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• Officially known as the Kingdom of Bahrain, it is an island country in West Asia located in the Persian Gulf.
• Comprises 33 natural and 50 artificial islands, primarily centered on Bahrain Island, which accounts for about 80% of its landmass.
• Geographically positioned between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, connected by the King Fahd Causeway.
• The population is approximately 1.59 million (2024), with 46.6% being Bahraini nationals and 53.4% expatriates.
• Covers an area of 760 square kilometers, making it the third-smallest nation in Asia after the Maldives and Singapore.
• Manama is the capital and largest city.
• Historically significant, it was home to the ancient Dilmun civilization and known for its pearl fisheries.
• Experienced significant historical rule transitions, including Portuguese control (1521-1602) and later British protection in the late 19th century.
• Gained independence in 1971 and became a semi-constitutional monarchy in 2002, with sharia law as a key legislative source.
• Faced protests in 2011 linked to the Arab Spring, with concerns over human rights violations by the ruling Al Khalifa royal family.
• Recognized as one of the first post-oil economies in the Persian Gulf, focusing on banking and tourism, with oil still crucial to its economy.
• Member of notable international organizations, including the UN, Arab League, and GCC, and recognized as a high-income economy by the World Bank.