U.S. Department of State
Background Notes: Bahrain, October 1996
Bureau of Public Affairs

Official Name: State of Bahrain

PROFILE

Geography

Area: 693 sq. km. (268 sq. mi.); about four times the size of 
Washington, DC. Bahrain is an archipelago consisting of 33 islands, only 
six of them inhabited.
Cities: Capital--Manama (pop. 145,000--1993 est.). Other city--Al 
Muharraq (81,000--1993 est.).
Terrain: Low interior plateau and hill on main island.
Climate: Hot and humid from May-September, temperate from October-April.

People

Nationality: Noun and adjective--Bahraini(s).
Population (1996 est.): 586,000; 66% indigenous.
Ethnic groups: Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%.
Religions: Shi'a and Sunni Muslim.
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu.
Education: Attendance--73%. Literacy (1990 est.)--77% (male 82%, female 
69%).
Work force (1987 est.): 197,000 (about 44% indigenous, 56% expatriate). 
Industry and commerce--74%. Services--19%. Agriculture--4%. Government--
3%.

Government

Type: Traditional emirate (cabinet--executive system).
Independence: August 15, 1971.
Constitution: May 26, 1973; suspended August 26, 1975.
Branches: Executive--Amir (chief of state), prime minister (head of 
government), Council of Ministers (cabinet). Judicial--independent 
judiciary with right of judicial review. Appointed Consultative Council 
(40 members) may review and propose legislation.
Subdivisions: Six towns and cities.
Administrative divisions: 12 districts.
Political parties: None.
Suffrage: None.

Economy

GDP (1995): $5 billion.
Growth rate (1995): 4%.
Per capita GDP (1995): $8,262.
Natural resources: Oil, associated and non-associated natural gas, fish.
Agriculture (1% of GDP): Products--eggs, vegetables, dates, fish.
Industry (39% of GDP): Types--manufacturing (21% of GDP), oil (16%), 
aluminum, ship repair, natural gas, fish.
Services (42% of GDP): Banking, real estate, insurance.
Public administration (18% of GDP).
Trade (1995): Exports--$4 billion: petroleum and petroleum products 
(80%), aluminum (7%), fish. Major markets--Saudi Arabia, U.S., Japan. 
Imports--$3.6 billion: machinery, industrial equipment, motor vehicles, 
foodstuffs, clothing. Major suppliers--U.S., U.K., Japan.
Official exchange rate: 0.377 Bahraini dinar=U.S. $1 (fixed rate set in 
1971).

PEOPLE

Most of the population of Bahrain is concentrated in the two principal 
cities, Manama and Al Muharraq. The indigenous people--66% of the 
population--are from the Arabian Peninsula and Persia. The most numerous 
minorities are Europeans and South and East Asians.

Islam is the dominant religion. Though Shi'a Muslims make up more than 
two-thirds of the population, Sunni Islam is the prevailing belief held 
by those in the government, military, and corporate sectors. Roman 
Catholic and Protestant churches, as well as a tiny indigenous Jewish 
community, also exist in Bahrain.

Bahrain has traditionally boasted an advanced educational system. 
Schooling and related costs are entirely paid for by the government, and 
primary and secondary attendance rates are high. Bahrain also encourages 
institutions of higher learning, drawing on expatriate talent and the 
increasing pool of Bahrainis returning from abroad with advanced 
degrees. Bahrain University has been established for standard 
undergraduate and graduate study, and the College of Health Sciences--
operating under the direction of the Ministry of Health--trains 
physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics.

HISTORY

Bahrain was once part of the ancient civilization of Dilmun and served 
as an important link in trade routes between Sumeria and the Indus 
Valley as long as 5,000 years ago. Since the late 18th century, Bahrain 
has been governed by the Al Khalifa family, which created close ties to 
Britain by signing the General Treaty of Peace in 1820. A binding treaty 
of protection, known as the Perpetual Truce of Peace and Friendship, was 
concluded in 1861 and further revised in 1892 and 1951. This treaty was 
similar to those entered into by the British Government with the other 
Persian Gulf principalities. It specified that the ruler could not 
dispose of any of his territory except to the United Kingdom and could 
not enter into relationships with any foreign government other than the 
United Kingdom without British consent. The British promised to protect 
Bahrain from all aggression by sea and to lend support in case of land 
attack.

