Simple directory > Regional > Bahrain

Country : Bahrain Official name: Al Mamlakah al Bahrayn (Kingdom of Bahrain) Head of State: King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa (ruler since Mar 1999; King since 14 Feb 2002) Head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Sulman al Khalifa Area: 676 square km (35 islands) Population: 699,400 (2004) Capital: Manama Official language: Arabic Currency: Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils Exchange rate: BD0.38 per US$ (fixed) GDP per capita: US$10,096 (2003) GDP real growth: 4.00% (2003) Labour force: 300,000 (2003) Unemployment: 15.00% (2003) Inflation: 0.40% (2003) Balance of trade: US$1.05 billion (2003) Foreign debt: US$3.70 billion (2003)

Historical profile

Bahrain became a British protectorate in the nineteenth century; government was split between the ruling Sheikh (Bahrain was a traditional monarchy) and the British.

1928 Iran claimed ownership of Bahrain; the dispute was not resolved until 1970 when Iran accepted a UN report stating that the vast majority of Bahrainis wanted to retain their complete independence.

1942–61 Sheikh Sulman bin Hamad al Khalifa ruled Bahrain. He was succeeded by Sheikh Isa bin Sulman al Khalifa.

1968 Britain announced its intention to withdraw from the Gulf by 1971. The British plan was to form a single state consisting of Bahrain, Qatar and the Trucial States, but this idea never found good political ground.

1971 Bahrain and Qatar became independent states.

1973 The constitution was promulgated.

1974 Legislative elections were held to elect a 30-member National Assembly.

1975 The National Assembly refused to ratify a bill to arrest and detain people for up to three years without trial, and was dissolved by the ruler, Sheikh Isa. The government subsequently ruled by decree.

1981 Bahrain was one of the six founder members of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).

1990 Bahrain actively supported the allied forces against Iraq in the Gulf military conflict.

1999 Sheikh Isa bin Sulman al Khalifa died and was succeeded by his son, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa.

2001 Women were able to vote for the first time during a two-day referendum on constitutional reform. The reforms were approved by more than 98 per cent of the electorate.

2002 The state was declared a constitutional monarchy. As part of the reforms, legislation was approved to allow women to stand for office. In the legislative elections (the first since 7 December 1973), parliament was split between Islamists and secular and independent representatives. The elections were boycotted by the influential Shi'ite Al Wefaq (National Accord society) and also by three political societies belonging to the traditional opposition.

2003 The King approved a two-year budget in June.

2004 In July, Bahrain became the first fully liberalised telecommunications market in the Gulf.

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