WELCOME TO BAHRAIN

Geography

Bahrain, which means “two seas,” is an archipelago in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia. The islands for the most part are level expanses of sand and rock. A causeway connects Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.

Government:Constitutional monarchy.

Bahrain is a kingdom ruled by the Al Khalifa family. His Majesty the King, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, gained accession in March 1999 following the unexpected death of his father Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa. The government is led by The Prime Minister His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Highness the Crown Prince, Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

History

Known in ancient times as Dilmun, Bahrain was an important center of trade by the 3rd millennium B.C. The islands were ruled by the Persians in the 4th century A.D., and then by Arabs until 1541, when the Portuguese invaded them. Persia again claimed Bahrain in 1602. In 1783 Ahmad ibn al-Khalifah took over, and the al-Khalifahs remain the ruling family today. Bahrain became a British protectorate in 1820. It did not gain full independence until Aug. 14, 1971.

Although oil was discovered in Bahrain in the 1930s, it was relatively little compared to other Gulf states, and the wells are expected to be the first in the region to dry up. Sheik Isa ibn Sulman al-Khalifah, who became emir in 1961, was determined to diversify his country's economy, and he set about establishing Bahrain as a major financial center. The country provides its people with free medical care, education, and old-age pensions.

Conflicts between the Shiites and Sunnis are a continuing problem in Bahrain. The Sunni minority, to which the ruling al-Khalifah family belongs, controls nearly all the power and wealth in the country. Shiite Muslims have continued to agitate for more representation in government, and minor violent clashes have led to about two dozen deaths since 1994.

Bahrain has been an important Western ally, serving as a Western air base during the Persian Gulf War in 1991 and the Iraq war in 2003. It continues to serve as the base of the United States' Fifth Fleet, which patrols the Gulf.

The emir, Sheik Isa ibn Sulman al-Khalifah, died in 1999 after four decades of rule. He was succeeded by his son, Sheik Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifah, who gave himself the title of king but also began a sweeping democratization of the country: censorship has been relaxed and draconian laws repealed, exiles have been repatriated, and the stateless Bidoons have been granted citizenship. In a Feb. 2001 referendum, which permitted women to vote for the first time, Bahrainis overwhelmingly supported the transformation of the traditional monarchy into a constitutional one. In Oct. 2002, Bahrain had its first parliamentary election since 1973. In 2006, the U.S. and Bahrain signed a free-trade agreement.

Current government officials

Land area: 239 sq mi (619 sq km);
total area: 257 sq mi (665 sq km)
Population (2007 est.): 708,573 (growth rate: 1.4%); birth rate: 17.5/1000; infant mortality rate: 16.2/1000; life expectancy: 74.7; density per sq mi: 2,965

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Al-Manámah, 527,000 (metro area), 149,900 (city proper)
Monetary unit: Bahrain dinar
Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Ethnicity/race: Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001)
Religion: Islam (Shiite and Sunni) 81%, Christian 9%
Literacy rate: 89% (2003 est.)
Economic summary: 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; note: 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).
Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 191,600 (2004); mobile cellular: 649,800 (2004). Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998).
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997).
Internet hosts: 1,952 (2005). Internet users: 152,700 (2005).
Transportation: Railways: 0 km.
Highways: total: 3,498 km; paved: 2,768 km; unpaved: 730 km (2003).
Ports and harbors: Mina' Salman, Sitrah.
Airports: 3 (2005).
International disputes: none.