BAHRAIN

State of Bahrain

Dawlat al-Bahrayn

CAPITAL: Manama (Al-Manamah)

FLAG: Red with a white vertical stripe on the hoist, the edge between them being saw-toothed.

ANTHEM: Music without words.

MONETARY UNIT: The Bahrain dinar (bd) is divided into 1,000 fils. There are coins of 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 fils and notes of 500 fils and 1, 5, 10, and 20 dinars. bd1 = $2.63158 (or $1 = bd0.38) as of 2005.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is used; local measures also are used.

HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; National Day, 16 December. Movable Muslim religious holidays include Hijra (Muslim New Year), 'Ashura, Prophet's Birthday, 'Id al-Fitr, and 'Id al-'Adha'.

TIME: 3 pm = noon GMT.

LOCATION, SIZE, AND EXTENT

Situated in the western Persian Gulf, 29 km (18 mi) nw of Qatar, the State of Bahrain consists of a group of 33 islands (6 inhabited) with a total area of 620 sq km (239 sq mi), extending 48 km (30 mi) n–s and 19 km (12 mi) e–w. Comparatively, Bahrain occupies slightly less than 3.5 times the area of Washington, DC. Bahrain, the main island, is linked by causeways and bridges to Muharraq and Sitra islands and to Saudi Arabia; other islands include the Hawar group, Nabih Salih, Umm an Nasān, and Jiddah. The total coastline is 161 km (100 mi). Bahrain's capital city, Manama, is located on the northeastern coast.

TOPOGRAPHY

A narrow strip of land along the north coast of Bahrain is irrigated by natural springs and artesian wells. South of the cultivable area, the land is barren. The landscape consists of low rolling hills with numerous rocky cliffs and wadis. From the shoreline the surface rises gradually toward the center, where it drops into a basin surrounded by steep cliffs. Toward the center of the basin is Jabal ad-Dukhan, a rocky, steep-sided hill that rises to 122 m (400 ft). Most of the lesser islands are flat and sandy, while Nabih Salih is covered with date groves.

CLIMATE

Summers in Bahrain are hot and humid, and winters are relatively cool. Daily average temperatures in July range from a minimum of 29°c (84°f) to a maximum of 37°c (99°f); the January minimum is 14°c (57°f), the maximum 20°c (68°f). Rainfall averages less than 10 cm (4 in) annually and occurs mostly from December to March. Prevailing southeast winds occasionally raise dust storms.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Outside the cultivated areas, numerous wild desert flowers appear, most noticeably after rain. Desert shrubs, grasses, and wild date palms are also found. Mammalian life is limited to the jerboa (desert rat), gazelle, mongoose, and hare; some 14 species of lizard and 4 types of land snake are also found. Bird life is especially varied. Larks, song thrushes, swallows, and terns are frequent visitors, and residents include the bulbul, hoopoe, parakeet, and warbler.

ENVIRONMENT

Bahrain's principal environmental problems are scarcity of fresh water, desertification, and pollution from oil production. Population growth and industrial development have reduced the amount of agricultural land and lowered the water table, leaving aquifers vulnerable to saline contamination. In recent years, the government has attempted to limit extraction of groundwater (in part by expansion of seawater desalinization facilities) and to protect vegetation from further erosion.

Bahrain has developed its oil resources at the expense of its agricultural lands. As a result, lands that might otherwise be productive are gradually claimed by the expansion of the desert. Pollution from oil production was accelerated by the Persian Gulf War and the resulting damage to oil-producing facilities in the Gulf area, which threatened the purity of both coastal and ground water, damaging coastlines, coral reefs, and marine vegetation through oil spills and other discharges.

According to a 2006 report issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), threatened species included 1 type of mammal, 7 species of birds, 4 types of reptiles, and 6 species of fish. A wildlife sanctuary established in 1980 was home to threatened and at-risk Gulf species, including the Arabian oryx, gazelle, zebra, giraffe, Defassa water-buck, addax, and lesser kudu. Bahrain has also established captive breeding centers for falcons and for the rare Houbara bustard. The goitered gazelle, the greater spotted eagle, and the green sea turtle are considered endangered species. There are two Ramsar international wetland sites in the country: the Hawar Islands and Tubli Bay.

POPULATION

The population of Bahrain in 2005 was estimated by the United Nations (UN) at 731,000, which placed it at number 158 in population among the 193 nations of the world. In 2005, approximately 3% of the population was over 65 years of age, with another 28% of the population under 15 years of age. There were 132 males for every 100 females in the country. According to the UN, the annual population rate of change for 2005–10 was expected to be 1.8%, a rate the government viewed as satisfactory. The projected population for the year 2025 was 965,000. The population density was 1,059 per sq km (2,744 per sq mi).

The UN estimated that 87% of the population lived in urban areas in 2005, and that urban areas were growing at an annual rate of 2.01%. The capital city, Manama (Al-Manamah), had a population of 139,000 in that year. Manama is connected by causeway with the other major city, Al Muharraq, population 91,939.

The vast majority of the population lives on the main island of Bahrain. Approximately 40% of the population is made up of immigrants who come for work in the country. Although the percentage of the population infected with HIV/AIDS is small (0.2%), the number of women ages 15–49 with HIV/AIDS doubled between 2001 and 2003.

MIGRATION

The proportion of aliens increased from 20% of the total population in 1975 to an estimated 40% in 2000, and the expatriate labor force comprised nearly 69% of the labor force that year. Most are temporary workers from Iran, Pakistan, India, the Republic of Korea, and other Arab countries. Many skilled workers are Europeans. In 2005, the net migration rate was estimated as 1.04 migrants per 1,000 population. The government views these migration levels as satisfactory requiring no intervention.

A population of stateless inhabitants in Bahrain is the Bidun, a name derived from the Arabic expression meaning "without nationality." The Bidun have no proof of citizenship for their home country. In 2001, Bahrain granted the majority of 9,000–15,000 Bidun citizenship status, giving them the right to own land, start a business, or get government loans. Most Bahraini Bidun are of Iranian origin, and are mostly Shiite, with some Christians.

ETHNIC GROUPS

According to a 2005 report, about 63% of the population consisted of indigenous Bahrainis, the vast majority of whom were of northern Arab (Adnani) stock, infused with black racial traits. Asians accounted for 19% of the population; other Arab groups (principally Omanis) 10%; Iranians 8%; and other ethnic groups 6%.

LANGUAGES

Arabic is the universal language; the Gulf dialect is spoken. English is widely understood. Farsi and Urdu are spoken by small groups of people.

RELIGIONS

In 2005, an estimated 98% of the country's citizens were Muslim, with about two-thirds practicing the Shia branch and the others Sunni. Foreigners make up 38% of the total population; roughly half are non-Muslim, including Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Baha'is. All are free to practice their own religions, keep their own places of worship, and display the symbols for their religions. Islam, however, is the official religion. Religious groups are required to obtain a license from the government through the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, but small unlicensed groups have operated without government interference. Sunni Muslims, though a minority, seem to enjoy a favored status, as Shias face discrimination and disadvantage in social and economic realms.

TRANSPORTATION

The outline of the present road network was traced in the early 1930s, soon after the discovery of oil. The four main islands and all the towns and villages are linked by excellent roads. There were 3,498 km (2,176 mi) of roadways in 2003, of which 2,768 km (1,722 mi) were paved. A four-lane, 2.8-km (1.7-mi) causeway and bridge connect Manama with Al Muharraq, and another bridge joins Sitra to the main island. A four-lane highway atop a 24-km (15-mi) causeway, linking Bahrain with the Saudi Arabian mainland via Umm an Nasān, was completed in December 1986 and financed by Saudi Arabia. In 2003, there were 290,600 passenger vehicles and 124,500 commercial vehicles.

Bahrain's port of Mina Sulman can accommodate 16 oceangoing vessels drawing up to 11 m (36 ft). In 2005, Bahrain had a merchant fleet of eight ships of 1,000 GRT or over, totaling 219,083 GRT. Also in 2004, there were four airports. As of 2005, a total of three had paved runways, and there was a single heliport. The international airport near Al Muharraq can handle large jet aircraft and serves more than two dozen international airlines. In 1997, the airport was in the midst of a major expansion. Gulf Air, headquartered in Bahrain and owned equally by the governments of Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), flies to other Gulf countries, India, and Europe. In 2001, 1,250,100 passengers were carried on scheduled domestic and international flights.

HISTORY

The history of Bahrain has been traced back 5,000 years to Sumerian times. Known as Dilmun, Bahrain was a thriving trade center around 2000 bc; the islands were visited by the ships of Alexander the Great in the third century bc. Bahrain accepted Islam in the 7th century ad, after which it was ruled alternately by its own princes and by the caliphs' governors. The Portuguese occupied Bahrain from 1522 to 1602. The present ruling family, the Khalifa, who are related to the Sabah family of Kuwait and the Saudi royal family, captured Bahrain in 1782. Following an initial contact in 1805, the ruler of Bahrain signed the first treaty with Britain in 1820. A binding treaty of protection, similar to those with other Persian Gulf principalities, was concluded in 1861 and revised in 1892 and 1951. After World War II, Britain maintained at Bahrain its headquarters for treaty affairs in the lower Gulf. Claims to Bahrain pressed by Iran were abandoned in 1971 after a UN mission ascertained that the Bahrainis wished to remain independent of that nation.

Between 1968 and 1971, Bahrain participated in discussions aimed at forming a federation of the nine sheikhdoms of the southern Gulf. On 14 August 1971, Sheikh 'Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa declared that, in view of the failure of the larger federation to materialize, Bahrain would declare its independence. Its treaties with the United Kingdom were replaced by a treaty of friendship and cooperation, and on 15 August, the country became the sovereign State of Bahrain. Bahrain promulgated its first constitution in 1973, which occasioned the convening of an elective National Assembly; the legislature was dissolved in August 1975 amid charges of communist influence. The emir continued to set state policy, and his brother, Crown Prince Hamad bin 'Isa al-Khalifa, directed government administration. In 1993, Bahrain established an appointive Consultative Assembly (Majlis al-Shura). On 14 February 2001, a referendum was held that endorsed a return to constitutional rule. Under the constitution amended 14 February 2002, the country is no longer an emirate, but a constitutional monarchy. The emir was replaced by a king. A two-house National Assembly was established, along with an independent judiciary.

Owing to its small size, Bahrain generally takes its lead in foreign affairs from its Arab neighbors on the Gulf. A founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, it shares with the other five members a long-standing concern with pressures from Iran and Iraq. During the Iran-Iraq War, Bahrain joined most other Arab states in supporting Iraq. Subsequently, it has carefully tried to foster better relations with Iran through trade. When Iraq invaded Kuwait, Bahrain stood with the allies, contributing military support and facilities to the defeat of Iraq.

Bahrain has long assisted the American naval presence in the Persian Gulf. In 1977, a formal agreement for home-porting US naval ships was replaced by arrangements to continue ship visits and other security cooperation. Since the Gulf War, this cooperation has expanded with arms sales, plans for joint exercises, and US pre-positioning of military material for future contingencies. In 1991, the United States signed an agreement giving the Department of Defense access to facilities on the island. The country is home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.

Since 1994, Bahrain, like several traditional emirates of the Gulf, experienced sometimes severe civil disturbances from a Shiite-led resistance opposed to the ruling family and supportive of establishing an Islamic democracy. In 1996, a band of 44 Bahraini Islamists were arrested for allegedly planning a coup to overthrow the ruling family. The emirate broke relations with Iran, which the former accused of fomenting its civil disturbances which between 1994 and 1996 had resulted in 25 deaths. In 1997, the United States disclosed that it had uncovered a plot to attack its military forces stationed in the country.

On 6 March 1999, Sheikh 'Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa, who had ruled his country since its independence in 1971, died of a heart attack. He was succeeded on the throne by his son, Sheikh Hamad bin 'Isa al-Khalifa. Over the following year, there were signs that while the new ruler would continue his father's pro-Western foreign-policy orientation, domestically he would take a more liberal approach to government. In April, Sheikh Hamad released high-profile Shiite dissident, Sheik Abdul Amir al-Jamri, from jail together with hundreds of other political prisoners. Another broad pardon of dissidents took place in November. By February 2001, the emir had pardoned and released all political prisoners, detainees, and exiles.

On 16 March 2001, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) resolved a territorial dispute between Bahrain and Qatar over the potential oil- and gas-rich Hawar Islands. The islands were controlled by Bahrain since the 1930s but were claimed by Qatar. Bahrain also claimed the town of Zubarah, which is on the mainland of Qatar. The dispute has lasted for decades and almost brought the two nations to the brink of war in 1986. In its judgment, the ICJ drew a single maritime boundary in the Gulf of Bahrain, delineating Bahrain and Qatar's territorial waters and sovereignty over the disputed islands within. The ICJ awarded Bahrain the largest disputed islands, the Hawar Islands, and Qit'at Jaradah Island. Qatar was given sovereignty over Janan Island and the low-tide elevation of Fasht ad Dibal. The Court reaffirmed Qatari sovereignty over the Zubarah Strip.

In August 2002, Hamad (now king) made the first state visit to Iran since the Islamic revolution in 1979. The two countries voiced their support for solidarity with the Iraqi people. Iraq was at that time under the threat of a military attack led by the United States for its possession of weapons of mass destruction. Bahrain and Iran urged Iraq to implement all UN resolutions then pending, so that Iraq's territorial integrity and sovereignty could be honored. President Mohammed Khatami of Iran and King Hamad also noted the importance of preserving security and stability in the region, and thus pledged to strengthen ties with one another. Several trade, taxation, and naval agreements were signed at the conclusion of the state visit. As well, both countries agreed to "open a new page" in their bilateral relations, previously strained due to Iran's support for Bahraini opposition movements, and Iran's criticism of the American military presence in Bahrain.

In January and March 2003, demonstrations took place in Bahrain in opposition to a potential US-led war with Iraq. By 13 January, there were approximately 150,000 US troops in the Gulf region, many of which were stationed in Bahrain, in addition to Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. US naval operations were headquartered in Bahrain with 4,000 US troops stationed aboard Fifth Fleet ships. As anti-American sentiment in the Gulf increased, the government arrested five men plotting attacks against Americans in February 2003; and by July 2004 Americans were warned to leave. In May 2003 the king was petitioned by thousands of victims of alleged torture to cancel the law which prevented them from suing suspected torturers. Bahrain signed a free trade pact with the United States in September 2004. Under the terms of the agreement 100% of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products became duty-free. In addition, Bahrain and the United States provided immediate duty-free access on virtually all products in their tariff schedules and planned to phase out tariffs on the remaining handful of products within 10 years. Between March and June 2005, thousands attended protest marches led by Shiite opposition demanding a fully elected parliament. In Iraq, gunmen ambushed a senior Bahraini diplomat in July 2005. In this same month Bahrainis staged a demonstration about unemployment, estimated by economists to be at 20%.

