The Kingdom of Bahrain, which name means two seas, is a peaceful island in the Persian Gulf. One of the first Gulf States to discover oil and to build a refinery, unfortunately, it never achieved the levels of production or wealth enjoyed by its neighbours. A traditional Muslim country, Bahrain has a liberal and tolerant nature and is a popular tourist destination within the region.
Sheikh Hamad has led the country since 1999, transitioning from Emir to King when Bahrain became a constitutional monarchy in 2002. The Khalifa family has a long tradition of ruling the country and has been in power since 1783.
Facts:
- Population: 1.4m
- Territory: 717 sq km
- Capital: Manama
- Currency: Bahraini dinar
- Language: Arabic
- Religion: Islam
- Life expectancy: 75.5 yrs
- Leader: King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah
Links:
Jobs in Bahrain
Maids in Bahrain
GCC profile
United Arab Emirates profile
Kuwait profile
Oman profile
Qatar profile
Saudi Arabia profile