After World War II, Bahrain became the center for British administration 
of treaty obligations in the lower Persian Gulf. In 1968, when the 
British Government announced its decision (reaffirmed in March 1971) to 
end the treaty relationships with the Persian Gulf sheikdoms, Bahrain 
joined the other eight states (Qatar and the seven Trucial Sheikhdoms, 
which are now called the United Arab Emirates) under British protection 
in an effort to form a union of Arab emirates. By mid-1971, however, the 
nine sheikhdoms still had not agreed on terms of union. Accordingly, 
Bahrain sought independence as a separate entity and became fully 
independent on August 15, 1971, as the State of Bahrain.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Bahrain is a hereditary emirate under the rule of the Al Khalifa family. 
The Amir, Sheikh Isa bin Sulman Al Khalifa, and his brother, Prime 
minister Khalifa bin Sulman Al Khalifa, govern Bahrain in consultation 
with a council of ministers. The government faces few judicial checks on 
its actions. Despite their minority status, the Sunnis predominate 
because the ruling family is Sunni and is supported by the armed forces, 
the security service, and powerful Sunni and Shi'a merchant families.

In 1973, the Amir enacted a new constitution, setting up an experimental 
parliamentary system and protecting individual liberties. But just two 
years later, in August 1975, the Amir disbanded the National Assembly. 
No date has been announced for the reintroduction of representative 
institutions, though a petition and other forms of protest have called 
for their return. In January 1993, the Amir appointed a 30-member 
Consultative Council to contribute "advice and opinion" on legislation 
proposed by the cabinet and, in certain cases, suggest new laws on its 
own. Political unrest broke out in December 1994 and included sporadic 
mass protests, skirmishes with local law enforcement, arson, and 
property attacks. In June 1995, the first Bahraini cabinet change in 20 
years took place, producing mixed public response. In 1996, the Amir 
increased the membership of the Consultative Council to 40 and expanded 
its powers. The first session of the new Council began October 1, 1996.

Bahrain's six towns and cities are administered by one central municipal 
council, the members of which are appointed by the Amir. A complex 
system of courts, based on diverse legal sources including Sunni and 
Shi'a Sharia (religious law), tribal law, and other civil codes and 
regulation, was created with the help of British advisers in the early 
20th century. This judiciary administers the legal code and reviews laws 
to ensure their constitutionality.

Principal Government Officials

Amir--Sheikh Isa bin Sulman Al Khalifa
Crown Prince and Commander in Chief of Bahrain Defense Force--Sheikh 
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Prime Minister--Sheikh Khalifa bin Sulman Al Khalifa
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Sheikh Mohammad bin Mubarak Al Khalifa
Ambassador to the United States--Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar
Ambassador to the United Nations--Abdul Aziz Buallay

Bahrain maintains an embassy in the United States at 3502 International 
Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008; tel: (202) 342-0741; fax: (202) 362-
2192). The Bahraini UN Mission is located at 747 3rd Avenue, New York, 
NY 10017; tel: (212) 751-8805.

=======================================
U.S.-BAHRAINI RELATIONS

When Bahrain became independent, the traditionally excellent U.S.-
Bahrain relationship was formalized with the establishment of diplomatic 
relations. The U.S. embassy at Manama was opened September 21, 1971, and 
a resident ambassador was sent in 1974. The Bahraini embassy in 
Washington, DC, opened in 1977. In October 1991, Amir Isa bin Sulman Al 
Khalifa made a state visit to Washington, after which he visited other 
parts of the U.S. as well.

In 1977, the agreement establishing Bahrain as the home port for the 
United States Navy's Middle East Force (MIDEASTFOR) was terminated. 
MIDEASTFOR was subsumed into NAVCENT, a part of U.S. Central Command in 
Tampa, Florida. Bahrain now is host to the Navy's Fifth Fleet.

The U.S. Department of Defense-sponsored Bahrain School remains, along 
with a small, administrative support unit. After the Gulf war, close 
cooperation between the two nations helped to stabilize the region. 
Bahrain has expressed a willingness for cooperation with plans for joint 
exercises, increased U.S. naval presence in the Gulf and cooperation on 
security matters. 

U.S.-Bahraini economic ties have grown steadily since 1932, when 
Americans began to help develop Bahrain's oil industry. Currently, many 
American banks and firms use Bahrain as a base for regional operations. 
In 1986, the United States displaced Japan to become the top exporter to 
Bahrain.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials 

Ambassador--David Ransom
Deputy Chief of Mission--George Staples
Economic/Commercial Officer--Donald A. Roberts
Political Officer--Denise Valois
Consular Officer--Morris William Roberts
Public Affairs Officer (USIS)--John Moran
Agricultural Trade Officer--Edwin Porter (resident in Dubai, UAE)
Administrative Officer--William Blaine

The U.S. embassy in Bahrain is located off Sheikh Isa Highway, Building 
979, Road 3119 (next to the Al-Ahli Sports club), Block 331, Zinj, 
Manama, Bahrain. The mailing address is PO Box 26431, Manama, Bahrain; 
tel: (973) 273300, after hours 275126; fax: (973) 272594. The embassy's 
hours are 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Saturdays-Wednesdays.
=======================================

DEFENSE

Under the Ministry of Defense, the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) numbers 
about 9,000 personnel and consists of army, navy, air force, air 
defense, and Amiri guard units. Separate from the BDF, the public 
security forces and the coast guard report to the Ministry of the 
Interior. Bahrain, in conjunction with its Gulf Cooperation Council 
(GCC) partners--Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab 
Emirates--has moved to upgrade its defenses over the last 10 years in 
response to the threat posed by the Iran-Iraq and Gulf wars. Defense 
spending has increased by as much as 30% each year since 1980. In 1982, 
the GCC gave Bahrain $1.7 billion to help improve its defenses.

