Exploring Bahrain: A Kingdom In The Arabian Gulf

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an island country in West Asia situated on 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. Bahrain is located between Qatar and the northeastern coast of Saudi Arabia, to which it is connected by the King Fahd Causeway. The capital and largest city is Manama.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago in the Persian Gulf

Bahrain is renowned for its date palm groves and has been famed since ancient times for its pearl fisheries, which were considered the best in the world until the 19th century. The country's name, Bahrain, is derived from the Arabic term 'al-baḥrayn', meaning 'two seas'. While the origin of this name is disputed, it is generally believed to refer to the bay east and west of the island, or the salt and fresh water present above and below ground.

Bahrain has a population of around 1.5 million, with its capital, Manama, being the largest city. It is a thriving multicultural hub, welcoming people from all over the world with its tolerant attitudes, low cost of living, and abundance of educational and health facilities. Bahrain has a predominantly Muslim population, with a mix of Shia and Sunni Muslims. Arabic is the official language, although English, Farsi, and Urdu are also widely spoken.

Bahrain has a mixed economy, with a heavy reliance on processing and refining crude oil from neighbouring countries. The financial, commercial services, and communications sectors have also grown significantly, and tourism is a developing industry. Bahrain's total land area is slightly larger than that of Singapore, with a varied landscape featuring rocky and barren regions, irrigated cultivated areas, and fertile lowlands.

It is situated between Qatar and Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an island country in West Asia, situated between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. It is connected to Saudi Arabia by the King Fahd Causeway. Bahrain is an archipelago of 50 natural islands and 33 artificial islands, with Bahrain Island making up around 83% of the country's landmass. The country spans 760 square kilometres (290 sq mi), making it the third-smallest nation in Asia.

Bahrain is an important regional economic and financial hub, with a large number of global financial services companies operating in the country. It has a population of approximately 1.5 million people, with the majority living in the northern part of the main island. The capital and largest city is Manama, which has a reputation as a tourism and cultural hub.

Bahrain has a rich history, with the earliest human settlement in the islands dating back almost 4,000 years. It was inhabited by a series of different civilisations, including Dilmun, Tylos, and the Islamic period. Today, Bahrain is known for its ethnically diverse population, pearl-diving and trading tradition, and its ancient burial mounds. It is also known for its involvement in the petroleum and aluminium industries and its practice of Islamic banking.

Bahrain's capital and largest city is Manama

Manama has a diverse population of around 297,502 people as of 2012, and is home to many expatriates, with foreigners outnumbering Bahrainis two-to-one in 1981. The city's economy has historically been centred around pearling, fishing, boatbuilding, and trade, but the discovery of oil in 1932 revolutionised Manama, leading to the construction of modern buildings and the development of trade, finance, and commerce. Today, Manama is a financial hub for the Persian Gulf region, with a large number of financial institutions based in the city.

Manama has a long history, first mentioned in Islamic chronicles in 1345 CE. It has been held by the ruling Al Khalifa dynasty since 1783, but has also been under Portuguese and Persian control, and briefly invaded by the ruling dynasty of Saudi Arabia and Oman. Bahrain gained independence in 1971, with Manama as its capital.

The country is a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral National Assembly

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands located in the Persian Gulf, between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It is a small country, covering an area of 780 km2, with a population of 1.58 million people (as of 2021). The capital and largest city is Manama. Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy, with a bicameral National Assembly, consisting of two chambers: the Council of Representatives and the Shura Council (also known as the Consultative Council).

The Council of Representatives is the lower house of the Bahraini National Assembly, with 40 members elected by universal suffrage for four-year terms. To be eligible for election, candidates must be Bahraini citizens, at least 30 years old, and meet certain other criteria relating to residence, criminal record, and literacy. Members are elected from single-member constituencies using a two-round system, with a second round held if no candidate receives 50% of the vote in the first round.

The Shura Council is the upper house of the National Assembly, with 40 members appointed by the King. The two chambers of the National Assembly meet in a joint session, chaired by the Speaker of the Council of Representatives (or by the Speaker of the Shura Council in their absence).

The current form of the National Assembly was established by the 2002 Constitution, with the first elections held in the same year. However, the country's first parliamentary elections were held in 1973, under a previous constitution, which established a single-chamber parliament. This parliament was dissolved by the Emir in 1975 because it refused to pass the government-sponsored State Security Law.

The National Assembly is the legislative body of Bahrain and has a range of powers, including proposing constitutional amendments, passing legislation, and questioning cabinet ministers. The Council of Representatives can also express its wishes on public matters and bring forward a motion of no-confidence against the Prime Minister, which requires a simple majority to pass.

Bahrain is an important economic and financial hub

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands located in the Persian Gulf, between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. It is a small country, spanning 760 square kilometres (290 sq mi) and is the third-smallest nation in Asia. Bahrain is officially a semi-constitutional monarchy, with a population of 1,501,635 as of May 14, 2023, of whom 712,362 are Bahraini nationals.

Bahrain's capital, Manama, is a major tourism and cultural hub, known for its skyscrapers and modern architecture. The city was selected as the Capital of Arab Culture in 2012, Capital of Arab Tourism in 2013, and Capital of Asian Tourism in 2014. Manama is also home to many large financial structures and institutions, including the Arab Banking Corporation (Bank ABC) and Gulf International Bank (GIB).

Bahrain has a mixed economy, with a heavy focus on the banking, oil and gas, and tourism sectors. Petroleum is Bahrain's most exported product, accounting for 60% of export receipts, 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP. Bahrain has worked to diversify its economy, with non-oil sectors contributing 79.2% of total GDP in 2013. The manufacturing, transport, construction, real estate, and hospitality industries are all significant contributors to the country's economy. Bahrain's annual economic growth is an impressive 5% on average.

The country has also established itself as a hub for innovation in financial services, with many local and international entrepreneurs choosing to base themselves in Bahrain. It is home to MENA's first and largest fintech hub, and the central bank's fintech sandbox has produced several successful graduates. Bahrain's focus on innovation and technology is evident in the success of banks like GIB, which has invested heavily in meem, the world's first fully digital Shariah-compliant retail bank.

Bahrain's economic policies are stable and open, and its strategic location in the Middle East and North Africa makes it an attractive destination for businesses and investors. The country's economic vision for 2030 aims to make its economy more sustainable and less dependent on oil and gas. Bahrain's well-developed infrastructure, modern legislation, and diverse range of industries make it a significant economic and financial hub in the region.

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