GOVERNMENT

Under its constitution, amended 14 Februrary 2002, Bahrain is no longer an emirate but a constitutional hereditary monarchy. As a result of the change, the State of Bahrain became the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Sheikh Hamad bin 'Isa al-Khalifa became King Hamad, by his own decree. A referendum held on 14 February 2001 endorsed a return to constitutional rule by 98.4%.

The new legislature is called the National Assembly (Al-Majlis al-Watani). It consists of two houses, an appointed Consultative Council (Majlis al-Shura) and an elected Chamber of Deputies (Majlis al-Nawab). The Chamber of Deputies consists of 40 members, elected for a four-year term. The Chamber of Deputies elects a president and two vice presidents. The Consultative Council consists of 40 members appointed by the king for a four-year period. The king also appoints the Council speaker and the Shura Council elects two vice presidents. Both chambers must concur to pass legislation, which is then sent to the king for ratification. The king has the power to dissolve the Chamber of Deputies, but new elections are to be held within four months from the date of the dissolution; if they are not, the dissolved Chamber reassumes its constitutional powers and is reconvened. In April 2004 a woman was made health minister, the first woman to be appointed head of a government ministry.

The constitution specifies that Shariah (Islamic law) is a principal source of legislation but also pledges freedom of conscience. It guarantees equality of women with men "in political, social, cultural and economic spheres, without breaching the provisions of Shariah." The constitution states that every citizen is entitled to health care. It protects private property, but states that "all natural wealth and resources are state property." Discrimination is banned on the basis of sex, national origin, language, religion, or creed.

In the first parliamentary elections since 1973, 190 candidates ran for 40 seats in the Chamber of Deputies on 24 October 2002. In nearly half the races, runoff elections were held between the top two vote getters due to close election results. Under the new constitution, women have the right to vote and run for public office. Of the eight women seeking election in the October parliamentary elections, two forced runoff elections by being among the top two vote getters. As in municipal elections held in May 2002, women constituted over half of those voting. Leaders of Bahrain's Shia population and labor-oriented groups called for a boycott of the elections, claiming dissatisfaction with the structure of parliament. Voter turnout was 53.2%. Moderate Sunni Islamists and independents won 16 of 40 seats on 24 October. In a second round held on 31 October, the independents won 12 seats and the Islamists 9. In total, secular representatives or independents secured a total of 21 of the 40 seats, and Islamists 19.

POLITICAL PARTIES

Political parties are illegal in Bahrain. Groups known as political societies, or blocs, remnants of the former Communist left and the Islamist right, hold some seats in parliament: National Islamic Society, Islamic Action Party, National Democratic Action, Democratic Bloc, Al Meethaq, National Action Charter Society, Progressive Democratic Front, Nationalist Democratic Rally Society. Several underground groups, including branches of Hizbollah and other pro-Iranian militant Islamic groups, have been active. Anti-regime dissidents have frequently been jailed or exiled. However, Sheikh Hamad bin 'Isa al-Khalifa in 1999 issued an amnesty for most political prisoners, ended the house arrest of Shiite opposition leader Sheikh Abdul Amir al-Jamri, and granted permission for the return of 108 people in exile. By February 2001, the emir had pardoned and released all political prisoners, detainees, and exiles. In addition, the reinstatement of dissidents fired from public sector jobs, the lifting of travel bans on political activists, and the abrogation of state security laws have all created a more open atmosphere for political expression.

Beginning with municipal elections in May 2002, candidates from a wide variety of political groups formed a more pluralistic political culture in Bahrain. These groups were not officially designated as political parties, but they had the attributes of democratic parties in the West: they fielded candidates in elections, organized activities, and campaigned freely. There are seven main political groups: the Arab-Islamic Wasat (Center) Society (AIWS); the Democratic Progressive Forum (DPF); the Islamic National Accord (INA); the National Action Charter Society (NACS); the National Democratic Action Society (NDAS); the National Democratic Gathering Society (NDGS); and the National Islamic Forum (NIF).

In addition, numerous other nongovernmental organizations were set up after the constitution was endorsed in February 2001, among them the Bahrain Human Rights Society, the Supreme Council for Bahraini Women, and the Organization Against Normalization with Israel. These organizations campaign on single-issue platforms, hold public discussions and meetings, consult with the government, and are members of Bahraini delegations to international forums.

The partially elected bicameral parliament that was approved in a referendum in 2001 held its first session in December 2002 after elections were held that October. In the 40-member directly-elected House of Deputies, independents took 21 seats, Sunni Islamists won 9 seats, and other groupings held 10 seats.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Under the new constitution, there are five municipal councils in Bahrain, each with 10 elected members and an appointed chairman. The first local elections since 1957 were held on 9 May 2002. In the five new municipal councils, 30 of the 50 seats contested were decided in the first round of voting, with the remaining 20 seats—where no candidate received an absolute majority—being decided in a second round of voting on 16 May. Candidates with links to Islamist groups won the majority of seats. There were 31 women among 306 candidates in the first round of voting, but none won. After the elections, some political figures suggested that a quota system should be set up to assure that some women would obtain seats in the municipal councils. Out of the 50 municipal seats, 38 were won by candidates affiliated with Islamist parties. Voter turnout in the first round of voting was 51.3%.

The democratic municipalities are responsible for the provision of local goods and services, including transportation, waste disposal, street cleaning and beautification, and enforcing health and safety standards.

JUDICIAL SYSTEM

The law of Bahrain represents a mixture of Islamic religious law (Shariah), tribal law, and other civil codes and regulations. The new constitution promises an independent judiciary. A Higher Judicial Council supervises the courts. Courts have been granted the power of judicial review.

The new reforms establish a constitutional court, consisting of a president and six members, appointed by the king for a specified period. Members are not liable to dismissal. The government, or either house of the National Assembly, may challenge the constitutionality of any measure before the court. The king may refer to the court draft laws prior to their adoption, to determine their consitutionality.

Military courts are confined to military offenses only, and cannot be extended to others without the declaration of martial laws.

Shariah governs the personal legal rights of women, although the new constitution provides for women's political rights. Specific rights vary according to Shia or Sunni interpretations of Islamic law, as determined by the individual's faith, or by the courts in which various contracts, including marriage, have been made. While both Shia and Sunni women have the right to initiate a divorce, religious courts may refuse the request. Women of either branch of Islam may own and inherit property and may represent themselves in all public and legal matters. A Muslim woman legally may marry a non-Muslim man if the man converts to Islam. In such marriages, the children automatically are considered to be Muslim.

ARMED FORCES

In 2005 Bahrain's armed forces had 11,200 active members. The Army consisted of 8,500 personnel, equipped with 180 main battle tanks, 46 reconnaissance vehicles, 25 armored infantry fighting vehicles, more than 235 armored personnel carriers, and 69 artillery pieces. The Navy had 1,200 active personnel. Major naval units included one frigate, two corvettes, and eight patrol/coastal vessels. The Air Force had 1,500 active members and 33 combat capable aircraft including 12 fighters, 21 fighter ground attack aircraft, and 24 attack helicopters. Paramilitary troops consisted of an estimated 10,160 personnel, including the police, national guard, and coast guard. The defense budget in 2005 totaled $526 million.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Bahrain joined the UN on 21 September 1971 and is a member of ESCWA, all major regional organizations, and several nonregional specialized agencies. It also belongs to the Arab League, the Arab Monetary Fund, the Islamic Development Bank, OAPEC, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), the Gulf Cooperation Council, and G-77. The country joined the WTO 1 January 1995. Bahrain was a founding member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, inaugurated in 1981. The country is also a part of the Nonaligned Movement and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. In environmental cooperation, the country is part of the Basel Convention, the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ramsar, the Montréal Protocol, and the UN Conventions on the Law of the Sea, Climate Change, and Desertification.

ECONOMY

For centuries, Bahrain depended almost exclusively on trade (or piracy), pearl diving, and agriculture. The discovery of oil on 1 June 1932 changed that. Although its economy has been based on oil for the last six decades, Bahrain's development has been tempered by relatively limited reserves. Proven reserves are 125 million barrels, all from one diminishing oil field, the Awali field. At current production levels, the field has a life of less than 10 years. Oil revenue accounted for 24.4% of GDP in 2003. Oil and petroleum products also made up 74.4% of export earnings in 2003.

Significant progress has been made in enhancing Bahrain as an entrepôt (trade center) and as a service and commercial center for the Gulf region. Bahrain provides ample warehousing for goods in transit and dry dock facilities for marine engine and ship repairs. Bahrain also acts as a major banking, telecommunications, and air transportation center. Bahrain also began diversifying its economy to rely on services to a higher degree after the Lebanese civil war in the late 1970s and early 1980s essentially ended that country's status as a safe, regulation-free banking environment. Services accounted for 56.9% of all economic activity in the country in 2005.

Although the Bahrain economy slowed considerably in the mid-1990s, foreign investment in the earlier part of that decade helped enable GDP to growth at an annualized rate of 4% between 1988 and 1998. Low world oil prices created a negative growth situation in 1998, but real growth has been steady since then. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that real GDP grew 4.3% in 1999, 5.3% in 2000, 4.5% in 2001, 5.1% in 2002, and 5.7% in 2003. The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) estimates 2005 GDP at $14.08 billion, and growth of 5.9%.

INCOME

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reports that in 2005 Bahrain's gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at $14.1 billion. The CIA defines GDP as the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year and computed on the basis of purchasing power parity (PPP) rather than value as measured on the basis of the rate of exchange based on current dollars. The per capita GDP was estimated at $20,500. The annual growth rate of GDP was estimated at 5.9%. The average inflation rate in 2005 was 2.7%. It was estimated that agriculture accounted for 0.6% of GDP, industry 42.5%, and services 56.9%.

Approximately 32% of household consumption was spent on food, 8% on fuel, 1% on health care, and 6% on education.

LABOR

The Bahraini labor force in 2005 was estimated at 380,000. In 1997 (the latest year for which data was available), employment by sector was estimated as follows: industry, commerce, and services accounted for 79%; government 20%; and agriculture 1%. In 1998, (the latest year for which data was available), unemployment was estimated at 15%. Nonnationals in 2005 made up an estimated 44% of the country's population between the ages of 15 and 64.

Although the constitution permits workers to organize, the government bans trade unions. With this absence of legitimate trade unions, no collective bargaining entities or collective agreements exist. Workers may express grievances through joint labor-management committees (JLCs). JLCs are generally created at each major company and have an equal number of labor and management representatives. As of 2000, there were a total of 20 JLCs. There are no internationally affiliated trade unions, and foreign workers are underrepresented in the General Committed of Bahrain workers which coordinates the JLCs.

The government set minimum wage scales for public sector employees and this generally provides a decent standard of living for workers and their families. The minimum wage for public-sector wages were specified on a contract basis. All foreign workers must be sponsored by Bahrainis or Bahrain-based companies, which can revoke the residence permit of anyone under their sponsorship. Migrant workers from developing countries are often unwilling to report health and safety abuses for fear of forced repatriation. Nor do labor laws apply to foreign workers, who often work far in excess of official maximum hour laws. The minimum age for working is 14 years and until age 16, special work conditions and hour limits apply to workers. There is general compliance with this in the industrial sector, but there is rampant abuse outside it, especially in family-owned businesses.

AGRICULTURE

Only 2.9% of the land is arable. Agriculture accounts for only about 1% of the GDP. Ninety farms and small holdings produce fruit and vegetables, as well as alfalfa for fodder. The date palm industry has declined sharply in recent years due to heavy demands on the limited water supply, and dates have become a luxury item. In 2004, 7,667 tons of vegetables and 19,000 tons of fruit crops were produced. The government's goal is for output to meet 16% of demand, compared with the current 6%.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Most domestic meat consumption is supplied through imports of live cattle, goats, and sheep. About 9,000 head of cattle, 39,000 sheep, and 25,000 goats were kept for milk and meat production in 2004. A thriving poultry industry provided 13,500 tons of meat and 5,000 tons of eggs in 2004. A national dairy pasteurization plant has been established in order to centralize all milk processing and distribution. In 2004, milk production totaled 11,000 tons. An abattoir that opened in 1984 slaughters imported sheep and cattle.

FISHING

Although the more than 300 species of fish found in Bahraini waters constitute an important food source for much of the population, local fishing and pearl diving have declined because of industrial pollution. The catch totaled 13,641 tons in 2003. The government operates a fleet of seven trawlers. By encouraging traditional angling, giving incentives to fishermen, improving fishing and freezing equipment, and establishing cooperatives, the government is attempting to increase the annual catch. There is a modern fishing harbor at Al Muharraq, which provides docking and landing facilities, storage areas, an ice plant, and a water supply.

FORESTRY

There are no forests in Bahrain. Bahrain's imports of forest products amounted to $60.5 million in 2003. That year, Bahrain re-exported about $1.9 million of forest products, including about 1,000 tons of industrial roundwood.

MINING

Bahrain's oil-based economy produced few minerals other than crude oil and natural gas. In 2004, crude oil and refined petroleum products accounted for around $5.5 billion of the nation's $7.5 billion in exports. Cement production in 2004 was reported at 153,483 metric tons, up from 88,806 metric tons in 2000. Sulfur production totaled 71,258 metric tons in 2004.

ENERGY AND POWER

The Arabian Peninsula's first oil well was drilled in Bahrain in 1932, and production began in 1934. From the 1930s to the mid-1970s, oil development was a monopoly of the Bahrain Petroleum Co. (BAPCO), which in 1936 came under the ownership of Caltex, a corporation registered in Canada and jointly owned by Texaco and Standard Oil of California. In 1975, the Bahrain government acquired a 60% holding in BAPCO, and it later formed the Bahrain National Oil Co. (BANOCO) to take over full ownership. In 1980, BANOCO announced its acquisition of a 60% interest in Bahrain's main refinery, which had been wholly owned by Caltex.

