- Home : Middle East Country Guides : Bahrain : General information
Bahrain » Key FactsMiddle East, Gulf Coast.
Area710.9 sq km (274.5 sq miles).
Population754,000 (UN estimate 2005).
Population Density1060.6 per sq km.
CapitalManama. Population: 139,000 (2003).
GovernmentConstitutional monarchy. Gained full independence from the UK in 1971 (had been a British Protectorate from 1861).
Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands in the Arabian Gulf, situated between Saudi Arabia’s east coast and the Qatar peninsula. At the centre of the island is the highest point, Jebel Dukhan. The majority of Bahrain’s oil wells are to be found in this area. The main island has the valuable asset of an adequate supply of fresh water, unique in the region, both on land and offshore. There are extensive date gardens to the north with irrigated vegetable and fruit gardens. The strategic 24km- (15-mile-) long King Fahad Causeway links Bahrain with Saudi Arabia.
LanguageThe official language is Arabic. English is widely spoken.
ReligionIslam is practised by around 85% of Bahraini society (of which 60% is Shi’ite and 40% Sunni). There are also other faiths, including Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism and Buddhism.
TimeGMT + 3.
Social ConventionsTraditional beliefs and customs are strong influences and people are generally more formal than Westerners. Attitudes to women are more liberal than in most Gulf States. Homosexuality, however, is illegal. Video cassettes will be withheld on arrival at the airport. It is illegal for Muslims to purchase alcohol from retail outlets. It is acceptable to sit cross-legged on cushions or sofas in people’s homes but it is still insulting to display the soles of the feet or shoes or to accept food or anything else with the left hand. It is polite to drink two small cups of coffee or tea when offered. Guests will generally be expected to share a bedroom since guest bedrooms and privacy are almost unknown. Sports clothes may be worn in the street and short dresses are acceptable; however, revealing clothing should be avoided. Smoking is very common and cheap by European standards.
Electricity230 volts AC, 50Hz (Awali, 110 volts AC, 60Hz).
Head of GovernmentPrime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa since 1971.
Head of StateKing Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa since 1999.
Recent HistoryIn February 2002, Sheikh Hamad declared Bahrain a constitutional monarchy with himself as head of state and announced that majlis elections would be held. Women were allowed to stand as candidates for the first time, provoking complaints from traditionalist Islamists, while Islamist candidates were themselves allowed to stand for the first time. The second such elections took place in November 2006. No group won an outright majority, but the main Shia opposition group took over 40% of the vote.
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Content in the country guide is updated every 3 months and is to the best of our knowledge accurate and up-to-date. The information contained is intented as a general guide - any opinions or travel advise expressed are not necessarily those of AME Info FZ LLC.
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Content in the country guide is updated every 3 months and is to the best of our knowledge accurate and up-to-date. The information contained is intented as a general guide - any opinions or travel advise expressed are not necessarily those of AME Info FZ LLC.
The information is provided in association with Columbus Travel Publishing Limited and my not be republished or reproduced in anyway without the prior written consent by the publisher.
All information made available from within this product is provided without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, any warranties as to merchantability, non-infringement or fitness for a particular purpose. We accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person resulting from this information.
AME Info FZ LLC or Columbus Travel Publishing Limited shall not be liable for any technical, editorial or typographical or other errors or omissions within the information accessible through this product.
Whilst changes are periodically made to the information herein AME Info FZ LLC or Columbus Publishing Limited does not warrant that information currently accessible is either up-to-date or accurate.
All product names mentioned herein are subject to the trademarks and/or trademark rights of their respective owners.
3D Animated Flags used in this section is courtesy of www.3DFlags.com
Please contact us if you have any questions or corrections to the content in this section.
Information in this section was last updated: Monday, September 29 - 2008
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