In the wake of the Gulf war, Bahrain has received additional military 
support from the United States, including the sale of eight Apache 
helicopters in the summer of 1991, and subsequent sales of 54 M60A3 
tanks, 12 F-16C/D aircraft, and 14 Cobra helicopters. Joint air and 
ground exercises have also been planned and executed to increase 
readiness throughout the Gulf. Bahrain and the United States signed an 
agreement in October 1991 granting U.S. forces access to Bahraini 
facilities and ensuring the right to pre-position material for future 
crises.

ECONOMY

Bahrain has a mixed economy, with government control of many basic 
industries, including the important oil and aluminum industries. Between 
1981 and 1993, Bahrain Government expenditures increased by 64%. During 
that same time, government revenues continued to be largely dependent on 
the oil industry and increased by only 4%. The country has run a deficit 
in nine out of the last 10 years. Bahrain has received significant 
budgetary support and project grants from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the 
United Arab Emirates.

Bahrain's small economy is basically strong, despite the budget 
deficits. It is so small that it suffers from virtually any change in 
the region or world. Privatization, which could help reduce Bahrain's 
deficit, is moving ahead. Utilities, banks, financial services, 
telecommunications, and other areas will shortly come under the control 
of the private sector.

The government has used its modest oil revenues to build an advanced 
infrastructure in transportation and telecommunications. Bahrain is a 
regional financial and business center. Regional tourism is also a 
significant source of income. Bahrain benefited from the region's 
economic boom in the late 1970s and 1980s. During that time, the 
government emphasized infrastructure development and other projects to 
improve the standard of living; health, education, housing, electricity, 
water, and roads all received attention.

Petroleum and natural gas, the only significant natural resources in 
Bahrain, dominate the economy and provide about 60% of budget revenues. 
Bahrain was the first Persian Gulf state to discover oil. Because of 
limited reserves, Bahrain has worked to diversify its economy over the 
past decade. Bahrain has stabilized its oil production at about 40,000 
barrels per day (b/d), and reserves are expected to last 10-15 years. 
The Bahrain Oil Company refinery was built in 1935, has a capacity of 
about 250,000 b/d, and was the first in the Gulf. After selling 60% of 
the refinery to the state-owned Bahrain National Oil Company in 1980, 
Caltex, a U.S. company, now owns 40%. Saudi Arabia provides most of the 
crude for refinery operation via pipeline. Bahrain also receives a large 
portion of the net output and revenues from Saudi Arabia's Abu Saafa 
offshore oilfield.

The Bahrain National Gas Company operates a gas liquefaction plant that 
utilizes gas piped directly from Bahrain's oilfields. Gas reserves 
should last about 50 years at present rates of consumption.

The Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company is a joint venture of the 
petrochemical industries of Kuwait, the Saudi Basic Industries 
Corporation, and the Government of Bahrain. The plant, completed in 
1985, produces ammonia and methanol for export.

Bahrain's other industries include Aluminum Bahrain, which operates an 
aluminum smelter--the largest in the world with an annual production of 
about 525,000 metric tons (mt)--and related factories, such as the 
Aluminum Extrusion Company and the Gulf Aluminum Rolling Mill. Other 
plants include the Arab Iron and Steel Company's iron ore pelletizing 
plant (4 million tons annually) and a shipbuilding and repair yard.

Bahrain's development as a major financial center has been the most 
widely heralded aspect of its diversification effort. In 1973, the 
Bahraini Monetary Agency was formed to provide oversight for the banking 
and financial sector. Since 1983, the regional economic climate in which 
these institutions operate has become less favorable because of the 
region's economic downturn. Banks, including some from the United 
States, have reacted by scaling back their operations or leaving the 
area. This decrease in business confidence was exacerbated by the Gulf 
war. Nevertheless, more than 100 offshore banking units and 
representative offices are located in Bahrain, as well as 65 American 
firms. Bahrain's international airport is one of busiest in the Gulf, 
serving 22 carriers. A modern, busy port offers direct and frequent 
cargo shipping connections to the U.S., Europe, and the Far East. 

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Bahrain plays a modest, moderating role in regional politics and adheres 
to the views of the Arab League on Middle East peace and Palestinian 
rights. Bahrain is a member of the GCC, established on May 26, 1981 with 
five other Gulf states. The country has fully complied with steps taken 
by the GCC to coordinate economic development and defense and security 
planning. However, Bahrain and fellow GCC member, Qatar, continue to 
argue over claims to the Hawar Islands. 