Total daily crude petroleum production, after reaching a peak in 1970, has declined gradually. Crude oil production was estimated at 35,000 barrels per day in 2003, with proven oil reserves in Bahrain estimated at 125 million barrels as of 1 January 2004. From 1972 until 1996, Bahrain shared revenues from the Abu Safa oil field, which lies halfway within Saudi Arabian territorial waters, with Saudi Arabia. In 1996, the Saudi government ceded the remainder of its share of the field to Bahrain, increasing the government's revenue by about $200 million.

Bahrain gained the right to offer concessions in offshore oil fields in the Gulf of Bahrain after a territorial dispute with Qatar was settled by the International Court of Justice in March 2001 and Bahrain won control of the Hawar Islands. In November 2001 drilling rights were awarded to Petronas and Chevron Texaco, and oil exploration began in late 2002. As of early 2003 a $900 million modernization was planned for Bahrain's only refinery, Sitra, which had a capacity of 248,900 barrels per day. Plans to build a second refinery, approved in 1999, had been delayed due to financing problems.

Bahrain's natural gas resources were estimated at 90 billion cu m (3.2 trillion cu ft) as of end 2004. Production of gas was 9.8 billion cu m in 2004, most of which was associated with drilling in the Awali oil field.

The Directorate of Electricity operates plants at Manama, Sitra, and Rifaa. In 2002, electricity generation was 6.841 billion kWh, of which 100% came from fossil fuels. In the same year, consumption of electricity totaled 6.362 billion kWh. Total capacity at the beginning of 2002 was estimated at 1.4 gigawatts (GW). Power is principally derived from a municipal power station at Jufair, from the Sitra power and water station, from two gas turbines at Al Muharraq, and from the power station at East Rifaa, which was completed in 1985 and is the largest and most modern. BANOCO produces its own electricity from a 60 MW plant. Phase One of the Hidd power project, completed in 1999, created an additional 280 MW of gas-fired generating capacity. Completion of Phase Two would add another 630 MW.

INDUSTRY

Bahrain was the first Gulf state to discover oil and built the region's first refinery in 1935. Known as the Bahrain Oil Company, it has been 60% owned by the Bahrain National Oil Company and 40% owned by the US company Caltex since 1980. The Bahrain National Oil Company also maintains holdings in the Bahrain Petroleum Company, which was formed in 2002 through a merger with a government-owned petroleum enterprise. Most of the crude oil processed in Bahrain's refinery comes from Saudi Arabia. Because Bahrain's own oil reserves are relatively limited, an agreement with Saudi Arabia allows the country to receive revenues from Saudi Arabia's Abu Saafa offshore oilfield. Bahrain's oil production had stabilized at about 40,000 barrels per day in early 2006, and its reserves were expected to last 10 to 15 years.

Bahrain also has a gas liquefaction plant, operated by the Bahrain National Gas Company. Gas reserves are expected to last about 50 years.

Other petroleum enterprises include the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company, a joint venture of the petrochemical industries of Kuwait, the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, and the Government of Bahrain, which produces ammonia and methanol for export. Bahrain also has awarded exploration rights to two multinational companies—Petronas from Malaysia and Chevron Texaco from the United States.

A government-controlled aluminum industry, Aluminum Bahrain BSC (ALBA), was launched in 1971 with an original smelter capacity of 120,000 tons annually; the successful completion of a 1997 expansion project increased production to more than 500,000 metric tons in 1998 and to 720,000 metric tons in 2005. It is the world's second-largest aluminum smelter, and is 77% owned by the government. Other aluminum factories include the Aluminum Extrusion Company and the Gulf Aluminum Rolling Mill. Bahrain also has an iron ore palletizing plant, and a shipbuilding and repair yard.

Overall industrial production accounts for 42.5% of GDP.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The economy depends heavily on advanced petrochemical technologies, and many Bahrainis have had or are receiving technical training. The University of Bahrain, at Isa Town, has a college of engineering and science. The Arabian Gulf University, founded in 1980 by the seven Gulf states, has colleges of medicine and applied sciences. The Bahrain Society of Engineers and the Bahrain Computer Society, in Manama, and the Bahrain Medical Society in Adliya, are leading professional groups. The College of Health Sciences, founded in 1976, had 528 students in 1996. The Bahrain Centre for Studies and Research, founded in 1981, conducts scientific study and research.

DOMESTIC TRADE

Bahraini shops have become increasingly modernized and specialized. American-style supermarkets are open in Manama and most supplies and services are available in shops throughout the country. Business hours for most shops are from 8:30 am to 12:30 and from 4 to 8 pm, Saturday through Wednesday, with a half day on Thursday. Government offices and banks are generally open Saturday through Thursday. Of all the Gulf states, Bahrain offers the most scope for consumer advertising through its publications, cinemas, direct mail facilities, and radio and television stations.

FOREIGN TRADE

Petroleum products drive Bahrain's economy and export market (70%). Aluminum, which is manufactured in government-controlled enterprises, ranks as the country's second-largest export commodity (14%). Other exports include apparel (4.6%), iron (3.5%), and chemicals (2.5%).

Bahrain exports its products widely throughout the world. As a

result, no one country commands a significant share of Bahrain's exports: its largest trading partners in 2004 were India (4.3%), Saudi Arabia (3%), the United States (2.9%), and the United Arab Emirates (2.2%). Imports come from Saudi Arabia (32.4%), Japan (7.3%), Germany (6.1%), the United States (5.6%), the United Kingdom (5.4%), and France (4.8%).

BALANCE OF PAYMENTS

Traditionally, Bahrain relied on a substantial influx of funds from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, and Iran to finance capital out-lays. In recent years, however, increased income from tourism and financial services, have placed Bahrain in a favorable payments position.

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reported that in 2005 the purchasing power parity of Bahrain's exports was $11.17 billion while imports totaled $7.83 billion. The country's current account balance was $1.569 billion in 2005. Bahrain's foreign reserves totaled $2.433 billion in 2005. Since 1992, Bahrain has received $150 million annually from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that in 2003 Bahrain had exports of $6.6 billion, of which $4.9 billion were petroleum products. Imports in 2003 totaled $5.5 billion.

BANKING AND SECURITIES

Bahrain is considered the preeminent fiancial services center in the Middle East. The Bahrain Monetary Agency (BMA), Bahrain's equivalent of a central bank, issues and redeems bank notes, regulates the value of the Bahrain dinar, supervises interest rates, and licenses and monitors the activities of money changers. One factor contributing to Bahrain's growth as a Middle Eastern financial services center is that unlike some of its larger, richer neighbors, there is no serious religious opposition to western banking practices-especially the accrual of interest—which some Islamic scholars consider to be contrary to Muslim teachings. There are, however, several large banks in Bahrain classified as Islamic; they don't pay or charge interest, don't finance or otherwise support "un-Islamic" enterprises, and make a conscious effort to invest in socially productive enterprises. Another important factor influencing the growth of the financial sector is the tax-free environment.

The value of assets and liabilities held by Bahrain's commercial banks rose by 43%, and offshore banking units (DBUs) rose by 20% between 1991 and 1995. The consolidated assets and liabilities of commercial and offshore banks in Bahrain reached over $82 million in 1997. In 2000, Bahrain was home to 20 full commercial banks, 2 specialized banks, 52 offshore banks, 37 representative offices, 33 investment banks, 6 foreign exchange and money brokers, 8 investment and financial advisory services, and 18 money-changing companies. The International Monetary Fund reports that in 2001, currency and demand deposits—an aggrgate

commonly known as M1—were equal to $1.5 billion. In that same year, M2—an aggregate equal to M1 plus savings deposits, small time deposits, and money market mutual funds—was $6.3 billion. The money market rate, the rate at which financial institutions lend to one another in the short term, was 3.9%.

The Bahrain Stock Exchange (BSE) was planned in 1987 after the unofficial Kuwait Stock Exchange collapsed. The BSE has become an important Gulf center of share trading; volume or shares increased from its inception from 62 million in 1989 to almost 400 million in 1993. Beginning in 1995, the BSE listed foreign companies, bonds, and investment funds. Trading in foreign investment vehicles was made open to all Bahrainis, and resident and non-resident foreigners in late 1996. As of 2004, there were 42 companies listed on the BSE. Market capitalization as of December 2004 stood at $13.513 billion, with the BSE up 30.2% from the previous year.

INSURANCE

The total value of direct premiums underwritten in 2003 in Bahrain was $159 million, of which nonlife premiums accounted for the largest portion at $124 million. The country's top nonlife insurer that year had gross nonlife written premiums of $46 million, with Zürich the top life insurer, with gross life written premiums totaling $23.8 million in 2003.

PUBLIC FINANCE

The budget is presented biennually and regularly updated, and represents a large section of economic activity. More than half of government revenues come from oil production and refining; the oil industry is completely controlled by the government. The public deficit is covered by internal borrowing, loans from Arab funds, and the IDB; although privatization has become increasingly important to controlling the budget. The oil and aluminum industries are still controlled by the government, although utilities, banks, financial services, and telecommunications have started to fall into private hands.

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) estimated that in 2005 Bahrain's central government took in revenues of approximately $4.6 billion and had expenditures of $3.4 billion. Revenues minus expenditures totaled approximately $1.2 billion. Public debt in 2005 amounted to 51.5% of GDP. Total external debt was $6.831 billion.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that in 2003, the most recent year for which it had data, central government revenues in millions of dinars were 1,144.8 and expenditures were 1,055.5. The value of revenues in millions of US dollars was $4,304 and expenditures $3,969, based on a official exchange rate for 2003 of. 26596 as reported by the IMF. Government outlays by function were as follows: general public services, 33.1%; defense, 16.5%; public order and safety, 10.6%; economic affairs, 1.9%; housing and community amenities, 9.9%; health, 7.6%; recreation, culture, and religion, 0.5%; education, 15.4%; and social protection, 4.4%.

TAXATION

The only taxes in Bahrain are an income tax on oil production and a municipal tax of 10% on residential rents. The rate is 7.5% on furnished rentals, office, and commercial rents. As an offshore tax haven, Bahrain allows foreign firms to remit accumulated profits and capital without taxation.

CUSTOMS AND DUTIES

Import licenses for items sold in Bahrain are issued only to local companies that are at least 51% Bahraini-owned. Principal prohibited items are arms, ammunition, liquor (except by authorized importers), and cultured pearls. Customs duties are 20% on corn and palm oil; 5% on foodstuffs and nonluxuries; 7.5% on consumer goods; 20% on cars and boats; 70% on tobacco and cigarettes; and 125% on authorized imports of liquor. A free transit zone operates at the port of Mina Sulman. Free trade is available with Gulf

Cooperation Council (GCC) countries if products have at least 40% local value-added content.

FOREIGN INVESTMENT

Bahrain has well-established communication and transport facilities. The strength of its infrastructure, along with the generous incentives it offers to foreign investors, have made the country home to many multinational companies doing business in the Persian Gulf. In recent years, the government has sought to control more of the country's key businesses. Bahrain, however, continues to court international investment; the country does not tax corporate or individual earnings. Only petroleum royalties are subject to taxation.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development reported foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bahrain of $865 million in 2004. FDI stocks totaled $7.585 billion in 2004, about 70.5% of GDP.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Since the late 1960s, the government has concentrated on policies and projects that will provide sufficient diversification in industrial, commercial, and financial activities to sustain growth in income, employment, and exports into the post-oil era. To this end, Bahrain in September 2004 became the first Gulf state to sign a Free Trade Agreement with the United States. The pact was ratified by the Bahraini parliament in July 2005 and by the US Congress in December 2005. US President George W. Bush signed the agreement into law in January 2006, and implementing legislation to allow full enactment was pending.

Despite diversification efforts, the oil and gas sectors remain the cornerstone of the economy. The reliance on oil poses one of Bahrain's biggest long-term economic challenges. Unemployment and a shortage of long-range water resources also are issues. Much of Bahrain's labor force, estimated in 2005 at 380,000, consists of non-Bahrainis. In hopes of encouraging more employment among its citizenry, the country has adopted a policy of matching job seekers with potential employers. It also is promoting training programs that would give young adults marketable skills. The country also is considering a labor law that would stress the value of vocational training and require that benefits for public and private sector employees be equal. It also is considering introduction of a minimum wage law.

The strongest possibility for growth in Bahrain lies in its financial sector. Bahrain leads an effort to develop Islamic financial services, and has 28 Islamic banks based in the country. More than 100 offshore banks also operate in Bahrain, helping to boost financial services activity to 24.2% of GDP in 2005. In hopes of keeping the sector both vibrant and efficient, it has consolidated regulation of banks, insurance companies, and capital markets under one umbrella.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Impoverished families receive subsistence allowances from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Beginning in 2005 all establishments with one or more employees are covered by the social insurance system. A social security fund provides old age, disability, survivor, and accident insurance. Contributions amount to 5% of earnings by workers and 7% by employers. Work injury insurance exempts domestic servants, self-employed and agricultural workers.

Islamic law, either Shia or Sunni, dictates the legal rights of Bahraini women. Women may initiate divorce proceedings, although religious courts often refuse the request. Men retain legal rights over children, even in case of divorce. Custody of young children is granted to women, but fathers automatically regain custody when the children reach the age of nine (for daughters) and seven (for sons). Women make up approximately 17% of the labor force. The majority of working women are young and single, and most women cease working outside the home after marriage. Bahrain's labor law does not recognize the concept of equal pay for equal work, and women are often paid less than men. Sexual harassment is a common problem. As of 2004 spousal abuse remained widespread, especially in economically deprived areas. It is estimated that 30% of married women are victims of spousal abuse though few women seek assistance.

Bahrain's government regularly violates citizens' human rights. There was a continuation of torture, arbitrary arrest, denial of the right to a fair trial, and restrictions on freedom of speech, press, assembly, association, and workers' rights. The treatment of foreign workers, especially women employed as domestic help, is especially abusive.

HEALTH

In 1960, Bahrain inaugurated a free national health service, available to both foreign and indigenous segments of the population through a system of primary care health centers and modern hospital facilities. Bahraini patients who require sophisticated surgery or treatment are sent abroad at government expense.

Medical services are provided by the government and a small private sector. Health care centers are accessible to the population free of charge. In 1990, there were 4 government-operated hospitals (including a psychiatric hospital and a geriatric hospital), 5 maternity hospitals, 19 health centers, 6 environment health centers, and 16 maternity and child welfare centers. In 2004, there were an estimated 160 physicians, 413 nurses, 21 dentists, and 22 pharmacists per 100,000 people.

