Bahrain is derived from the Arabic word 'Bahr', meaning 'sea'. The country's full name, 'al-Bahrayn', means 'the two seas'.

The name Bahrain is derived from the Arabic word 'Bahr', meaning 'sea'

The name Bahrain is derived from the Arabic word Bahr, meaning sea. The country is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and around 30 smaller islands. The name is a dual form of the Arabic word, literally translating to "the two seas".

The exact two seas the name refers to is disputed. Some believe it is the bay east and west of the island, the seas north and south, or the salt and freshwater present above and below ground. Another theory suggests the two seas were the Great Green Ocean (the Persian Gulf) and a peaceful lake on the Arabian mainland.

Bahrain is situated in the Persian Gulf, near the Arabian Peninsula. The country's main island, which makes up around 87% of the country's landmass, is 30 miles from north to south and 10 miles from east to west. The country's capital, Manama, is located on the northeastern tip of Bahrain Island.

Bahrain is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family, with the current king, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, ascending to the throne in 1999. The country has a bicameral legislature, consisting of a Chamber of Deputies elected by the people and a Shura Council appointed by the king.

Bahrain is a Muslim country, with the majority of the population being Shia Muslims. The country's official language is Arabic, although English is widely spoken and taught in schools.

Bahrain is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and 30 smaller islands

Bahrain is a welfare state with a mixed public/private healthcare system offering a high standard of care with almost non-existent waiting times. Medical care is free and comprehensive for both nationals and expatriates. The country has virtually eliminated tropical diseases and raised the life expectancy to 71 years for men and 76 years for women.

Bahrain is ruled by a Sunni king, whose family holds the main political and military posts. The divide between the Shia majority and the Sunni rulers has led to long-running tension, which has sporadically boiled over into civil disobedience.

Bahrain was one of the first states in the Gulf to discover oil and build a refinery, but it never reached the production levels of Kuwait or Saudi Arabia. As a result, Bahrain has had to diversify its economy into other areas such as banking, finance, and tourism.

Bahrain is situated in the Persian Gulf, near the Arabian Peninsula

Bahrain is an island country in the Persian Gulf, situated near the Arabian Peninsula. It is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and around 30 smaller 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, to which it is connected by the King Fahd Causeway.

The name Bahrain is derived from the Arabic term 'al-baḥrayn', meaning 'two seas'. However, the exact two seas being referred to remains disputed. Some believe it refers to the bay east and west of the island, or the seas north and south of it, while others suggest it could be the salt and freshwater present above and below ground.

Bahrain has a rich history, dating back to ancient times when it was part of the empire known as Dilmun. Over the centuries, it has been ruled by various groups, including the Portuguese Empire and the Safavid Iranians, before the Bani Utbah and allied tribes captured Bahrain in 1783. Since then, it has been ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family.

The country has a diverse culture, influenced by its non-national population from Iran, India, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. While Islam is the main religion, with the majority of the population being Shia Muslims, there are also Christian and Jewish communities. Arabic is the official language, but English is widely spoken, and Bahrain is known for its friendly and welcoming attitude towards expats.

Bahrain has a small but well-developed road network, with excellent connections to Saudi Arabia via the King Fahd Causeway. The country also has an international airport and plans to develop a railway system connecting it to other Persian Gulf countries.

Bahrain is ruled by a Sunni king, whose family holds the main political and military posts

The name Bahrain is derived from the Arabic term "al-baḥrayn", which means "two seas". The country is indeed surrounded by two seas, with a bay on each of its eastern and western coasts.

Bahrain is ruled by a Sunni king, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who has led the country since 1999 and changed his title from emir to king in 2002 when Bahrain became a kingdom. The Al Khalifa dynasty has been the ruling family since 1783. The king enjoys wide-ranging powers, including the ability to appoint the prime minister and ministers, command the army, and chair the Higher Judicial Council.

The Al Khalifa family holds the main political and military posts in Bahrain. The king's family leads a large number of ministerial and governmental posts, including the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bahrain Economic Development Board, and the Supreme Council for Women. The vast majority of significant positions in the Bahrain Defence Force are held by Sunnis.

Bahrain's population consists of a Shia majority and Sunni minority, which has led to long-running tension that has sporadically boiled over into civil disobedience. The Shia majority has accused the government of corruption, discrimination in housing and jobs, and recruiting foreigners into the military services.

Bahrain has a mixed public/private healthcare system

The Supreme Council of Health is responsible for setting strategies and national direction, while the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) provides regulation, and the Ministry of Health acts as the sector's primary manager and operator. The NHRA regulates both public and private sector healthcare providers and manages the licensing of healthcare providers and employees.

The first hospital in Bahrain was the American Mission Hospital, which opened in 1893 as a small dispensary. The first public hospital in the country was the Salmaniya Medical Complex, which opened in 1957 in the Salmaniya district of Manama. The country's other public hospital is the Psychiatric Hospital. Private hospitals in Bahrain include the International Hospital of Bahrain and the Awali Hospital, which was built in 1937 to support employees of the Bahrain Petroleum Company and their families.

Frequently asked questions