The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago in the Persian Gulf. Among numerous islands, Bahrain Island, Muharraq, Umm an Nasan, and Sitrah are the largest. Saudi Arabia locates to the west and Qatar locates to the south of Bahrain. Al-Manámah (26 14 N, 50 34 E) is the capital city of Bahrain. The proposed Qatar–Bahrain Friendship Bridge to join Qatar and Bahrain will be the longest fixed link in the world. Bahrain is the first nation to discover oil in the region. Bahrain is a secular country to have Islam as the official religion and is also home churches, a Hindu temple, a Sikh Gurdwara and a Jewish synagogue. Bahrain Defense Force is a small but well equipped force. Bahrain is the abode of the United States Navy Central Command.
HISTORY:- Bahrain was ruled by the Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Persians. In the 7th century Islam was introduced into the land when the Arabs were rising in Bahrain. The Arabs ruled over the region until 1541. After the Jabrids, and bedouin reigns, the Portuguese invaded the nation and governed the islands for nearly 80 years with the ratification of Sunni Persian governors. In 1602, the Portuguese was overthrown by Safavid Empire of Iran. Shi’a had been established as the official religion of the country. In 1783, Al Khalifa snatched away the control from the Persians and established the independent emirate of Bahrain. The islands became a British protectorate in 1820 and until 1971. Discovery of oil in 1932 in Bahrain prompted a fast move towards modernization. On 16th December, 1971 Bahrain was granted independence from The British. Al-Khalifahs are still the ruling family of Bahrain.
GEOGRAPHY:- Bahrain is a Middle East country, located at 26 00 N, 50 33 E. the islands captures total 665 sq km land area. The coastline, the archipelago covers, is 161 km long. The archipelago is mainly formed of low desert plains rising to the low undulating central zone. The lowest point is situated at the Persian Gulf (0 m) and the highest point is Jabal ad Dukhan (122 m).
CLIMATE:- Bahrain’s climate is mostly arid with temperate winters and hot and humid summers.
GOVERNMENT:- Bahrain is a Constitutional Monarchy. The constitution was adopted on 14th February 2002. The legal system is based on the Islamic law, English common law. The governmental system is handled by the three major branches of the government:
Executive:- This branch consists of the chief of state (King), head of government (Prime Minister), Deputy Prime Ministers, cabinet. The cabinet ministers are appointed by the King.
Legislative:- This branch comprises the bicameral legislature, which is divided into the Consultative Council (40 seats) and the Council of Representatives (40 seats).
Judicial:- This branch comprises the High Civil Appeals Court.
The formation of any political party is prohibited but political societies are authorized since 2005. Suffrage is universal at and over 20.
King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah
Prime Minister Khalifah ibn Sulman Al Khalifah
Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad
Deputy Prime Ministers Ali bin Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa
Muhammad bin Mubarak al-Khalifa
Jawad al-Araidh
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Bahrain is divided into 5 governorates (Capital, Central, Muharraq, Northern, Southern). These governorates are further subdivided into 12 municipalities.
CULTURE:- Bahrain is nicknamed as the ‘Middle East lite’ as it adds modernization in the pure Persian gulf culture. The emirate is religiously very liberal. The country is also politically open. It is crowned for publishing highest number of books among the Arab countries. Ali Bahar and Shakira are the most popular singers of Bahrain. Formula one race is very famous in the nation as it has its own Formula One race-track.
ECONOMY:- Apart from the huge oil reserves, Bahrain has a highly developed communication and transportation system. It is fastest growing economy among the Arab nations. According to the 2006 Index of Economic Freedom survey, published by the Heritage Foundation, Bahrain has the freest economy in the Middle East countries and 25th in the world. Bahrain is the first Arab country to initiate unemployment benefits as a part of the labour reforms under the supervision of Minister of Labour, Dr. Majeed Al Alawi. In according with the Global Financial Centres Index, Bahrain is the fastest growing financial centre.
GDP/PPP (2005 est): $14.11 billion; per capita $20,500.
Real growth rate: 5.9%.
Inflation: 2.7%.
Unemployment: 15%.
Arable land: 2.82%.
Agriculture: fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish.
Labor force: 380,000; 44% of the population in the 15–64 age group is non-national; agriculture 1%, industry, commerce, and services 79%, government 20% (1997 est.).
Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, offshore banking, ship repairing, tourism.
Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls.
Exports: $11.17 billion (2005 est.): petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles.
Imports: $7.83 billion (2005 est.): crude oil, machinery, chemicals.
Major trading partners: Saudi Arabia, U.S., UAE, Japan, Germany, UK, France (2004).
Budget:
Revenues: $6.168 billion
Expenditures: $5.205 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt: 29.4% of GDP (2007 est.)
Monetary unit: Bahrain dinar
LANGUAGE:- Arabic is the official language and English, Farsi, Urdu are also widely spoken.
CITIES:- Capital Al-Manamah is the largest city of Bahrain. Other large cities are Al Muharraq, Hamad town, Riffa, al Hidd etc.
POPULATION:- The estimated Bahraini population is 718,306 with a growth rate of 1.3%.
Density per sq mi: 1,080
Literacy rate: 89% (2003 est.)
RACE:-
Bahraini 62.4%
Non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001)
RELIGION:-
Islam (Sunni 45% and Shia55%) 80%
Christian 10%
Other 10%
HEALTH:-
Birth rate: 17.26 births/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 4.29 deaths/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 15.64 deaths/ 1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.92 years
Total fertility rate: 2.53 children born/ woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 200 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 933
UNICEF:- Public education is free and compulsory for all children from 6 to 15. 90% of the children are already immunized against childhood diseases and the government has made HIV awareness a priority. Youth parliament is set up to raise their voices. Several women’ union and institution for advocating for the disabled are established.
TRANSPORTATION:-
Railways: 0 km.
Highways: total: 3,498 km (2003).
Ports and harbors: Mina' Salman, Sitrah.
Airports: 3 (2005).
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