Infant mortality was estimated at 17.27 per 1,000 live births in 2005. In 1994, 93% of the country's one-year-old children were vaccinated against measles. In 1990, 100% of the population had access to health care services and 93% had access to safe drinking water. Life expectancy in 2005 was 74.23 years. Malaria was reported in 258 people while polio, measles, and neonatal tetanus were nonexistent. The HIV/AIDS prevalence was 3.00 per 100 adults in 2003. As of 2004, there were approximately 600 people living with HIV/AIDS in the country. There were an estimated 200 deaths from AIDS in 2003.

HOUSING

According to the 2001 government census, there were 105,686 housing units within the country. About 18% were private villas (single family, independent structure homes). There were 8,076 apartment buildings containing a total of about 36,320 flats. About 72% of all units were connected to the public water system. About 14.8% of homes relied on bottled water. About 63,374 units were occupied by single (nuclear) families. The greatest number of housing units (32,538) was available in Manama.

EDUCATION

Education is compulsory for students between the ages of 6 and 15. Primary education lasts for six years followed by an intermediate program of three years. Students may then choose from three options for their secondary education: general (science or literary tracks), technical, or commercial. Each secondary program is a three-year course of study. The academic year runs from October to August. The primary languages of instruction are Arabic and English. The Ministry of Education is the primary administrative body. As of 1995, public expenditure on education was estimated at 3.6% of GDP.

Primary school enrollment in 2003 was estimated at about 89.9% of age-eligible students; The same year, secondary school enrollment was about 87% of age-eligible students. Less than 1% of children ages three to five attend preschool programs. It is estimated that 99% of all students complete their primary education. The student-to-teacher ratio for primary school was at about 16:1 in 2003; the ratio for secondary school was about 12:1.

Bahrain's principal university is the University of Bahrain, established in 1986 after a merger between the University College and Gulf Polytechnic. It is comprised of five colleges and an English language center: colleges of arts, sciences, engineering, education, and business administration. The Arabian Gulf University (founded in 1980) has faculties in science, engineering and medicine, and is in fact a joint venture project among the six Gulf Cooperation Council members and Iraq. Each nation is allocated 10% of the seats (total 70%) and the remaining 30% are given to other countries. Also important is the Bahrain Training Institute, which currently has over 50% female students.

There are also 67 adult education centers in Bahrain, which have helped to reduce the illiteracy rate of the country. For promoting technical education, a "10,000 Training Plan" was launched in 1980. Nearly 6,500 students have participated in this program since its inception and scholarships are given to students to pursue higher studies at Bahrain or abroad. In 1994 all institutions of higher learning had 655 teachers and enrolled 7,147 students. The adult literacy rate in 2003 was estimated about 89.1%; 91.9% for men and 85% for women.

LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS

Manama Public Library was the first to open in the country in 1946; it contains the collection of United Nations related publications. The Bahrain National Bank Public Library in Muharraq (opened in 1969 as the Muharraq Public Library) includes the Mohammed Hassan Al-Hassan Collection of over 400 books on national and international law (with volumes in Arabic and English), a library for the blind, a children's library, and a special section on travel and tourism. The Central Public Library in Isa Town has 124,000 volumes. In 2005, there were nine public libraries nationwide under supervision of the Directorate of Public Libraries at the Ministry of Education. The University of Bahrain in Manama (1978) holds 140,000 volumes, while the Manama Central Library holds 155,000 volumes. In 2003, the first specialized law library opened at the University's Sakhir campus. The Educational Documentation Library in Manama holds the largest collection of educational research materials with about 22,000 books and nearly 200 periodicals; publications are available in Arabic and English. The Bahrain National Commission for Education, Science and Culture Library, also in Manama, was established in 1967, serving primarily as a research library; holdings include materials from four main international organizations: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS), and Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO).

The Bahrain National Museum in Manama holds art, archaeological, and historical exhibits, chronicling the rise of the Dilmun civilization. Muharraq Island hosts a few of traditional homes that are open to visitors. The Royal Tombs in A'ali are popular archeological sites.

MEDIA

Modern telephone, cable, and telex systems are available. In 2003, there were about 185,800 mainline telephones in use, along with 443,100 mobile phones. Basic service is provided by the National Telephone Company (BATELCO).

In 1998, there were two AM and three FM stations and four broadcast television stations, all of which were owned and operated by the government. In 1997 there were 499 radios and 420 television sets in use per 1,000 population. Internet service is provided through the national phone company, with 195,700 subscribers counted in 2003. Government control restricts access to some Internet sites considered with content that is considered anti-Islamic or antigovernment. Many districts of Manama have cyber cafes. It is estimated that about 22% of the population owns personal computers.

Bahrain's first daily newspaper in Arabic, Akhbar al-Khalij (circulation 17,000 in 2002), began publication in 1976, and the first English daily, the Gulf Daily News (50,000), was established in 1991. Al Ayam, an Arabic daily founded in 1989, had a 2002 circulation of 37,000.

Though the Bahraini constitution has provisions for freedom of expression, press criticism of the ruling family or government policy is strictly prohibited.

ORGANIZATIONS

In addition to the national Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bahrain is a committee member of the International Chamber of Commerce. There are numerous Bahraini and multinational groups, including the Bahrain Red Crescent Society and the Children's and Mothers' Welfare Society. Health and welfare organizations include the Bahrain Family Planning Association and the Bahrain Diabetic Association. Youth organizations include those representing the Youth Hostel Federation, Red Crescent Youth, the Boy Scouts of Bahrain and the Girl Guides, and Arab Student Aid International (ASAI). The Bahrain Olympic Committee coordinates activities for about 12 national youth sports federations.

TOURISM, TRAVEL, AND RECREATION

Bahrain has been a fast growing destination in the Middle East since the early 1990s. Tourist attractions include archeological sites, notably Qal-at Al-Bahrain (The Portuguese Fort), the National Museum, and the Heritage Center. Recreational riding and horse racing are both popular in Bahrain. Pearl diving is also part of Bahrain's heritage. In 2002, there were 4,830,943 tourist arrivals, almost 4,000,000 of whom were from other Middle Eastern countries, and tourism receipts totaled $985 million. Hotel rooms numbered 7,880 in 2002 with 10,759 beds and an occupancy rate of 53%. Most visitors need a visa and a valid passport.

FAMOUS BAHRAINIS

Sheikh 'Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa (1933–99) ruled from 1961 until his death in 1999. He was succeeded by his son, Sheikh Hamad bin 'Isa al-Khalifa (b.1950).

DEPENDENCIES

Bahrain has no territories or colonies.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dun and Bradstreet's Export Guide to Bahrain. Parsippany, N.J.: Dun and Bradstreet, 1999.

Fakhro, Munira A. Women at Work in the Gulf: A Case Study of Bahrain Fakhro. London and New York: Kegan Paul International, 1990.

Gillespie, Carol Ann. Bahrain. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2002.

Holes, Clive. Dialect, Culture, and Society in Eastern Arabia. Boston: Brill, 2001.

Hourani, Albert Habib. A History of the Arab Peoples. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2002.

Seddon, David (ed.). A Political and Economic Dictionary of the Middle East. Philadelphia: Routledge/Taylor and Francis, 2004.

Terterov, Marat (ed.). Doing Business with Bahrain: A Guide to Investment Opportunities and Business Practice. 2nd ed. Sterling, Va.: Kogan Page, 2005.

BAHRAIN

Compiled from the November 2003 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.

Official Name:
Kingdom of Bahrain

PROFILE
HISTORY
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
PEOPLE
ECONOMY
DEFENSE
FOREIGN RELATIONS
U.S.-BAHRAINI RELATIONS
TRAVEL

PROFILE

Geography

Area: 710 sq. km. (274 sq. mi.); approximately four times the size of Washington, D.C. Bahrain is an archipelago of 36 islands located off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia. The four main islands are joined by causeways, and make up about 95% of the total land area.

Cities: Capital—Manama, pop. (2002 est.) 148,000. Other cities—Al Muharraq.

Terrain: Low desert plain (highest elevation point–122 m).

Climate: Hot and humid from May-September, with average highs ranging from 30-40 C (86-104 F). Maximum temperatures average 20-30C (68-86F) the remainder of the year.

People

Nationality: Noun and adjective—Bahraini(s).

Population: (July 2003 est.) 667,238, including about 235,108 non-nationals.

Annual growth rate: 1.61%.

Ethnic groups: Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%.

Religions: 98% Muslim (Shi'a 70%, Sunni 30%), with small Christian, Jewish and Hindu communities.

Languages: Arabic (official), English, Farsi, and Urdu are also widely spoken.

Education: Education is not compulsory, but is provided free to Bahrainis and non-nationals at all levels, including higher education. Estimated net primary school attendance (1991-2001)—84%. Adult Literacy (age 15 and over) (2003 est.)—89.1% for the overall population (male 91.9% female 85%).

Health: Infant mortality rate—19.02 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy—71 yrs. males, 76 yrs. females.

Work force: (2001) 307,000 of which 59% are foreigners and 20.8% female.

Government

Type: Constitutional Monarchy.

Independence: August 15, 1971 (from the UK).

Constitution: Approved and promulgated May 26, 1973; suspended on August 26, 1975; amended and approved by a national popular referendum again on February 14-15, 2001.

Branches: Executive—King (chief of state); Prime Minister (head of government); Council of Ministers (cabinet) is appointed by the King and headed by the Prime Minister.

Legislative—The bicameral parliament (al-Majlis al-Watani) consists of a 40-member elected House of Deputies and a 40-member Shura Council appointed by the King. Members of both chambers serve four-year terms. Judicial—High Civil Appeals Court. The judiciary is independent with right of judicial review.

Administrative subdivisions: 12 municipalities (manatiq) Al Hidd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa'wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah.

Political parties: None. Formal parties are banned but political societies have been formally sanctioned since 2001.

Suffrage: Universal at age 18.

Economy

GDP: (2002) $7.7 billion.

Real GDP Growth Rate: (2002 est.) 5.1%.

Per capita GDP: (2002 est.) $14,000.

Natural resources: Oil, natural gas, fish, pearls.

Agriculture: (less than 1% of GDP) Products—With the exception of eggs, vegetables, dates, and fish, most food is imported. Types—oil and gas (16.5% of GDP), manufacturing (12.2% of GDP), aluminum.

Services: Finance (15.7% of GDP), transport and communications (8.9% of GDP), real estate (7.8% of GDP), Government Services(10.4% of GDP).

Trade: (2002—about 13.3% of GDP) Exports—$5.8 billion: oil and other mineral products, base metals, textiles. Major markets—India (4.5%), U.S. (3.2%), Saudi Arabia (2.3%), Japan (1.7%), South Korea (1.7%). Imports—$5.0 billion: crude oil, machinery and appliances, transport equipment, foodstuffs. Major suppliers—Saudi Arabia (30.2%), U.S. (11.7%), France (7.1%), U.K. (6.1%),Germany (5.6%).

HISTORY

The site of the ancient Bronze Age civilization of Dilmun, Bahrain was an important center linking trade routes between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley as early as 5,000 years ago. The Dilmun civilization began to decline about 2,000 B.C. as trade from India was cut off. From 750 B.C. on, Assyrian kings repeatedly claimed sovereignty over the islands. Shortly after 600 B.C., Dilmun was formally incorporated into the new Babylonian empire. There are no historical references to Bahrain until Alexander the Great's arrival in the Gulf in the 4th century B.C. Although Bahrain was ruled variously by the Arab tribes of Bani Wa'el and Persian governors, Bahrain continued to be known by its Greek name Tylos until the 7th century, when many of its inhabitants converted to Islam. A regional pearling and trade center, Bahrain came under the control of the Ummayad Caliphs of Syria, the Abbasid Caliphs of Baghdad, Persian, Omani and Portuguese forces at various times from the 7th century until the Al Khalifa family, a branch of the Bani Utbah tribe that have ruled Bahrain since the 18th century, succeeded in capturing Bahrain from a Persian garrison controlling the islands in 1783.

In the 1830s the Al Khalifa signed the first of many treaties establishing Bahrain as a British Protectorate. Similar to the binding treaties of protection entered into by other Persian Gulf principalities, the agreements entered into by the Al Khalifa prohibited them from disposing of territory and entering into relationships with any foreign government without British consent in exchange for British protection against the threat of military attack from Ottoman Turkey. The main British naval base in the region was moved to Bahrain in 1935 shortly after the start of large-scale oil production. from all aggression by sea and to lend support in case of land attack.

In 1968, when the British Government announced its decision (reaffirmed in March 1971) to end the treaty relationships with the Persian Gulf sheikdoms, Bahrain initially joined the other eight states (Qatar and the seven Trucial Sheikhdoms now the United Arab Emirates) under British protection in an effort to form a union of Arab emirates. The nine sheikhdoms still had not agreed on terms of union by 1971, however, prompting. Bahrain to declare itself fully independent on August 15, 1971.

Bahrain promulgated a constitution and elected its first parliament in 1973, but just two years later, in August 1975, the Amir disbanded the National Assembly after it attempted to legislate the end of Al-Khalifa rule and the expulsion of the U.S. Navy from Bahrain. In the 1990s, Bahrain suffered from repeated incidents of political violence stemming from the disaffection of the Shi'a majority. In response, the Amir instituted the first Bahraini cabinet change in 20 years in 1995 and also and increased the membership of the Consultative Council, which he had created in 1993 to provide advice and opinion on legislation proposed by the cabinet and, in certain cases, suggest new laws on its own, from 30 to 40 the following year. These steps led to an initial decline in violent incidents, but in early 1996 a number of hotels and restaurants were bombed, resulting in several fatalities. Over 1,000 people were arrested and held in detention without trial in connection with these disturbances. The government has since released these individuals (see Government and Political Conditions Section below for details).

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa succeeded the throne in March 1999, after the death of his father Shaikh Isa bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain's ruler since 1961. He championed a program of democratic reform shortly after his succession. In November 2000, Shaikh Hamad established a committee to create a blueprint transform Bahrain from a hereditary emirate to a constitutional monarchy within 2 years. The resulting "National Action Charter" was presented to the Bahraini public in a referendum in February 2001. The first public vote in Bahrain since the 1970s, held by universal suffrage, the charter was overwhelmingly endorsed by 94.8% of voters. That same month, Shaikh Hamad pardoned all political prisoners and detainees, including those who had been imprisoned, exiled or detained on security charges. He also abolished the State Security Law and the State Security Court, which had permitted the government to detain individuals without trial for up to 3 years.

