Bahrain
This page contains general information about the country
Bahrain.
State of Bahrain (in facts and figures)
Capital: Manama
Area: 678 km²
Est. population: 645,361
Official language: Arabic
Major religion: Islam
Literacy: 85 % of adult population.
Universities: 1
Hospital beds: 1,612
Infant mortality: 19.7 per 1,000 live births
Life expectancy: 76 (Women), 71 (Men)
Government type: Constitutional monarchy
Government leader:
Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
Chief of state: Amir Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
GNP: $3.03 billion, $6,610 per capita
More facts and figures:
CIA
World Factbook: Bahrain
About Bahrain
The State of Bahrain is an small emirate of a group of islands. The main
island Bahrain contains the capital Manama and the airport is located
on the island Muharraq. The islands are found in the Persian Gulf, connected
to Saudi Arabia with the long low-bridge King Fahad Causeway, which opened
in 1986.
Bahrain is a dry desert land with very little rain, but water wells all
over the country has made small agriculture possible.
Bahrain was the first country in the gulf to discover and refine oil
(from 1931), but today Bahrains oilreserves are almost finished. Bahrain
still have a oil refinery which refines oil from Saudi Arabian pipelines.
The industry also includes natural gas and an aluminium factory.
Bahrain is turning into a center of commerce and trade - and maybe tourism.
The Islands have an good location between Saudi Arabia and Qatar and has
become the regions banking and communications center. Other major plusses
for Bahrain is the international Airport and the free trade zone in the
port.
Most of the population is arab, but many Indians, Persians, Europeans
and Americans also reside and work in Bahrain. English is understood by
most people and the government knows the importance of having good relationships
with the international society.
Most Bahrainis practice Islam, which is the official religion. The sheik
family and about one third of the population belongs to the sunnite sect.
The shiite sect is bigger in number, but the sunnite is dominant.
In the later years there has been riots and conflicts between the poor
shiite people and the ruling family. The police forces has struck hard
upon every sign of rebellion. Iran has from the eighties been supporting
the Shiites and as a result the official Bahrain has a
closer relationship with The sunnite Saudi Arabia and the Western countries.
In general Bahrain is still among the peaceful corners of the Islamic
world.
History of Bahrain
Bahrain was in the 3d millennium BC center of a large trade in the region
called Dilmun. Dilmun is described as something close to paradise in several
pre-bible writings.
From 1953 a team of Danish archaeologists lead by professor P.V. Glob
discovered a large city, temples and hundreds of graves in Bahrain from
the Dilmun period. Bahrain stayed as an independant arab state until first
Portugese (1521) and then Persians (1602) occupied the country. From the
Portugese period Bahrain has a Fort in the North of the Island. In 1783
the Al-Khalifa family gained power in the country and has ruled the Monarchy
ever since. For a long period of time Bahrain was a British protectorate.
Bahrain had its independence in 1971.
The Sunni Sheik-Government has had problems with its shiite population
and Iran who has claimed that they should rule in Bahrain. During the
Iraq war (1990) Bahrain aggreed to be a center for U.S. troops, planes
and ships. Bahrain forces took part of the anti-Iraq coalition and is
still used by American forces in the area.
Notes:
March 6, 1999: The ruler of Bahrain, Sheikh Isa Ibn
Salman Al-Khalifa, died in Manama. The emir died of a heart attack only
minutes after a meeting with the US Secretary of Defence. His son immediately
assumed power as the new prince for the state of Bahrain
October 24, 2002: The first legislative elections in Bahrain since
1973. The Emir is carrying out the plans of approaching democracy in Bahrain.
For the first time women were allowed to vote - and Bahrain is the only
nation in the region allowing women to run for the parliament.
JCJ
Film has produced a video about a Danish girl growing up in the Gulf-state
Bahrain. The video is partly about her
life and partly about Bahrain.
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