Bahrain or Bahrein, independent state in southwestern Asia, comprising an archipelago in the southern Persian Gulf, between the Qatar Peninsula on the east and the coast of Saudi Arabia on the west. It has a total area of 622 sq km (240 sq mi). The principal islands include Bahrain (area, 562 sq km/217 sq mi), by far the largest island; Al Muharraq; Umm an Na‘san; Sitrah; Jiddah; and the Hawar group. Manama is Bahrain's capital and largest city. Bahrain was under British control from 1861 to 1971, when it gained its independence.

Land and Resources

The islands of Bahrain are low-lying and rocky, with the exception of Bahrain Island, which rises to an elevation of 135 m (443 ft) in its center. The climate is arid, with less than 100 mm (about 4 in) of rain falling annually, nearly all in the winter months (December to March). The average annual temperature is about 25° C (about 77° F). Desert vegetation predominates; characteristic wildlife includes hares, lizards, and desert rats; the country also has a large variety of bird life. Petroleum is Bahrain's principal mineral resource. Artesian wells, mainly along the northern coast of Bahrain Island, are used for water supply and irrigation.

Population and Education

The population of Bahrain (1990 official estimate) is 503,022. The majority of the population is concentrated in the northern part of the country. The country's principal cities are the capital, Manama (estimated population, 1990, 138,784), and Al Muharraq (75,906). Most of the people of Bahrain are Muslims, of the Sunni and Shiite sects. Arabic is the official language.

Education and health services are provided free by the government for all citizens. In the late 1980s, schools in Bahrain had a total enrollment of about 101,000 pupils. Higher education is provided by the University of Bahrain (founded in 1986) in Manama.

Economy

The economy of Bahrain is based on the petroleum industry and transit trade. Annual production of oiil, extracted since the early 1930s, was 14.5 million barrels in the late 1980s. Oil refining is also important; crude petroleum is supplied by a pipeline from Saudi Arabia. Other industries have been developed to offset declining oil reserves. Prominent among these are aluminum smelting and the manufacture of paper products, clothing, and consumer goods. Agriculture is important on the irrigated northern coast of Bahrain Island; produce includes dates, fruits, and vegetables. Fishing is locally important.

A modern harbor at Mìna’ Salman near Manama has strengthened the position of Bahrain as a transshipment port of the southern part of the Persian Gulf. The international airport at Al Muharraq is one of the busiest in the Gulf region. The King Fahd Causeway linking Bahrain and Saudi Arabia opened in November 1986, leading to a significant increase in local tourism. The unit of currency is the Bahrain dinar (0.376 Bahrain dinars equal U.S.$1; 1993).

Government

Bahrain is ruled by the al-Khalifa family. A constitution, promulgated in 1973, provides for a national assembly, which met for two years and was dissolved in 1975 by Emir Isa bin Sulman al-Khalifa, who has ruled Bahrain since 1961. Administrative functions are performed by a cabinet.

History

Bahrain first became important as a Portuguese way station on the route to India in the 16th century. During the 17th and 18th centuries it was frequently under Iranian control. In 1783 the al-Khalifa dynasty established Bahrain as an independent emirate, but it was soon eclipsed by Great Britain's growing influence in the region. Beginning in 1861, the British forced Bahrain to accept a series of treaties giving the British control over its external affairs. The significance of the emirate greatly increased when oil was discovered there in the 1930s. Bahrain remained under British control until 1971; since 1973 it has been a constitutional monarchy and has become increasingly prosperous on the income from its oil exports.

After the Iranian Shiite revolution in 1979, unrest grew among Bahrain's Shiite Muslims (the al-Khalifa are Sunni Muslims), and Iran revived its claim to the islands. In 1981 Bahrain reportedly foiled an Iranian-inspired plot to foment revolution in the emirate. Renewed attempts were reported in 1985. Bahrain was part of the United Nations-led, 28-nation allied force that defeated Iraq in the Persian Gulf War in 1991. In December 1994 Shiites calling for the restoration of the banned national assembly held protests that led to skirmishes with police. After several months of protests, al-Khalifa began negotiations with the Shiite leaders, but the talks dissolved by mid-1995. In early 1996 al-Khalifa ordered the arrest of dozens of Shiite leaders charged with rioting and sabotage, and the execution in March of a Shiite accused of killing a police officer provoked yet another round of protests.