On February 14, 2002, one year after the referendum endorsing his National Action Charter, Shaikh Hamad pronounced Bahrain a monarchy and changed his constitutional status from Amir to King. He simultaneously announced that the first municipal elections since 1957 would be held in May 2002, and that a bicameral parliament, with a representative lower house, would be reconstituted with parliamentary elections in October 2002. As part of these constitutional reforms, the government also created an independent financial watchdog empowered to investigate cases of embezzlement and violations of state expenditure in July 2002.

Turnout for the May 2002 municipal elections was 51%, with female voters making up 52% percent of voters. Turnout for the 2002 parliamentary elections—the first in almost three decades—was 53% in the first round and 43% in the second round, despite the fact that the four-largest Shi'a political societies organized a boycott to protest constitutional amendments enacted by the King that gave the appointed upper chamber of parliament voting rights equal to the elected lower chamber. Sunni Islamists won 19 of the 40 seats. Despite strong participation by female voters, none of the female candidates standing in these elections were returned. The new parliament held its first joint sitting in December 2002.

Bahrain has 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 created with the help of British advisers in the early 20th century. In 2001, Shaikh Hamad created the Supreme Judicial Council to regulate these courts and separate the administrative and judicial branches of government.

Principal Government Officials
Last Updated: 7/8/03

King: Khalifa, HAMAD, bin Isa Al

Prime Minister: Khalifa, KHALIFA, bin Salman Al

Dep. Prime Minister: Khalifa, MUHAMMAD, bin Mubarak Al

Dep. Prime Minister: Khalifa, ABDALLAH bin KHALID, Al

Min. of King's Court Affairs: Khalifa, ALI bin ISA, bin Salman Al

Min. of Cabinet Affairs: Mutawa, Muhammad bin Ibrahim al-

Min. of Commerce: Salih, Ali Salih Abdallah al-

Min. of Defense: Khalifa, KHALIFA bin AHMAD, Al, Maj. Gen.

Min. of Education: Nuaymi, Majid Ali al-, Dr.

Min. of Electricity & Water: Khalifa, DAIJ, bin Khalifa Al

Min. of Finance & National Economy: Saif, Abdallah Hasan al-

Min. of Foreign Affairs: Khalifa, MUHAMMAD, bin Mubarak Al

Min. of Health: Hasan, Khalil Ibrahim al-, Dr.

Min. of Housing: Khalifa, KHALID, bin Abdallah Al

Min. of Industry: Fakhru, Hasan Abdallah al-, Dr.

Min. of Information: Hamir, Nabil Yaqub al-

Min. of Interior: Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin KHALIFA, bin Hamad Al

Min. of Justice & Islamic Affairs: Khalifa, ABDALLAH bin KHALID, Al

Min. of Labor & Social Affairs: Alawi, Majid Muhsin al-, Dr.

Min. of Municipalities & Agriculture: Sitri, Muhammad Ali al-, Dr.

Min. of Oil: Khalifa, ISA bin ALI, bin Hamad Al

Min. of Public Works: Jawdar, Fahmi Ali al-

Min. of State: Mirza, Abd al-Husayn Ali al-

Min. of State: Shuala, Abd al-Nabi al-

Min. of State for Foreign Affairs: ABD AL-GHAFFAR Abdallah, Muhammad, Dr.

Min. of State for Shura Council Affairs: Fadhil, Abd al-Aziz Muhammad al-

Min. of Transportation & Communication: Khalifa, ALI bin KHALIFA, bin Salman Al

Chmn., Bahrain Monetary Agency: Khalifa, KHALIFA, bin Salman Al

Governor, Bahrain Monetary Agency: Khalifa, AHMAD, bin Muhammad bin Hamad bin Abdallah Al

Director, Bahrain National Security Agency: Khalifa, Abd al-Aziz, Atiyattalah Al Dr.

Attorney General: Khalifa, ABD AL-RAHMAN, bin Jabir Al

Ambassador to the US: Khalifa, KHALIFA bin ALI, bin Rashid Al

Permanent Representative to the UN, New York: Mansoor, Tawfiq Ahmad al-

Bahrain maintains an embassy in the United States at 3502 International Drive N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008; tel: [1] (202) 342-1111; fax: [1] (202) 362-2192. The Bahraini Mission to the UN is located at866 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017; tel: [1] (212)223-6200; fax [1] (202) 319-0687.

PEOPLE

One of the most densely populated countries in the Middle East, about 89% of the population of Bahrain lives in the two principal cities of Manama and Al Muharraq. Approximately 66% of the indigenous population is originally from the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Bahrain currently has a sizeable foreign labor force (about 38% of the total population). The government's policies on naturalization remain controversial. In June 2002, the King issued a decree allowing citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to take up dual Bahraini nationality. Opposition political groups charge that the government is granting citizenship to foreign nationals who have served in the Bahraini armed forces and security services to alter the demographic balance of the country, which is primarily Shi'a. According to passport officials, about 40,000 individuals have been naturalized over the past 50 years (about 10% of the total population).

The indigenous population is 98% Muslim. Although more than twothirds of the indigenous population is Shi'a Muslim, the ruling family and the majority of government, military, and corporate leaders are Sunni Muslims. The small indigenous Christian and Jewish communities make up the remaining 2% of the population. Roughly half of foreign resident community are non-Muslim, and include Christians, Hindus, Baha'is, Buddhists and Sikhs.

Bahrain has invested its oil revenues in educational system development, and boasts an advanced educational system. The first public schools for girls and boys were opened in the 1920s. Schooling and related costs continue to be entirely paid for by the government. Although not compulsory, primary and secondary attendance rates are high and literacy rates are currently among the highest in the region. Higher education is available for secondary school graduates and can be obtained through the Bahrain University, Arabian Gulf University and specialized Institutes including the College of Health Sciences — operating under the direction of the Ministry of Health — which trains physicians, nurses,


pharmacists, and paramedics. The government has targeted provision of educational services to the Gulf Cooperation Council as a potential growth area, and is actively working to establish Bahrain as a regional center for higher education.

ECONOMY

The first Gulf state to discover oil, 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. Revenues from oil and natural gas currently account for 16.5% of GDP and provide about 60% of government income. The Bahrain Oil Company refinery built in 1935, the first in the Gulf, has a capacity of about 250,000 b/d. Since 1980, 60% of the refinery has been owned by the Bahrain National Oil Company and 40% by the U.S. company Caltex. 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 off shore 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. Growth in the hydrocarbons sector will be contingent upon new discoveries — Bahrain awarded exploration rights to Malaysia's Petronas and the U.S.' Chevron Texaco after the resolution of its longstanding territorial dispute with Qatar, but no meaningful finds have been announced to date. Bahrain's other industries include the majority state-owned Aluminum Bahrain (Alba), which operates the largest aluminum smelter in the world outside Eastern Europe with an annual production of about 307,000 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. Bahrain is a regional financial and business center. International financial institutions operate in Bahrain, both offshore and onshore, without impediments, and the financial sector is currently the second largest contributor to GDP. More than 100 offshore banking units and representative offices are located in Bahrain, as well as 65 American firms. Bahrain has also made a concerted effort to become the leading Islamic finance center in the world, standardizing regulations of the Islamic banking industry. It currently has 26 Islamic banks – the largest concentration of Islamic financial institutions.

Bahrain is working to develop other service industries such as information technology, healthcare and education. The government has used its oil revenues to build an advanced infrastructure in transportation and telecommunications. The transport and communications sector grew by almost 9% in 2002 and is likely to expand as the government proceeds with liberalization of the state-owned telecommunications industry. The state monopoly – Batelco – was broken in April 2003. Bahrain's international airport is one of busiest in the Gulf, serving an average of 580 flights a week. A new air traffic control tower, part of a program to upgrade and modernize the airport, is due for completion in June 2004. A modern, busy port offers direct and frequent cargo shipping connections to the U.S., Europe, and the Far East.

Liberalization of the water and power industries is also planned.

Regional tourism is also a significant source of income. The government continues to favor large-scale tourism projects. In 2003 it awarded several contracts to develop a state-of-the art international horse racing track and tourist complex.

Government revenues continue to be largely dependent on the oil industry. Bahrain has received significant budgetary support and project grants from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. The reconstituted parliamentary process has produced spirited debate over government spending, particularly defense spending, but no actual reductions. Ministry of Defense spending will account for 20% of current spending in 2003 and 2004 based on the budget approved by parliament in May 2003. The Ministry of Education and Ministry of the Interior are the second and third largest spenders. The bulk of capital outlays have been allocated to improving housing and infrastructure in line with government efforts to raise the standard of living of the Shi'a population and to attract foreign investment.

The government has also started to extend protections to workers. Private sector employees won permission to form unions in late 2002; King Hamad has given his tentative approval for the formation of unions in government departments.

DEFENSE

The Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) numbers about 9,000 personnel and consists of army, navy, air force, air defense, and royal guard units. The public security forces and the coast guard are separate from the BDF and report to the Ministry of the Interior. Bahrain's defense spending since 1999 has been steady. The government spends around $440 million annually on their military, about 20% of current expenditures. The reconstituted parliamentary process has produced spirited debate over government spending, particularly defense spending, but no actual reductions.

With the help of the U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Bahrain has made significant efforts to upgrade its defense systems and increase the modernity of its armed forces over the last 20 years. In 1982, the GCC gave Bahrain $1.7 billion for this purpose. Since the 1991 Gulf War, the U.S. has provided military and defense technical assistance and training to Bahrain from foreign military sales (FMS), commercial sources, excess defense article sales (EDA) and under the International Military and Education Training (IMET) program. The U.S. Office of Military Cooperation in Bahrain is attached to the U.S. Embassy and manages the security assistance mission. U.S. military sales to Bahrain currently total $1.6 billion. Principal U.S. military systems purchased by the BDF include eight Apache helicopters, 54 M60A3 tanks, 12 F-16C/D aircraft, 14 Cobra helicopters, and the TPS-59 radar system. Bahrain has received $200 million in U.S. EDA since 1995.

Joint air and ground exercises have been planned and executed to increase readiness throughout the Gulf.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Since achieving in dependence in 1971, Bahrain has pursued a policy of close consultation with neighboring states. Bahrain became a member of the United Nations and the Arab League in 1971. In 1981 it joined its five neighbors—Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar–-to form the strategic Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Bahrain has complied with GCC efforts steps to coordinate economic development and defense and security planning. In December 1994, for example, Bahrain concurred with the GCC decision to drop secondary and tertiary boycotts against Israel. Bahrain also responded positively to Kuwait's request to deploy the GCC collective defense force, "Peninsula Shield," during the build up and execution of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in 2003.

In addition to maintaining strong relations with its largest financial backers, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE, Bahrain has worked to improve its relations with Qatar and Iran in recent years. Bahrain-Iran relations have been strained since the discovery in 1981 of an Iran-sponsored coup plot in Bahrain. Bahraini suspicions of the Iranian role in local unrest in the mid-1990s remain. However, with the decline of Iraq as a regional powerbroker, Bahrain has begun taking steps to improve relations. These efforts have included encouraging Bahrain-Iran trade and maritime security cooperation.

On March 16, 2001, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced its judgment on the long-standing maritime delimitation and territorial dispute between Bahrain and Qatar. The binding judgment awarded sovereignty over the Hawar Islands and Qit'at Jaradah to Bahrain and sovereignty over Zubarah (part of the Qatar Peninsula), Janan Island and Fasht ad Dibal to Qatar. The peaceful settlement of this dispute has allowed for renewed co-operation.

Bahrain's strategic partnership with the U.S. has intensified since 1991. Bahraini pilots flew strikes in Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War, and the island was used as a base for military operations in the Gulf. Bahrain also provided logistical and basing support to international Maritime Interdiction effo rts to enforce UN sanctions and prevent illegal smuggling of oil from Iraq in the 1990s. Bahrain also provided extensive basing and over flight clearances for a multitude of U.S. aircraft operating in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Bahrain is currently offering humanitarian support and technical training to support the reconstruction of the Iraqi banking sector. Bahrain has also cooperated effectively on criminal investigation issues in support of the campaign on terrorism; the Bahrain Monetary Agency moved quickly to restrict terrorists' ability to transfer funds through Bahrain's financial system.

U.S.-BAHRAINI RELATIONS

The American Mission Hospital, affiliated with the National Evangelical Church, has operated continuously in Bahrain for more than a century. Bahrain has also been a base for U.S. naval activity in the Gulf since 1947. When Bahrain became independent, the 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 Salman Al Khalifa made a state visit to Washington. In 2001, Amir Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa made his first visit to the U.S. after succeeding his father in 1999. He returned to Washington on an official visit in January 2003.

Bahrain and the United States signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in October 1991 granting U.S. forces access to Bahraini facilities and ensuring the right to pre-position material for future crises. Currently the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, the U.S. designated Bahrain a Major Non-NATO Ally in October 2001.

U.S.-Bahraini economic ties have grown steadily since 1932, when Americans participated in the development of Bahrain's oil industry. Bahrain is a regional base for numerous American banks and firms. Formal negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) are due to begin in early 2004.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

Manama (E), Building No. 979, Road 3119, Block 331, Zinj District • AmEmbassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; International Mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama, Bahrain, Tel [973] 273-300, after-hours Tel 275-126, Fax 272-594; ADM Fax 275-418; ECO/COM Fax 256-717; PAO Tel 276-180, Fax 270-547; OMC Tel 276-962, Fax 276-046. Website: www.usembassy.com.bh

Last Modified: Monday, December 15, 2003

TRAVEL

Consular Information Sheet
January 8, 2004

Americans planning travel to Bahrain should read the Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement and the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov.

Country Description: Bahrain is a hereditary kingdom, governed by the Al-Khalifa family. In 2002, the country became a monarchy with a constitution that reinstated a legislative body, one of whose chambers is elected. Islamic ideals and beliefs provide the conservative foundation of the country's customs, laws and practices. In Bahrain, which is a modern developed country, tourist facilities are widely available. The capital is Manama.

Entry and Exit Requirements: Passports and visas are required. Two-week visas may be obtained for a fee upon arrival at the airport. Prior to travel, visitors may obtain from Bahraini embassies overseas fiveyear multiple entry visas valid for stays as long as one month. Visitors who fail to depart the country at the end of their authorized stay are heavily fined. The exact amount of the fine is determined by a formula related to the visa type, duration, and location of issuance. A small exit tax BD 3.000 is charged all travelers upon departure. Diplomatic passport holders do not pay exit tax. Residents of Bahrain who intend to return must obtain a re-entry permit before departing. For further information on entry requirements, travelers can contact the Embassy of the State of Bahrain, 3502 International Drive, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 342-0741; or the Bahrain Permanent Mission to the U.N., 2 United Nations Plaza, East 44th St., New York, N. Y. 10017, telephone (212) 223-6200. Information also may be obtained from the Embassy's Internet home page at http://www.bahrainembassy.org.

