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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. Possessing minimal oil
reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining, and has
transformed itself into an international banking center. The new Amir is
pushing economic and political reforms, and has worked to improve
relations with the Shi'a community. Bahrain, a group of 33 islands, with
an area of 707 square kilometres, is situated in the Arabian Gulf, off the
east coast of Saudi Arabia. The local time is GMT + 3 hours.
Bahrain is rich in history and ancient
civilizations have only recently been discovered by international
archaeologists. Its believed that for tens of thousands of years, nomads
traveled over Bahrain's desert and primitive flint tolls found, testify to
this history. Recent finds have evidenced that Bahrain was indeed the site
of the lost civilization of Dilmun dating from the third millennium BC,
often refered to as the fabled Garden of Eden and described as "paradise"
in the Epic of Gilgamesh. The land is repeatedly mentioned in Sumerian ,
Babylonian and Assyrian inscriptions as an important seaport between
Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley, due to the perennial abundance of sweet
water. By 600BC, Bahrain was absorbed into the new Babylonian Empire and
once again flourished as a prosperous entreaty. In 323 BC, two of
Alexander the Great's ships arrived and new trade routes opened, resulting
in such a strong Greek influence that Dilmun was renamed Tylos. Bahrain
was also the site of the largest prehistoric cemetery in the world. At one
stage an estimated 170,000 burial mounds covered the central and western
areas. Archaeological finds of those that have been uncovered, reveal
evidence of two distinct civilizations the Dilmunand Tylos -two thousand
years apart, dating from the third and first millennia, respectively.
The state takes its name from
the largest island Bahrain, which is
586.5 square kilometres. It is linked by causeways to Muharraq
(international airport) and Sitra (industrial area and tank-farm). There
are numerous other tiny islands, but they are mainly uninhabited and are
best known for the variety of migrating birds which pass through in spring
and autumn. Arabic is the official language, although English is widely
understood and it's used by most businesses. Islam is the religion of
Bahrain and is practised by a large, majority. Places of worship of other
faiths exist on the island.
The climate is hot in summer and mild
in winter. From November to April it is very pleasant, with temperatures
from 15 to 24 degrees centigrade. Temperatures are coolest between
December and March when northerly winds prevail. From July to September
temperatures average 36 degrees centigrade with high humidity.The annual
average rainfall is approximately 77 millimetres.The Arabian Gulf has an
average depth of only 35 metres and most of it in the vicinity of Bahrain
is much shallower than this.
H.H. The Amir, Shaikh Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa,
came to power on the 6th of march 1999, following the path of the late
Amir. His Highness the Amir Shaikh Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa has continued
in steering the country towards prosperity, glory and success. Evidence of
the achievement are found in every sector of the economy and is a source
of pride and inspiration.
The country is widely respected by the international community for its
progressive policies and programmes, thanks to the judicious leadership of
His Highness and his wise government, led by His Highness Shaikh Khalifa
Bin Sulman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister and the continuous support of
His Highness Shaikh Sulman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa the Crown Prince and
Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force.
Apart from providing a stable government, it has been an active policy to
encourage foreign investment and support private enterprise.Bahrain became
a member of the United Nations and the Arab League in 1971. In 1981 it
joined its five neighbours - Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, the United Arab
Emirates and Qatar - to form the strategic alliance called the Gulf
Co-operation Council (GCC).
Bahrain has an independent legal and judicial system with a framework of
commercial laws and, on this strength and its well developed
infrastructure, has become an international and GCC arbitration centre.
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