Browse listings of B&B, Home Exchange, Vacation Rentals (furnished apartments, villas, cottages, condos, farmhouses and other types of accommodations) of Bahrain:
Last Minute Tips Before you Travel to Bahrain
- Time Zone: GMT/UTC +3
- Electricity: 230V, 50 Hz (bring an adapter/transformer for your hair drier, laptop, cellullar phone etc.)
- Currency: Bahraini Dinar (BD)
- Country Dialing Code: 973
Must See - Properties on UNESCO World Heritage List by
- Qal'at al-Bahrain Archaeological Site
Bahrain
Location
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Capital
Manama
Population
688,345
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)
Regions
12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
note: all municipalities administered from Manama
Climate
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Ethnic groups
Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)
Religions
Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
Languages
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Government type
constitutional hereditary monarchy
Background
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. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The amir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National Action Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's political liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly.
Visitor's Impressions
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