In an effort to prevent international child abduction, many governments have initiated procedures at entry/exit points. These often include requiring documentary evidence of the relationship and permission for the child's travel from the parent(s) or legal guardian if not present. Having such documentation on hand, even if not required, may facilitate entry/departure.

Dual Nationality: The Bahrain government does not recognize dual nationality except for nationals of the GCC. Bahrain authorities have confiscated the U.S. passports of dual (Bahrain/U.S.) nationals when they applied for a Bahrain passport. This does not constitute loss of U.S. citizenship, but it should be reported to the U.S. Embassy in Manama. For additional information, please refer to the Consular Affairs home page on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov/ and click on the Dual Nationality flyer.

Safety and Security: Americans in Bahrain should maintain a high level of security awareness. The security situation in Bahrain has changed significantly since the September 11, 2001 attack against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the initiation of U.S. military operations in Iraq, and the onset of the current cycle of violence in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Several anti-American demonstrations occurred in 2002, one of which resulted in the U.S. Embassy being attacked with firebombs, and in 2003 at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Isolated incidents of aggressive or violent confrontations with individual Americans also have occurred. Events in the region can spark a mass response locally and further inflame current sentiments. Visiting U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Manama upon arrival and to maintain a low profile. The U.S. Embassy in Manama recommends that visitors limit their activities to tourist attractions and major urban commercial districts, particularly at night. The U.S. Embassy in Manama suggests that all Americans maintain an unpredictable schedule and vary travel routes whenever possible. Americans also are urged to treat mail from unfamiliar sources with caution and to avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar objects. Please report any suspicious activity, individuals, vehicles, or objects to the U.S. Embassy's Regional Security Office at telephone 00973-1724-2700 or 1727 or 5126 after hours.

The Embassy informs the registered resident American community of security matters through a warden system (please see the registration section below for more information).

Crime: The crime rate in Bahrain is low and violent crime is rare. However, burglary, petty theft, and robberies do occur. Visiting Americans are urged to take the same security precautions in Bahrain that one would practice in the United States. Hotel room doors should be locked when visitors are in the rooms, and travelers are encouraged to store valuables in hotel room safes when they are available. Women are encouraged to keep their purses firmly under their arm, and men should avoid keeping their wallets in their hip pocket while in the old market area (Souk). The U.S. Embassy in Manama recommends that travelers using local taxis insist on the use of a meter since unexpectedly high fares may otherwise be charged. Bahrain has a professional police force, and visitors are encouraged to contact the police if problems are encountered.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist finding appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends, and explain how funds can be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

U.S. citizens should refer to the Department of State's pamphlets, A Safe Trip Abroad and Tips for Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa, for ways to promote a troublefree journey. The pamphlets are available by mail from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.gpoaccess.gov, or via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov.

Medical Facilities: Basic modern medical care and medicines are available in several hospitals and health centers in Bahrain. Two government hospitals, several private hospitals, and numerous private clinics located throughout the country offer a wide range of medical services. Cardiac care, general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedics and dentistry services are readily available, as are x-rays, CT-scan and MRI testing. The government hospitals both house trauma and ICU units. Pharmacies are common throughout Bahrain and carry a wide range of medications. Prescriptions are normally required.

Payment at all medical facilities is due at the time of service. Some hospitals have limited direct billing capability for certain insurance carriers. Billing and insurance practices vary among the medical facilities.

Medical Insurance: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas, including emergency services such as medical evacuations.

When making a decision regarding health insurance, Americans should consider that many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service and that a medical evacuation to the United States may cost well in excess of $50,000. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme difficulties. When consulting with your insurer prior to your trip, please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas healthcare provider or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.

Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page.

Other Health Information: Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, please consult the World Health Organization's website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information concerning Bahrain is provided for general reference only and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Safety of Public Transportation: Poor
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Availability of Roadside/Ambulance Assistance: Fair

Travel by road in Bahrain is generally safe although unsafe driving practices are common. Highways and major roads in the northern third of Bahrain are four to six lanes wide and well maintained; roads in villages and older parts of Manama and Muharraq are narrow and twisting. As in the United States, Bahrain traffic moves on the right. Roundabouts (traffic circles) follow the British system, with those automobiles within the traffic circle having right of way over those attempting to enter. While there is a fine of at least 50 Bahrain Dinars for speeding (speed limits range from 50 to 100 km per hour), it is not uncommon to be passed by cars traveling 120 to 140 km per hour on the highway. A car flashing its high beams is generally asking for a chance to pass.

Under Bahraini law, any sign of having consumed alcohol may be taken as prima facie evidence of driving under the influence, which can lead to imprisonment and/or fines of up to 1,000 Dinars (2,700 U.S. dollars). If involved in an accident, drivers may not move their vehicles until a report has been filed with the traffic police. This is true even in cases of single-car accidents. Insurance companies may not provide coverage if the cars are moved. Both drivers may be prohibited from leaving the country until the matter is resolved if an accident results in legal proceedings.

Emergency numbers are as follows:

Fire/Ambulance/Police: 999

Traffic/Accidents: 17688-888

Passers-by commonly stop to assist stranded drivers; many have mobile phones and will offer to call for assistance. Members of the American Automobile Association (AAA) can call for assistance from the red and white Automobile Association boxes located on highways.

Hitchhikers are common in Bahrain. While most hitchhikers pose little threat, visitors should resist offering rides to strangers, especially in groups. While rare, young men posing as hitchhikers have carried out carjackings.

For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, please see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html.

Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service by local carriers, nor economic authority to operate such service between the United States and Bahrain, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Bahrain's civil aviation authority for compliance with international aviation safety standards. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the United States at tel. 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA's Internet website at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the DOD at telephone (618) 229-4801.

Customs Regulations: Bahrain customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary import or export of items such as: firearms, knives, ammunition, or other weapons; pornography or seditious literature; and habit-forming or hallucinatory drugs. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of the State of Bahrain in Washington, D.C. or Bahrain's Consulate in New York for specific information regarding customs requirements.

Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Bahrain's laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Bahrain are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.

Special Circumstances: Individuals subject to Bahraini court orders arising from indebtedness, labor disagreements, or other legal disputes may be prohibited from departing Bahrain until their cases are resolved. Instances have occurred in which departure was prohibited for several years, since the legal process can be both lengthy and complex. A list of local attorneys capable of representing Americans in such matters is available from the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Manama. Businesses and banks in Bahrain no longer accept old-style U.S. one hundred dollar bills.

Children's Issues: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, please refer to our Internet site at http://travel.state.gov/children's_issues.html or telephone (202) 736-7000. Adoption is extremely rare in Bahrain.

Registration/Embassy Location: Americans living in or visiting Bahrain are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Manama and obtain updated information on travel and security within Bahrain. The U.S. Embassy is located at Bldg. 979, Road no. 3119, Zinj District (next to Al Ahli Sports Club). (The mailing address is P.O. Box 26431, Manama, Bahrain.) The telephone number is 00973-1724-2700. The Consular Section fax number is 973-1725-6242. The Embassy's website, which includes consular information and the most recent messages to the American community in Bahrain, is http//:www.usembassy.bh.gov. The workweek in Bahrain is Saturday through Wednesday.

International Parental Child Abduction
January 2, 2002

The information below has been edited from the report of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, American Citizen Services. For more information, please read the Guarding Against International Child Abduction section of this book and review current reports online at travel.state.gov

General Information: Bahrain is not a party to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, nor are there any international or bilateral treaties in force between Bahrain and the United States dealing with international parental child abduction. American citizens who travel to Bahrain are subject to the jurisdiction of Bahraini courts, as well as to the country's laws and regulations. This holds true for all legal matters including child custody. Parents planning to travel with their children to Bahrain should bear this in mind.

Custody Disputes: There is no specific law in Bahrain governing child custody, with each dispute examined on a case-by-case basis. When child custody disputes arise between parents, one of whom is a citizen of Bahrain, custody decisions are based on Islamic (Shari'a) law. Two separate Islamic courts, representing the jurisprudence of the Sunni and Shi'a Islamic sects, enforce divergent interpretations of Islamic law. In general, the marriage contract determines which court will exercise jurisdiction. If the contract is silent on this issue, the court representing the husband's sect will have jurisdiction. Non-Bahraini nationals, whether married to a Bahraini or other national, may file custody cases through a lawyer approved to practice in Bahrain in the court in which the marriage was legalized, whether Sunni, Shia or civil. Non-Muslims are permitted to file cases in the Bahrain civil court.

In determining issues of custody, Bahraini courts consider the parents' religion, place of permanent residence, income, and the mother's subsequent marital status. Priority is generally given to a Muslim father, irrespective of his nationality. Under Shari'a law a Muslim mother is usually granted custody of girls under the age of nine and boys under the age of seven, at which time custody is transferred to the father. If the mother is unavailable, an infant may be given to the grandmother on the mother's side until s/he reaches the age of seven or nine.

If the court finds the mother "incompetent," custody of the child, regardless of age, can be given to the father, or to the child's paternal grandmother. A finding of incompetence is left to the discretion of the Shari'a judge. Shari'a courts have found parents incompetent if they are not Muslim or if they engage in behavior that is considered to be inconsistent with the Islamic faith. Remarriage to a non-Bahraini may be considered grounds for a finding of incompetence. Under Shari'a law, if a mother removes a child from the father thus denying him access, the mother's custody rights can be severed. If both the mother and father are ruled incompetent, custody of the children is given to the women on the father's side of the family.

If a child has attained the "age of discretion," that child may be allowed to choose the parent with whom he or she wishes to live. Since the "age of discretion" has no clear definition, a Bahraini lawyer should be contacted to discuss any specific case.

Persons who wish to pursue a child custody claim in a Bahraini court should retain an attorney in Bahrain. The U.S. Embassy in Manama maintains a list of attorneys willing to represent American clients. A copy of this list may be obtained by contacting the Embassy or the U.S. Department of State. U.S. government officials cannot recommend an attorney and make no claim as to the professional ability or integrity of the attorneys on this list. The U.S. government does not pay legal expenses. A copy of this list may be obtained by contacting the following offices.

U.S. Embassy Manama
American Embassy
Box 26431
Manama, Bahrain
Phone: 973-273-300
After hours: 973-275-126
Fax: 973-272-594
Work Week: Saturday through Wednesday

U.S. Department of State
Office of Children's Issues
SA-29 U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520-2818
Phone: (202) 312-9700
Fax: (202) 312-9743

Specific questions regarding child custody in Bahrain should be addressed to a Bahraini attorney or to the Embassy of Bahrain at:

Embassy of the State of Bahrain
3502 International Drive, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: (202) 342-0741
Fax: (202) 362-2192

Enforcement of Foreign Judgments: Custody orders and judgments of foreign courts are not enforceable in Bahrain if they potentially contradict or violate local laws and practices. For example, an order from a U.S. court granting custody to an American mother may not be honored in Bahrain if the mother intends to take the child to live outside Bahrain. Courts in Bahrain will not enforce U.S. court decrees ordering a parent in Bahrain to pay child support.

Visitation Rights: Non-custodial parents (both the mother and father) are entitled to visitation by prior arrangement of the competent court. Neither the court nor a custodial parent has the authority to stop a non-Bahraini parent from entering Bahrain to visit the child.

Dual Nationality: Dual nationality is not recognized under Bahraini law. Children of Bahraini fathers automatically acquire Bahraini citizenship at birth, regardless of where the child was born. Bahraini women can only transmit citizenship in rare instances when there is official intervention from the Bahraini government. Bahrainis must enter and leave the country on Bahraini passports even if they are entitled to hold the passport of another country.

Travel Restrictions: No exit visas are required to leave Bahrain. When a custody case is before the local court, children, regardless of their nationality, are generally subject to court-imposed travel restrictions. Either parent can request that a court issue an order restricting the travel of minor children, and immigration authorities will enforce that travel restriction. This travel restriction applies to children who are American citizens.

Bahrain

Compiled from the October 2007 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.

Official Name:

Kingdom of Bahrain

PROFILE

Geography

Area: 727 sq. km. (274 sq. mi.); approximately four times the size of Washington, DC. Bahrain is an archipelago of 36 islands located off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia. The four main islands are joined by causeways, and make up about 95% of the total land area.

Cities: Capital—Manama, pop. (2002 est.) 148,000. Other cities—Al Muharraq.

Terrain: Low desert plain (highest elevation point—122 m).

Climate: Hot and humid from May-September, with average highs ranging from 30°-40° C (86°-104° F). Maximum temperatures average 20°-30° C (68°-86° F) the remainder of the year.

People

Nationality: Noun and adjective—Bahraini(s).

Population: (July 2007 est.) 708,535, including about 235,108 non-nationals.

Annual growth rate: (2007 est.) 1.39%.

Ethnic groups: Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%.

Religions: 98% Muslim (approximately Shi'a 70%, Sunni 30%), with small Christian, Jewish and Hindu communities.

Languages: Arabic (official), English, Farsi, and Urdu are also widely spoken.

Education: Education is not compulsory, but is provided free to Bahrainis and non-nationals at all levels, including higher education. Estimated net primary school attendance (1991-2001)-84%. Adult literacy, age 15 and over (2003 est.)-89.1% for the overall population (male 91.9%, female 85%).

Health: Infant mortality rate (2007 est.)-16.18 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy-72 yrs. males, 77 yrs. females.

Work force: (2006 est.) 352,000 of which 44% are foreigners.

Government

Type: Constitutional hereditary monarchy.

Independence: August 15, 1971 (from the United Kingdom).

Constitution: Approved and promulgated May 26, 1973; suspended on August 26, 1975; the National Action Charter was approved by a national popular referendum on February 14-15, 2001, and a new constitution was issued on February 14, 2002.

Government branches: Executive—King (chief of state); Prime Minister (head of government); Council of Ministers (cabinet) is appointed by the King and headed by the Prime Minister. Legislative—The bicameral parliament (al-Majlis al-Watani) consists of a 40-member elected Council of Representatives (elected in December 2006; next election scheduled for 2010) and a 40-member Shura (Consultative) Council appointed by the King. Members of both chambers serve four-year terms. Judicial—High Civil Appeals Court. The judiciary is independent with right ofjudicial review.

