| Country Overview |
| Head of State |
His Majesty the King, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa |
| Prime Minister |
His Highness, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa |
| National Day |
December 16 |
| Independence Day |
August 15, 1971
(from United Kingdom) |
| Population |
760,168
Nationals: 469,553( 61.8%)
Non-Nationals: 290,615 (38.2%) |
| Location / Size |
Arabian Gulf, 257 Square Miles |
| Capital |
Manama |
| Languages |
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu |
| Ethnic Groups |
Bahraini Arab (63%), Asian (19%), other Arab (10%), Iranian (8%) |
| Currency |
Bahraini Dinar |
| Fixed Exchange Rate |
1 Bahraini Dinar = 2.75 US Dollar (Fixed) |
General Overview |
| Business Hours |
Government offices
07:00-14:15 (Sunday to Thursday)
Banks
07:30-13:00 is the normal business hours (Sunday to Thursday)
Some banks are also open for a few hours on some afternoons
Central Post Office
(Manama, near Bab Al Bahrain) – 07:00-19:30 (Saturday to Thursday)
Shops
Working hours vary, but typically 08:30-12:30 and 16:00-20:00 (Saturday to Thursday)
Many shops are open for half or full day on Friday as well |
| Weekly holidays |
Friday, Saturday |
| Time zone |
3 hours ahead of GMT (GMT+3) |
| Climate |
Summer:
July-September, very hot and humid (Avg. 36°C).
Winter:
December to February, cool or mild with occasional rain (10°C - 20°C). Remaining months: March to May and October to November, warm with occasional pleasant breezes (20°C - 30°C). |
Introduction to Bahrain
The Kingdom of Bahrain — a name that translates as “Two Seas”—is actually an archipelago of 33 low-lying islands located in the heart of the Gulf. Situated along major Arabian and international trade routes between Asia and the West, the Kingdom has, for millennia, served as an important port and center of business. The capital city of Manama is a vibrant cosmopolitan center offering an open economy and an educated workforce enhanced by modern cultural amenities like museums, shopping, restaurants and fine hotels.
Culture
While Islam is the religion of some 80% of Bahrain’s 650,000 inhabitants, there is considerable presence of other faiths and religious freedoms are respected. Arabic is the official language of Bahrain, but English, Farsi, Hindi, and Urdu are spoken widely. Most notably, English is considered the official language for business in Bahrain.
Human Development
Bahrain is consistently one of the top Middle Eastern countries in the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) annual index on human development. The UNDP’s report tracks statistics like access to medicine and medical care, life expectancy, infant mortality and availability of safe drinking water. Bahrain ranks proudly among the top countries in those important yardsticks.
Education
Looking at education, Bahrainis are among the best-educated people in the Arab world. This guarantees a workforce that is skilled and ready for the highly technical demands of today’s global economy. Secondary school enrollment now measures 97%, or better in 2001, the National Action Charter stipulated the importance Bahrain places on education. The Charter laid out a vision that the Government of Bahrain “guarantees the educational and cultural services for its citizens. Education is compulsory and free.” As a result, the Bahraini literacy rate is among the highest in the Arab world, averaging 85.2 per cent. Literacy among Bahraini males stands at 90 per cent and 80 per cent among women.
