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Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain A sheikhdom in the Arabian Gulf.
Physical
Bahrain consists of a group of islands 32 km (20 miles) off the Arabian coast. The largest island is some 16 km (10 miles) wide and three times as long.
Economy
The country's exports are dominated by crude oil and petroleum products from a large oil refinery on Bahrain Island. There is also a growing banking and communications sector. Shipbuilding and repair in dry docks are also significant. Medical care is free, as is schooling to technical college level.
History
Iran, which ruled Bahrain from 1602 to 1783, was expelled by the al-Khalifas, who still reign. British political control dates from 1820. Oil was discovered in 1932, when the Bahrain National Oil Company was formed. After the withdrawal of Britain in 1971 and the abandonment by Iran of its claims, the country joined the Arab League. Tension between Shiite and Sunni communities increased, leading to the suspension of the National Assembly in 1975. Together with other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman), Bahrain repeatedly called for an end to the
IRAN-IRAQ WAR (1980–88), while retaining its neutrality then and in the
GULF WAR (1991). Its economy became increasingly diversified as oil reserves dwindled. Increasing opposition to the government and demands for the restoration of the National Assembly led to rising civil unrest in the mid-1990s.
Capital: | Manama |
Area: | 691 sq km (267 sq miles) |
Population: | 633,000 (1998 est) |
Currency: | 1 Bahrain dinar = 1000 fils |
Religions: | Shiite Muslim 60.0%; Sunni Muslim 40.0%; Christian minority |
Ethnic Groups: | Bahraini Arab 68.0%; Iranian, Indian, and Pakistani 24.7%; other Arab 4.1%; European 2.5% |
Languages: | Arabic (official) and minority languages |
International Organizations: | UN; Arab League; OAPEC; OPEC; GCC |
Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.
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Bahrain Economic Development Board Announces Delegation to World Economic Forum on Middle East.
PR Newswire; 5/15/2008; 700+ words
; MANAMA, Bahrain, May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al-Khalifa, Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) today announced details of the Bahrain delegation that the EDB is leading to the World...
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 "Gulf Daily News (Manama, Bahrain)")
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Bahrain, Dubai score fine wins.
Newspaper article from: Gulf Daily News (Manama, Bahrain); 3/14/2009; 700+ words
; ...Gulf Netball Championships, while hosts Bahrain had two squads advance for the first time...glaring down the outdoor courts of the Bahrain Rugby Football Club in Saar. They won...each preliminary pool, which included Bahrain 'A', Abu Dhabi 'B', and Dubai...
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Bahrain a 'gateway to billion-dollar markets'.
Newspaper article from: Gulf Daily News (Manama, Bahrain); 6/14/2009; 700+ words
; MANAMA: Bahrain's ability to assist international companies...London. The message was delivered at the 'Bahrain Gateway - Opening the Way to Billion Dollar...Northern Gulf and the Middle East. "Bahrain is a pioneer in the business history of...
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Bahrain to uphold; Democratic reform sets example for the region.(OPED)
Newspaper article from: The Washington Times; 11/25/2002; 700+ words
; ...war against international terrorism was Bahrain. Under the courageous leadership of its...monarch, Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Bahrain has been cooperating with the United States on all fronts since September 11. Bahrain has worked closely with the U.S. Treasury...
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Bahrain Bay a $1.5 billion urban development set to change the face of Manama
Newspaper article from: Al Bawaba; 12/11/2005; 700+ words
; Bahrain Bay Development B.S.C.(c) (Bahrain Bay BSC), a joint venture between Arcapita Bank B.S.C.(c) (Arcapita) and a Bahrain- based investment group, has been formed to oversee a...
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 "TradeArabia (Manama, Bahrain)")
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Bahrain investing in massive projects.
Newspaper article from: TradeArabia (Manama, Bahrain); 4/26/2009; 700+ words
; Byline: Manama Bahrain is pushing ahead with massive developments...the government's investments arm. Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company chief executive...detailed the $1 billion (BD378 million) @bahrain development, a business, technology...
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Bahrain Bay to become a digitally connected community with Alloptic infrastructure.(SERVICES)
Magazine article from: Gigabit/ATM; 12/1/2007; 700+ words
; ...optical networks (PONs), announced that Bahrain Bay, the $2.5 billion landmark waterfront...maintaining a new standard of urban center, Bahrain Bay is implementing a detailed design...regime for the whole community. Enabling Bahrain Bay's digital connectivity will be Alloptic...
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Bahrain's strengths highlighted at key financial forum in London
Newspaper article from: Al Bawaba; 3/27/2006; 700+ words
; The Banking on Bahrain conference also focussed on Bahrain as the location of choice for international firms and financial...event were led by Mr. Rasheed Al Maraj, Governor of the Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA), the central bank of Bahrain and...
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BAHRAIN: Invitation to bid on planned $600,000,000 refinery upgrade and expansion project is tentatively scheduled to be issued by some time around the end of the year 2002, BAHRAIN PETROLEUM CO. (BAPCO) [Bahrain] - Order #: 105202.
Newspaper article from: WWP-Business Opportunities in Africa & the Middle East; 10/1/2002; 700+ words
; PROJECT OVERVIEW: The local BAHRAIN PETROLEUM CO. (BAPCO) currently...facilities on behalf of the government of Bahrain. COPYRIGHT (Cr) by WWP Inc. 2001...General Manager (Administration) BAHRAIN PETROLEUM CO. (BAPCO) P.O. Box...
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Bahrain Bay officially launched with unveiling of masterplan & support of major global developers
Newspaper article from: Al Bawaba; 12/12/2006; 700+ words
; Bahrain Bay Development B.S.C.(c), a joint...Bank B.S.C.(c) (Arcapita) and a Bahrain-based investment group, today marks...Khalifa, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain. He will be joined by some 300 prominent...
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Bahrain
Encyclopedia entry from: Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Physical Geography
Bahrain Official name: State of Bahrain Area: 620 square kilometers (239 square miles) Highest point...limits: 22 kilometers (12 nautical miles) 1 LOCATION AND SIZE Bahrain is a Middle Eastern (southwestern Asia and northern Africa...
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Bahrain Nationalist Movement
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa
BAHRAIN NATIONALIST MOVEMENT Bahrain's twentieth-century effort to gain autonomy from Britain. Nationalism has a long history in Bahrain, because local notables persistently resisted British influence...
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National Liberation Front (Bahrain)
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa
NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT (BAHRAIN) organization advocating political reform in bahrain. Following a general strike in Bahrain in the summer of 1954, liberal reformers from both the Shi ʿ ite and Sunni communities organized a Higher...
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Bahrain National Oil Company (BANOCO)
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa
BAHRAIN NATIONAL OIL COMPANY (BANOCO) State-owned oil company. The Bahrain National Oil Company was established in 1976, following the decision of the government of Bahrain to assume a direct 60 percent interest in Bahrain...
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Bahrain Order in Council
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa
BAHRAIN ORDER IN COUNCIL Effort to establish Bahrain as a formal British protectorate, 1909 – 1913...delineating the jurisdiction of the British resident agent in Bahrain — thus establishing a formal British protectorate...
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