Political subdivisions: 12 municipalities (manatiq) Al Hidd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa′ wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat ′Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah.

Political parties: al Wifag, al Asala, al Minbar, al Mustaqbil.

Suffrage: Universal at age 18.

Economy

GDP: (2006 est.) $12.07 billion.

Real GDP growth rate: (2006 est.) 7.1%.

Per capita GDP: (2006 est.) $20,600.

Natural resources: Oil, aluminum, textiles, natural gas, fish, pearls.

Agriculture: (less than 1% of GDP) Products—fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, shrimp, fish.

Industry: Types—oil and gas (13.1% of GDP), manufacturing (12.4% of GDP), aluminum.

Services: Finance (24.2% of GDP), transport and communications (8.9% of GDP), real estate (9.2% of GDP); government services (14.8% of GDP).

Trade: (2006 est.) Exports—$12.62 billion: oil and other mineral products, aluminum, textiles. Major markets— Saudi Arabia (3.2%), U.S. (3%), Japan (2.3%). Imports—$9.04 billion: crude oil, machinery and appliances, transport equipment, foodstuffs. Major suppliers—Saudi Arabia (37.3%), Japan (6.8%), U.S. (6.2%), U.K. (6.2%), Germany (5%), U.A.E. (4.2%).

PEOPLE

Bahrain is one of the most densely populated countries in the world; about 89% of the population lives in the two principal cities of Manama and Al Muharraq. Approximately 66% of the indigenous population is originally from the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Bahrain currently has a sizeable foreign labor force (about 34% of the total population). The government's policies on naturalization remain controversial. In June 2002, the King issued a decree allowing citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to take up dual Bahraini nationality. Opposition political groups charge that the government is granting citizenship to foreign nationals who have served in the Bahraini armed forces and security services to alter the demographic balance of the country, which is primarily Shi’a. According to passport officials, about 40,000 individuals have been naturalized over the past 50 years (about 10% of the total population).

The indigenous population is 98% Muslim. Although some two-thirds of the indigenous population is Shi’a Muslim, the ruling family and the majority of government, military, and corporate leaders are Sunni Muslims. The small indigenous Christian and Jewish communities make up the remaining 2% of the population. Roughly half of foreign resident community are non-Muslim, and include Christians, Hindus, Baha’is, Buddhists and Sikhs.

Bahrain has invested its oil revenues in developing an advanced educational system. The first public schools for girls and boys were opened in the 1920s. The government continues to pay for all schooling costs. Although school attendance is not compulsory, primary and secondary attendance rates are high, and literacy rates are currently among the highest in the region. Higher education is available for secondary school graduates at the Bahrain University, Arabian Gulf University and specialized institutes including the College of Health Sciences—operating under the direction of the Ministry of Health—which trains physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics. The government has identified providing educational services to the Gulf Cooperation Council as a potential economic growth area, and is actively working to establish Bahrain as a regional center for higher education.

HISTORY

The site of the ancient Bronze Age civilization of Dilmun, Bahrain was an important center linking trade routes between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley as early as 5,000 years ago. The Dilmun civilization began to decline about 2,000 B.C. as trade from India was cut off. From 750 B.C. on, Assyrian kings repeatedly claimed sovereignty over the islands. Shortly after 600 B.C., Dilmun was formally incorporated into the new Babylonian empire. There are no historical references to Bahrain until Alexander the Great's arrival in the Gulf in the 4th century B.C. Although Bahrain was ruled variously by the Arab tribes of Bani Wa’el and Persian governors, Bahrain continued to be known by its Greek name Tylos until the 7th century, when many of its inhabitants converted to Islam. A regional pearling and trade center, Bahrain came under the control of the Ummayad Caliphs of Syria, the Abbasid Caliphs of Baghdad, Persian, Omani and Portuguese forces at various times from the 7th century until the Al Khalifa family, a branch of the Bani Utbah tribe that have ruled Bahrain since the 18th century, succeeded in capturing Bahrain from a Persian garrison controlling the islands in 1783.

In the 1830s the Al Khalifa signed the first of many treaties establishing Bahrain as a British Protectorate. Similar to the binding treaties of protection entered into by other Persian Gulf principalities, the agreements entered into by the Al Khalifa prohibited them from disposing of territory and entering into relationships with any foreign government without British consent in exchange for British protection against the threat of military attack from Ottoman Turkey. The main British naval base in the region was moved to Bahrain in 1935 shortly after the start of large-scale oil production.

In 1968, when the British Government announced its decision (reaffirmed in March 1971) to end the treaty relationships with the Persian Gulf sheikdoms, Bahrain initially joined the other eight states (Qatar and the seven Trucial Sheikhdoms now the United Arab Emirates) under British protection in an effort to form a union of Arab emirates. The nine sheikhdoms still had not agreed on terms of union by 1971, however, prompting Bahrain to declare itself fully independent on August 15, 1971.

Bahrain promulgated a constitution and elected its first parliament in 1973, but just two years later, in August 1975, the Amir disbanded the National Assembly after it attempted to legislate the end of Al-Khalifa rule and the expulsion of the U.S. Navy from Bahrain. In the 1990s, Bahrain suffered from repeated incidents of political violence stemming from the disaffection of the Shi’a majority. In response, the Amir instituted the first Bahraini cabinet change in 20 years in 1995 and also and increased the membership of the Consultative Council, which he had created in 1993 to provide advice and opinion on legislation proposed by the cabinet and, in certain cases, suggest new laws on its own, from 30 to 40 the following year. These steps led to an initial decline in violent incidents, but in early 1996 a number of hotels and restaurants were bombed, resulting in several fatalities. Over 1,000 people were arrested and held in detention without trial in connection with these disturbances. The government has since released these individuals.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa succeeded the throne in March 1999, after the death of his father Shaikh Isa bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain's ruler since 1961. He championed a program of democratic reform shortly after his succession. In November 2000, Shaikh Hamad established a committee to create a blueprint to transform Bahrain from a hereditary emirate to a constitutional monarchy within 2 years.

The resulting “National Action Charter” was presented to the Bahraini public in a referendum in February 2001. In the first comprehensive public vote in Bahrain since the 1970s, 94.8% of voters overwhelmingly endorsed the charter.

That same month, Shaikh Hamad pardoned all political prisoners and detainees, including those who had been imprisoned, exiled or detained on security charges. He also abolished the State Security Law and the State Security Court, which had permitted the government to detain individuals without trial for up to 3 years.

On February 14, 2002, one year after the referendum endorsing his National Action Charter, Shaikh Hamad pronounced Bahrain a constitutional monarchy and changed his status from Amir to King. He simultaneously announced that the first municipal elections since 1957 would be held in May 2002, and that a bicameral parliament, with a representative lower house, would be reconstituted with parliamentary

elections in October 2002. As part of these constitutional reforms, the government also created an independent financial watchdog empowered to investigate cases of embezzlement and violations of state expenditure in July 2002.

Turnout for the May 2002 municipal elections was 51%, with female voters making up 52% percent of voters. Turnout for the 2002 parliamentary elections—the first in almost three decades—was 53% in the first round and 43% in the second round, despite the fact that four political societies, including the largest Shi’a society, organized a boycott to protest constitutional provisions enacted by the King that gave the appointed upper chamber of parliament voting rights equal to the elected lower chamber. The new parliament held its first joint sitting in December 2002. Bahrain held its second set of parliamentary and municipal elections in November and December 2006. All registered political societies participated in the elections and a Shia society, Al Wifaq, now represents the largest single bloc inside the Council of Representatives. Thirty-two of the Council's 40 members represent Sunni and Shia Islamist societies. One woman, Lateefah Al-Qauod, ran uncontested and became the first woman elected to parliament in Bahrain.

Bahrain has 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 regulations created with the help of British advisers in the early 20th century. In 2001, Shaikh Hamad created the Supreme Judicial Council to regulate these courts and separate the administrative and judicial branches of government.

Principal Government Officials

Last Updated: 2/1/2008

King: HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa

Prime Min.: KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa

Dep. Prime Min.: ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa

Dep. Prime Min.: Jawad al-ARAIDH

Dep. Prime Min.: MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak al-Khalifa

Min. of King's Court Affairs: ALI bin Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa

Min. of Communication: ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa

Min. of Defense: KHALIFA bin Ahmad al-Khalifa, Maj. Gen.

Min. of Education: Majid bin Ali Hasan al-NUAYMI

Min. of Electricity & Water: ABDALLAH bin Salman al-Khalifa

Min. of Finance & Economy: AHMAD bin Muhammad bin Hamad bin Abdallah al-Khalifa

Min. of Foreign Affairs: KHALID bin Ahmad al-Khalifa

Min. of Health: Faysal al-HAMMER, Dr.

Min. of Industry & Commerce: HASAN bin Abdallah al-Fakhru

Min. of Information: Jihad BUKAMAL

Min. of Interior: RASHID bin Abdallah bin Ahmad al-Khalifa

Min. of Islamic Affairs: KHALID bin Ali al-Khalifa

Min. of Justice: KHALID bin Ali al-Khalifa

Min. of Labor: Majid bin Muhsin al-ALAWI

Min. of Municipalities & AgriculturalAffairs: Mansur bin RAJAB

Min. of Oil & Gas: Abd al-HusaynMIRZA

Min. of Public Works & Housing: Fahmibin Ali al-JAWDAR

Min. of Social Affairs: Fatima bintAhmad al-BALUSHI

Min. of Transportation: ALI bin Khalifaal-Khalifa

Min. of State for Cabinet Affairs: AHMADbin Atiyatallah al-Khalifa

Min. of State for Defense: MUHAMMADbin Abdallah al-Khalifa

Min. of State for Foreign Affairs: Nizar al-BAHARNA

Min. of State for Shura Council Affairs & Parliament: Abd al-Aziz bin Muhammad al-FADHIL

Attorney Gen.: ABD al-Rahman bin Jabir al-Khalifa

Dir., Bahrain National Security Agency: KHALIFA bin Ali bin Rashid

Chmn., Central Bank of Bahrain: KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa

Governor, Central Bank of Bahrain: Rashid bin Muhammad al-MARAJ

Ambassador to the US: Nasir bin Muhammad al-BALUSHI

Permanent Representative to the UN, New York: Tawfiq Ahmad Khalil al-MANSUR

Bahrain maintains an embassy in the United States at 3502 International Drive N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008; tel: [1] (202) 342-1111; fax: [1] (202) 362-2192. The Bahraini Mission to the UN is located at 866 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017; tel: [1] (212)223-6200; fax [1] (212) 319-0687.

ECONOMY

The first Gulf state to discover oil, Bahrain's reserves are expected to run out in 10-15 years. Accordingly, Bahrain has worked to diversify its economy over the past decade and has stabilized its oil production at about 40,000 barrels per day (b/d). Revenues from oil and natural gas currently account for 11.1% of GDP yet currently provide about 76% of government income. The state-owned Bahrain Petroleum Company refinery built in 1935, the first in the Gulf, has a capacity of about 260,000 b/d. Saudi Arabia provides most of the crude for refinery operation via pipeline. Through an agreement with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain also receives half 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. However, rising domestic demand spurred by a recent development boom has highlighted the need to increase gas supplies. 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. Growth in the hydrocarbons sector will be contingent upon new discoveries—Bahrain awarded exploration rights to Malaysia's Petronas and the U.S.'s Chevron Texaco after the resolution of Bahrain's long-standing territorial dispute with Qatar, but no meaningful finds have been announced to date. Bahrain's other industries include the majority state-owned Aluminum Bahrain (Alba)—which operates the largest aluminum smelter in the world outside Eastern Europe with an annual production of about 843,000 metric tons (mt) in 2005 after the completion of an expansion program—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. Bahrain is a regional financial and business center; international financial institutions operate in Bahrain, both offshore and onshore, without impediments, and the financial sector is currently the largest contributor to GDP at 27.6%. Some 370 offshore banking units and representative offices are located in Bahrain, as well as 65 American firms. Bahrain has also made a concerted effort to become the leading Islamic finance center in the Arab world, standardizing regulations of the Islamic banking industry. It currently has 32 Islamic commercial, investment and leasing banks as well as Islamic insurance (takaful) companies—the largest concentration of Islamic financial institutions in the Middle East.

Bahrain is working to develop other service industries such as information technology, healthcare and education. The government has used its oil revenues to build an advanced infrastructure in transportation and telecommunications. The state monopoly—Batelco—was broken in April 2003 following the establishment of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). Since that time, the TRA has granted some 63 licenses in the interest of promoting healthy industry competition.

Bahrain plans to expand its airport, one of the busiest in the Gulf. More than 4.8 million passengers transited Bahrain International Airport in 2005. A modern, busy port offers direct and frequent cargo shipping connections to the U.S., Europe, and the Far East. To boost its competitiveness as a regional center, Bahrain is building a new port and has privatized port operations.

The government of Bahrain moved toward privatizing the production of electricity and water by licensing Al Ezzal to construct an independent power plant at a cost of $500 million. The company commenced operations in May 2006. In January 2006, the government announced the sale of the Al Hidd Power Plant for $738 million to Hidd Power Company, a consortium of British, Japanese, and Belgian companies.

Regional tourism is also a significant source of income. The government continues to favor large-scale tourism projects. It opened the only Formula One race track in the Middle East in 2004, and has awarded tenders for several tourist complexes. New hotel and spa projects are progressing within the context of broader real estate development, much of which is geared toward attracting increased tourism.

Government revenues continue to be largely dependent on the oil industry. Bahrain has received significant budgetary support and project grants from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. Buoyed by rising oil revenues, the 2007-2008 budget approved by the parliament in July 2006 provides for sizable increases in urban development, education, and social spending. Ministry of Defense spending will account for 13% of current spending in 2007 and 2008 based on the new budget. The Ministry of Education and Ministry of the Interior also receive substantial budget allocations. Significant capital outlays have been allocated to improving housing and infrastructure in line with government efforts to raise the standard of living of the Shi’a population and to attract foreign investment.

The government has also started to extend protections to workers. Private sector employees won permission to form unions in late 2002; King Hamad has given his tentative approval for the formation of unions in government departments. In June 2006, Bahrain passed laws legalizing the existence of multiple trade federations and codifying several protections for workers engaged in union activity. As part of the government's labor reform program, it has formed a Labor Market Regulatory Authority and established a fund to support the training of Bahraini workers. In 2006, bilateral trade exceeded $1 billion for the first time, representing almost 50% growth over 2005. The U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement took effect on August 1, 2006 and is generating increased U.S. commercial interest in Bahrain.

