Exploring Bahrain: A Country In The Arabian Gulf

Bahrain is a small island country in the Middle East, situated in the Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The country is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and around 30 smaller islands, with the capital, Manama, located on the northeastern tip of Bahrain Island. Bahrain is officially known as the Kingdom of Bahrain and has a population of around 1.5 million people.

Bahrain is an archipelago of islands in the Persian Gulf

Bahrain is officially known as the Kingdom of Bahrain and is ruled by a Sunni king, whose family holds the main political and military posts. The country is geographically divided into four governorates: Asimah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, and Shamaliyah.

The capital city, Manama, is located on the northeastern tip of Bahrain Island and is a strikingly modern, relaxed, and cosmopolitan city. It serves as the country's chief port and economic centre, attracting visitors from neighbouring Saudi Arabia. While the people of Bahrain are conservative in their lifeways, the country has diversified its economy beyond oil production, with notable growth in the financial, commercial services, and tourism sectors.

Bahrain's total land area is slightly larger than that of Singapore, and it is the third-smallest nation in Asia. The country is connected to Saudi Arabia by the King Fahd Causeway, a 15-mile-long highway crossing the gulf.

Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy

The Kingdom of Bahrain has been ruled by the Al Khalifa family since 1783. The current ruler, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, has been in power since 1999. In 2002, he declared Bahrain a constitutional monarchy and installed himself as king. The country's politics take place within a framework where the government is appointed by the king. The head of the government is the Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is also the Prime Minister and Deputy Commander of the Bahrain Defence Force.

Bahrain's parliament is a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Council of Representatives, which is elected by universal suffrage, and the Consultative Council (or Shura Council), which is appointed directly by the king. The king has broad powers under the constitution, including the ability to ratify constitutional amendments, propose legislation, and veto laws.

The country's first constitution was promulgated in 1973, creating an advisory legislative body (the National Assembly) and a 14-member royally appointed Cabinet of Ministers. However, the Amir disbanded the National Assembly in 1975 when it attempted to remove him from power. Bahrain remained without a parliament until 2002, when a new constitution was adopted, and the country officially became a constitutional monarchy.

The 2002 Constitution recognises the country's Islamic faith, placing Islamic Shariah law as its principal source for legislation. It also guarantees freedom of religion, expression, and the press.

Bahrain is a Muslim country

Bahrain is a small Arab state situated in a bay on the southwestern coast of the Persian Gulf. It is officially known as the Kingdom of Bahrain and is recognised as an island country in West Asia. It is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and about 30 smaller islands, with the former constituting about 78% of the country's territory. The name Bahrain is derived from the Arabic term 'al-baḥrayn', which means 'two seas'.

Islam is the state religion in Bahrain, and it has been a predominantly Muslim country since the 7th century. The Islamic prophet Muhammad sent his first envoy, Al-Ala'a Al-Hadrami, to the ruler of Bahrain in 628 AD, inviting him to embrace Islam. Consequently, the ruler and the Arab inhabitants of Bahrain converted to Islam, marking the beginning of the Islamic era in the country.

Bahrain's 2010 census indicated that 90.2% of the population is Muslim, with the previous official census in 1941 reporting a nearly equal split between Shia and Sunni Muslims. However, unofficial sources suggest that the current population is approximately 55% Sunni and 45% Shia. The Shia majority in Bahrain has historically faced political and social tension with the ruling Sunni minority, who hold most political and military posts.

The country observes several Muslim feasts and celebrations as national holidays, including Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Muhammad's birthday, and the Islamic New Year. Additionally, Bahrain's constitution affirms the importance of religion in society, stating that "the family is the cornerstone of society, the strength of which lies in religion, ethics, and patriotism."

Bahrain's economy has diversified into banking, finance and tourism

Bahrain is an island country in West Asia, situated on the Persian Gulf. It is a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and 33 artificial islands, centred on Bahrain Island, which makes up around 83% of the country's landmass.

Bahrain has the second-highest-valued currency unit in the world, the Bahraini Dinar. 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 smallest hydrocarbon reserves of any Persian Gulf state, and unlike its neighbours, it has little oil wealth. As a result, Bahrain has heavily invested in the banking and tourism sectors since the late 20th century.

Banking and Finance

Bahrain has developed the first post-oil economy in the Persian Gulf, with many of the world's largest financial institutions having a presence in the country's capital, Manama. Bahrain's finance industry is very successful, and the country has been recognised by the World Bank as a high-income economy. In 2008, Bahrain was named the world's fastest-growing financial centre by the City of London's Global Financial Centres Index. Bahrain's banking and financial services sector, particularly Islamic banking, have benefited from the regional boom driven by the demand for oil.

The country is the main banking hub for the Persian Gulf and a centre for Islamic finance, which has been attracted by Bahrain's strong regulatory framework for the industry. Bahrain's international airport is one of the busiest in the Persian Gulf, and the country also has a modern, busy port offering direct and frequent cargo shipping connections to the US, Europe, and the Far East.

Tourism

Bahrain has also invested heavily in the tourism sector. The country received over 11 million visitors in 2019, mainly from surrounding Arab states, but also increasingly from outside the region. Bahrain combines modern Arab culture with the archaeological legacy of 5,000 years of civilisation. The island is home to forts, including Qalat Al Bahrain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Bahrain National Museum, which has artefacts from the country's history dating back 9,000 years.

Other popular historical tourist attractions include the Al Khamis Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in the region, the Arad Fort in Muharraq, the ancient temple of Barbar from the Dilmunite period, and the A'ali Burial Mounds and the Saar Temple. The Tree of Life, a 400-year-old tree growing in the Sakhir desert with no nearby water, is also a popular tourist attraction.

Bird watching, scuba diving, and horse riding are popular tourist activities in Bahrain. The country also has many shopping malls, such as the Bahrain City Centre and Seef Mall, which attract tourists from nearby Saudi Arabia and across the region. Bahrain has further raised its international profile through events such as the Bahrain Grand Prix, which has encouraged major airlines to resume services to the country.

Bahrain has a rich history and is home to the ancient kingdom of Dilmun

Bahrain is an island country in West Asia, situated on the Persian Gulf. It is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and some 30 smaller islands. Bahrain is renowned for its date palm groves and has long been an important entrepôt for trade and a source of natural resources for the surrounding area.

Bahrain is the site of the ancient kingdom of Dilmun, a commercial centre that traded with ancient Sumer. Dilmun is mentioned in Sumerian cuneiform clay tablets from the end of the fourth millennium BC, found in the temple of the goddess Inanna, in the city of Uruk. Dilmun is described as a type of axe and one specific official, and there are lists of rations of wool issued to people connected with Dilmun. Clay seal impressions with cord or sack marks on the reverse side testify that impressions of clay seals from the Indus Valley city of Harappa were used to seal bundles of merchandise.

Dilmun appears in the Mesopotamian epic poem, the Epic of Gilgamesh, as "the place where the sun rises" and "the Land of the Living". It is also described in the epic story of Enki and Ninhursag as the site at which creation occurred.

Bahrain Island is widely believed to be the site of the ancient kingdom of Dilmun, a commercial centre that traded with ancient Sumer. Bahrain was settled and colonised by various groups, including the Khalīfah family (Āl Khalīfah), a native Arab dynasty that has ruled Bahrain since the late 18th century.

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