0
A+ A-

Destination Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, a Nations Online country profile of the island nation in the Persian Gulf.

The island state is situated east of Saudi Arabia and north of Qatar. The archipelago consists of the main island Al Bahrayn and some smaller islands and islets. The King Fahd Causeway, a series of bridges and causeways, connects Bahrain with the Arabian Peninsula. The kingdom shares maritime borders with Iran, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

Flag of Bahrain
The small island nation covers an area of 780 km², making it slightly larger than Singapore (699 km²), or 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC.

Bahrain has a population of 1,5 million people (in 2018), including more than 800,000 non-nationals (53%). Most of the population lives in the northern part of the main island. The capital and largest city is Manama.
The spoken language is Arabic. Bahrain is a country with a predominantly Muslim population, with about 70% Shia and 30% Sunni Muslims.


Location map of Bahrain

  • What is Bahrain known for?
Bahrain is known for being an island with a subtropical climate, desert vegetation, lots of sand, date palms, and camels, the Tree of Life (Prosopis cineraria), and the Mountain of Smoke (Jabal al Dukhan). Bahrain has an ethnically diverse population, a Dilmun heritage, a pearl diving and trading tradition, and it was one of the largest cemeteries in the ancient world.
The country is in the petroleum and aluminum business and practices Islamic banking. Leisure activities include Formula One, camel and horse racing.
The country boasts the largest underwater theme park in the world, and has one of the world's largest single-site aluminum smelter.
Bahrain is also known for the Bahraini uprising of 2011 and a controversial human rights record.

Kingdom of Bahrain | Al Bahrayn | البحرين
  • Background:
Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center.
The new amir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National Action Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's political liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly.

The United States established diplomatic relations with Bahrain in 1971 following its independence from the United Kingdom. The U.S. Embassy in Manama was opened on 21 September 1971, and a resident ambassador was sent in 1974. The U.S. designated Bahrain a major Non-NATO Ally in 2002. The U.S. maintains two US Military Bases in Bahrain.

In 2001, the  International Court of Justice awarded the Hawar Islands, long disputed with Qatar, to Bahrain.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook and United States Department of State)

other Gulf States: Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

Bahrain is a member of the League of Arab States.

Country Profile

  • Official Name:
Mamlakat al Bahrayn
short form: Al Bahrayn
int'l long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
int'l short form: Bahrain

ISO Country Code: bh, BHR

  • Time:
Local Time = UTC +3h
Actual Time: Wed-Sept-30  11:12

Country Calling Code: +973

Capital City: Manama (pop. 148 000)

Other Cities: Al Muharraq

  • Government:
Type: Constitutional hereditary monarchy.
Independence: 15 August 1971 (from the UK).

  • Geography:
Location: Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands in the Persian Gulf located off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia.
Area: 780 km² (300 sq. mi.)
Terrain: Low desert plain.

Climate: Arid; mild, pleasant winters with maximum temperatures average 20-30C (68-86F); very hot and humid from May-September, with average highs ranging from 30-40 C (86-104 F).

  • People:
Nationality: Bahraini(s).
Population: 1.5 million, including more than 800,000 non-nationals (in 2018)
GNI per capita PPP: $ 45,025 (year)
Ethnic groups: Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%.
Religions: 98% Muslim (Shia 70%, Sunni 30%), small Christian, Jewish and Hindu communities.
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Farsi, and Urdu are also widely spoken.
Literacy: 90%

Natural resources: Oil, natural gas, fish, pearls.

Agriculture products: Fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish.

Industries: Petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, offshore banking, ship repairing, tourism.

Exports - commodities: Petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners: UAE 19.6%, Saudi Arabia 11.7%, USA 10.8%, Oman 8.1%, China 6.5%, Qatar 5.7%, Japan 4.2% (2017)

Imports - partners: China 8.8%, UAE 7.2%, USA 7.1%, Australia 5.3%, Japan 4.8% (2017)

Currency: Bahraini Dinar (BHD)

Official Sites of Bahrain


The future Sakhir Conference Center, to be built on the Al Sakhir Palace premises, will primarily house Gulf Cooperation Council meetings.

  • Political System of Bahrain
The country is a constitutional hereditary monarchy, ruled by the House of Khalifa since the 18th century. The Sunni Khalifa family rules over a Shia majority population.
The chief of state is the king, and the head of government is the prime minister. Since 1973 Bahrain has an elected legislative assembly; it consists of the Council of Representatives (the lower house) and the royally-appointed members of the Consultative Council (the upper house).
Bahrain is a member of the League of Arab States (Arab League) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Government of Bahrain
HRH the Crown Prince receives senior officials and members of the Council of Representatives and the Shura Council.


  • Bahrain
Bahrain E-Government page.
  • Bahrain National Council
Bahrain's National Council (assembly) is composed of the Council of Representatives and the Shura Council.
  • Council of Representatives
The Council of Representatives is the lower house of the Bahrain's National Assembly.
  • Shura Council
The Shura Council, also known as the Consultative Council, is the upper house of the country's National Assembly.
  • Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for coordinating and implementing all matters related to the nation's foreign policy.
The ministry's web page also provides a list of Bahrain Embassies abroad, and foreign Diplomatic Missions accredited to Bahrain.
  • Diplomatic Missions
Bahrain Permanent Mission to the United Nations
Bahrain's Permanent Mission to the UN.
Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the US
Washington D.C. - USA
  • Statistics
Bahrain Open Data Portal
Bahrain in figures.


Maps of Bahrain

zoom the map by clicking

Maps

 Map of Bahrain
Political Map of Bahrain.

Google Earth Google Earth Map Bahrain
Searchable map and satellite view of Bahrain.

Google Earth Google Earth Map Manama
Searchable map and satellite view of Bahrain's capital city.

 Map of the Arabian Peninsula 
Political Map of the Arabian Peninsula.
 Map of the Persian Gulf
Political Map of the Persian Gulf.
 Map of Northern Africa and the Middle East
Political Map of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Middle East.
profile Map of Western Asia
Map of South Western Asia and the Middle East region.
profile Map of Asia
Reference Map of Asia.



Share to:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
 
Top