Because of its small size and limited wealth, Bahrain has not taken a 
leading role in regional or international affairs. Rather, it generally 
pursues a policy of close consultation with neighboring states and works 
to narrow areas of disagreement. During the Gulf war, Bahraini pilots 
flew strikes in Iraq, and the island was used as a base for military 
operations in the Gulf. 

Since achieving independence in 1971, Bahrain has maintained friendly 
relations with most of its neighbors and with the world community. In 
December 1994, it concurred with the GCC decision to drop secondary and 
tertiary boycotts against Israel. In many instances, it has established 
special bilateral trade agreements.

Bahrain-Iran relations have been strained since the Iranian revolution 
and the 1981 discovery of a planned Iran-sponsored coup in Bahrain. 
However, with the decline of Iraq as a regional power broker, Bahrain 
has begun taking steps to improve relations with Iran and increase 
regional harmony. These efforts have included encouraging Bahrain-Iran 
trade, although Bahraini suspicions of Iranian involvement in local 
unrest appear to have slowed these steps toward improved relations.

TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION 

The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program provides 
Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. Travel Warnings are 
issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel 
to a certain country. Consular Information Sheets exist for all 
countries and include information on immigration practices, currency 
regulations, health conditions, areas of instability, crime and 
security, political disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. posts in 
the country. Public Announcements are issued as a means to disseminate 
information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-
term conditions overseas which pose significant risks to the security of 
American travelers. Free copies of this information are available by 
calling the Bureau of Consular Affairs at 202-647-5225 or via the fax-
on-demand system: 202-647-3000. Travel Warnings and Consular Information 
Sheets also are available on the Consular Affairs Internet home page: 
http://travel.state.gov and the Consular Affairs Bulletin Board (CABB). 
To access CABB, dial the modem number: 301-946-4400 (it will accommodate 
up to 33,600 bps); set terminal communications program to N-8-1 (no 
parity, 8 bits, 1 stop bit), and terminal emulation to VT100. The login 
is travel and the password is info (Note: Lower case is required). The 
CABB also carries international security information from the Overseas 
Security Advisory Council and Department's Bureau of Diplomatic 
Security. Consular Affairs Trips for Travelers publication series, which 
contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip 
abroad, can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. 
Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954; 
telephone: 202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250.

Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be 
obtained from the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at (202) 647-
5225. For after-hours emergencies, Sundays and holidays, call 202-647-
4000. 

Passport Services information can be obtained by calling the 24-hour, 7-
day-a-week automated system ($0.35 per minute) or live operators 8 a.m. 
to 8 p.m. (EST) Monday-Friday ($1.05 per minute). The number is 1-900-
225-5674 (TDD: 1-900-225-7778). Major credit card users (for a flat rate 
of $4.95) may call 1-888-362-8668 (TDD: 1-888-498-3648).

Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 
(404) 332-4559 gives the most recent health advisories, immunization 
recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water 
safety for regions and countries. A booklet entitled Health Information 
for International Travel (HHS publication number CDC-95-8280) is 
available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 
20402, tel. (202) 512-1800.

Information on travel conditions, visa requirements, currency and 
customs regulations, legal holidays, and other items of interest to 
travelers also may be obtained before your departure from a country's 
embassy and/or consulates in the U.S. (for this country, see "Principal 
Government Officials" listing in this publication). 

U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in dangerous areas 
are encouraged to register at the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country 
(see "Principal U.S. Embassy Officials" listing in this publication). 
This may help family members contact you in case of an emergency. 

Further Electronic Information: 

Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN). Available on the 
Internet, DOSFAN provides timely, global access to official U.S. foreign 
policy information. Updated daily, DOSFAN includes Background Notes; 
Dispatch, the official magazine of U.S. foreign policy; daily press 
briefings; directories of key officers of foreign service posts; etc. 
DOSFAN's World Wide Web site is at http://www.state.gov; this site has a 
link to the DOSFAN Gopher Research Collection, which also is accessible 
at gopher://gopher.state.gov.

U.S. Foreign Affairs on CD-ROM (USFAC). Published on a semi-annual basis 
by the U.S. Department of State, USFAC archives information on the 
Department of State Foreign Affairs Network, and includes an array of 
official foreign policy information from 1990 to the present. Contact 
the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. 
Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. To order, call (202) 512-1800 or 
fax (202) 512-2250.

National Trade Data Bank (NTDB). Operated by the U.S. Department of 
Commerce, the NTDB contains a wealth of trade-related information, 
including Country Commercial Guides. It is available on the Internet 
(www.stat-usa.gov) and on CD-ROM. Call the NTDB Help-Line at (202) 482-
1986 for more information. 

(###)