DEFENSE

The Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) numbers about 12,000 personnel and consists of army, navy, air force, air defense, and royal guard units. The public security forces and the coast guard are separate from the BDF and report to the Ministry of the Interior. Bahrain also has a national guard that consists of about 1,200 personnel. Bahrain's defense spending since 1999 has been steady. The government spends around $630 million annually on the military, about 20% of current expenditures. The parliamentary process has produced spirited debate over government spending, particularly defense spending, but no actual reductions.

With the help of the U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Bahrain has made significant efforts to upgrade its defense systems and modernize its armed forces over the last 20 years. In 1982, the GCC gave Bahrain $1.7 billion for this purpose. Since the 1991 Gulf War, the U.S. has provided military and defense technical assistance and training to Bahrain from Foreign Military Sales (FMS), commercial sources, excess defense article sales (EDA) and under the International Military and Education Training (IMET) program. The U.S. Office of Military Cooperation in Bahrain is attached to the U.S. Embassy and manages the security assistance mission.

U.S. military sales to Bahrain since 2000 total $608.9 million. Principal U.S. military systems acquired by the BDF include eight Apache helicopters, 54 M60A3 tanks, 22 F-16C/D aircraft, 20 Cobra helicopters, 20 M109A5 Howitzers, 1 Avenger AD system, and the TPS-59 radar system. Bahrain has received $410 million in U.S. EDA acquisition value delivered since the U.S.-Bahraini program began in 1993.

Military exercises are conducted on a regular basis to increase the BDF's readiness and improve coordination with the U.S. and other GCC forces. The BDF also sends personnel to the United States for military training. This training includes courses from graduate level professional military education down to entry level technical training.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Since achieving independence in 1971, Bahrain has pursued a policy of close consultation with neighboring states. Bahrain became a member of the United Nations and the Arab League in 1971. In 1981 it joined its five neighbors—Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, the U.A.E. and Qatar—to form the strategic Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Bahrain has complied with GCC efforts steps to coordinate economic development and defense and security planning. In December 1994, for example, Bahrain concurred with the GCC decision to drop secondary and tertiary boycotts against Israel. Bahrain also responded positively to Kuwait's request to deploy the GCC collective defense force, “Peninsula Shield,” during the build up and execution of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in 2003.

In addition to maintaining strong relations with its largest financial backers, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the U.A.E., Bahrain has worked to improve its relations with Qatar and has proper, but not warm, relations with Iran. Bahrain-Iran relations have been strained since the discovery in 1981 of an Iran-sponsored coup plot in Bahrain. Bahraini suspicions of the Iranian role in local unrest in the mid-1990s remain. On March 16, 2001, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced its judgment on the long-standing maritime delimitation and territorial dispute between Bahrain and Qatar. The binding judgment awarded sovereignty over the Hawar Islands and Qit'at Jaradah to Bahrain and sovereignty over Zubarah (part of the Qatar Peninsula), Janan Island and Fasht ad Dibal to Qatar. The peaceful settlement of this dispute has allowed for renewed co-operation, including plans to construct a causeway between the two countries.

Bahrain's strategic partnership with the U.S. has intensified since 1991. Bahraini pilots flew strikes in Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War, and the country was used as a base for military operations in the Gulf. Bahrain also provided logistical and basing support to international Maritime Interdiction efforts to enforce UN sanctions and prevent illegal smuggling of oil from Iraq in the 1990s. Bahrain also provided extensive basing and overflight clearances for a multitude of U.S. aircraft operating in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Bahrain also deployed forces in support of Coalition operations during both OEF and OIF. Bahrain has delivered humanitarian support and technical training to support the reconstruction of the Iraqi banking sector, and has offered support for each stage of Iraq's political transformation. Bahrain has also cooperated effectively on criminal investigation issues in support of the campaign on terrorism; the Bahrain Monetary Agency (which became the Central Bank of Bahrain in September 2006) moved quickly to restrict terrorists’ ability to transfer funds through Bahrain's financial system. In October 2006, Bahrain joined the U.S. and 23 other countries in a Proliferation Security Initiative interdiction exercise in the Persian Gulf.

U.S.-BAHRAINI RELATIONS

The American Mission Hospital, affiliated with the National Evangelical Church, has operated continuously in Bahrain for more than a century. Bahrain has also been a base for U.S. naval activity in the Gulf since 1947. When Bahrain became independent, the 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 Salman Al Khalifa made a state visit to Washington. In 2001, Amir Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa made his first visit to the U.S. after succeeding his father in 1999. He returned to Washington on an official visit in January 2003. King Hamad made an official visit to Washington in November 2004 to meet with President Bush and cabinet-level officials.

Bahrain and the United States signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in October 1991 granting U.S. forces access to Bahraini facilities and ensuring the right to pre-position material for future crises. Bahrain is the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. The U.S. designated Bahrain a Major Non-NATO Ally in October 2001.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

Last Updated: 2/19/2008

MANAMA (E) Building 979, Road 3119, Block 331, Zinj District, APO/ FPO Unit 6210 Box 103 FPO AE 09809-0103, 973-1724-2700/ VoIP:202-448-5131, Fax 973-1727-2594, Workweek: Sun to Thurs, 0800-1700, Website: http://manama.usembassy.gov.

The U.S. Embassy in Bahrain is located off Sheikh Isa Highway, at Building 979, Road 3119, Block 321, Zinj, Manama, Bahrain. The mailing address is P.O. Box 26431, Manama, Bahrain; tel: [973] 242-700; fax: [973] 272-594. The embassy's hours of operation outside of Ramadan are 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Sundays-Thursdays.

TRAVEL

Consular Information Sheet

November 23, 2007

Country Description: Bahrain is a hereditary kingdom governed by the Al-Khalifa family. In 2002, the country adopted a new constitution that reinstated a parliament, which consists of one elected and one appointed chamber. Islamic ideals and beliefs provide the conservative foundation of the country's customs, laws and practices. Bahrain is a modern, developed country and tourist facilities are widely available. The capital is Manama.

Entry Requirements: A passport and a visa are required. Passports should be valid for at least six months after date of arrival. U.S. passport holders outside of Bahrain may apply and pay for a two-week tourist visa online through the Bahraini government web site at http://www.evisa.gov.bh, or may obtain it upon arrival at the airport. U.S. diplomatic passport holders receive a no-fee two-week visa. Prior to travel, visitors may obtain five-year multiple-entry visas valid for stays as long as one month from Bahraini embassies overseas. Bahrain assesses heavy fines on visitors who fail to depart Bahrain at the end of their authorized stay. The amount of the fine is determined by a formula related to the visa type, duration, and location of issuance. An exit tax is included in the ticket price for flights out of Bahrain, and no additional exit fees are required upon departure. Residents of Bahrain who intend to return must obtain a reentry permit before departing. For further information on entry/exit requirements, travelers may contact the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain, 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone (202) 342-1111; or the Bahrain Permanent Mission to the U.N., 2 United Nations Plaza, East 44th St., New York, NY 10017, telephone (212) 223-6200. Visit the Embassy of Bahrain web site at www.bahrainembassy.org for the most current visa information.

Safety and Security: Americans in Bahrain should maintain a high level of security awareness. Spontaneous demonstrations take place in Bahrain from time to time in response to world events or local developments. We remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possible escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations. American citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Information regarding demonstrations in Bahrain can be found on the U.S. Embassy Manama's web site at http://bahrain.usembassy.gov/information_for_travelers.html. Visiting U.S. citizens should register with the U.S. Embassy in Manama upon arrival. The Department of State remains concerned about the possibility of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests throughout the world. Americans should maintain a low profile, vary routes and times for all required travel, and treat mail and packages from unfamiliar sources with caution. In addition, U.S. citizens are urged to avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar objects, and to report the presence of the objects to local authorities. Please report any security concerns to the U.S. Embassy's Regional Security Office at telephone (973) 1724-2700 during office hours or (973) 1727-5126 after hours.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site, where the current Worldwide Caution Travel Alert, Middle East and North Africa Travel Alert, Travel Warnings and other Travel Alerts can be found. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.

Crime: The crime rate in Bahrain is low and violent crime is rare. However, burglary, petty theft, and robberies do occur. Visiting Americans are urged to take the same security precautions in Bahrain that one would practice in the United States. Hotel room doors should be locked when visitors are in their rooms, and travelers are encouraged to store valuables in hotel room safes when they are available. Women are encouraged to keep their purses firmly under their arms, and men should avoid keeping their wallets in their hip pockets while in the old market area. The U.S. Embassy in Manama recommends that travelers using local taxis insist on the use of a meter since unexpectedly high fares may otherwise be charged. Bahrain has a professional police force, and visitors are encouraged to contact the police if problems are encountered.

Information for Victims of Crime: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the U.S. Embassy. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance. The Embassy staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how to transfer funds. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

Medical Facilities and Health Information: Basic modern medical care and medicines are available in several hospitals and health centers in Bahrain. Two government hospitals, several private hospitals, and numerous private clinics located throughout the country offer a wide range of medical services. Cardiac care, general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedics and dentistry services are readily available, as are x-rays, CT-scan and MRI testing. The government hospitals house both trauma and ICU units. Pharmacies are common throughout Bahrain and carry a wide range of medications. Prescriptions are normally required.

Payment at all medical facilities is due at the time of service. Some hospitals have limited direct billing capability for certain insurance carriers. Billing and insurance practices vary among the medical facilities.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC's web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.

Medical Insurance: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Bahrain is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Travel by road in Bahrain is generally safe although unsafe driving practices are common. Highways and major roads in the northern third of Bahrain are four to six lanes wide and well maintained; roads in villages and older parts of Manama and Muharraq are narrow and twisting. As in the United States, traffic in Bahrain moves on the right. Roundabouts (traffic circles) follow the British system, with those automobiles within the traffic circle having right of way over those attempting to enter. Although the Bahraini penal code calls for fines of up to 100 dinars ($270.00) or imprisonment of up to six months for driving above posted speed limits, it is not uncommon for drivers to drive well over the posted speed limits of 50-120 km per hour. The law allows the police to detain drivers for traffic violations until they can appear before a magistrate. It is illegal to use a cell phone while driving.

Under Bahraini law, any sign of having consumed alcohol may be taken as prima facie evidence of driving under the influence, which can lead to imprisonment and/or fines of up to 1,000 Bahraini Dinars (2,700 U.S. dollars). Except for minor accidents, drivers may not move their vehicles after an accident until a report has been filed with the traffic police. This is true even in cases of single-car accidents. Insurance companies may not provide coverage if the cars are moved. However, drivers involved in minor, non-injury accidents no longer need to wait at the scene for the police. Individuals should get their vehicles off the road to avoid further accidents. Drivers can call the accident hotline at 199 (if there are no injuries) or 999 (when someone is injured) where they will be directed to one of five centers to file the accident report. This report must be file within 24 hours of the accident. Both drivers may be prohibited from leaving the country until the matter is resolved if an accident results in legal proceedings. The main switchboard at the traffic department is 1787-2222.

Emergency numbers are as follows:
Fire/Ambulance/Police: 999
Traffic/Accidents: 199 (no injuries) OR 999 (injuries)

Visit the web site of Bahrain's national authority responsible for road safety at http://www.traffic.gov.bh/main.htm.

Aviation Safety Oversight: Asthere is no direct commercial air service between the United States and Bahrain, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Bahrain's Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA's web site at http://www.faa.gov.

Special Circumstances: Individuals subject to Bahraini court orders arising from indebtedness, labor disagreements, or other legal disputes may be prevented from departing Bahrain until their cases are resolved. Instances have occurred in which departure was prohibited for several years, since the legal process can be both lengthy and complex. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Manama maintains a list of local attorneys capable of representing Americans.

Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Persons violating Bahrain's laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Disrespect to officials in word or deed can result in heavy fines. Travelers who are driving should be aware that one drink may be sufficient grounds for a DUI arrest. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Bahrain are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Children's Issues : For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children's Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family.

Registration and Embassy Locations: Americans living or traveling in Bahrain are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration web site, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Bahrain. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at Bldg. 979, Road no. 3119, Zinj District (next to Al Ahli Sports Club). The mailing address is P.O. Box 26431, Manama, Bahrain. The telephone number is (973) 1724-2700. The after-hours number is (973) 1727-5126. The Consular Section's fax number is (973) 1725-6242. The Embassy's website, which includes consular information and the most recent messages to the American community in Bahrain, is at http://bahrain.usembassy.gov. The workweek in Bahrain is Sunday through Thursday.

International Adoption

June 2001

The information in this section has been edited from a report of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Overseas Citizens Services. For more information, please read the International Adoption section of this book and review current reports online at http://travel.state.gov/family.

Disclaimer: The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and current understanding. Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel.

The Ministry of Islamic and Justice Affairs has informed the American Embassy in Manama, that adoption is not possible in Bahrain. Muslims from birth may support a child whose father is not known, however, the child cannot inherit or take the name of the family providing support, nor can the child depart Bahrain with this family. These restrictions extend to third country national children, who are considered citizens of Bahrain when the biological father is not known. Prospective American Guardians may want to review our Shari’a Adoption Flyer on Guardianship in Muslim Countries.

Specific questions regarding adoption issues may be addressed to:

Embassy of the State of Bahrain
3502 International Drive, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Phone: (202) 342-0741
Fax: (202) 362-2192
Bahrain also has a consulate in New York City, New York.

U.S. Embassy Manama
Box 26431
Manama, Bahrain
Zinj, Bahrain

Additional Information: Prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to consult USCIS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children, as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions for general information on international adoptions.

Questions: Specific questions regarding adoption in Bahrain may be addressed to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Bahrain. You may also contact the Office of Children's Issues, SA-29, 2201 C Street, NW, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-2818, telephone 1-888-407-4747 with specific questions.

Bahrain

Compiled from the October 2006 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.

Official Name:
Kingdom of Bahrain

PROFILE

PEOPLE

HISTORY

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

ECONOMY

DEFENSE

FOREIGN RELATIONS

U.S.-BAHRAINI RELATIONS

TRAVEL

PROFILE

Geography

Area: 727 sq. km. (274 sq. mi.); approximately four times the size of Washington, DC. Bahrain is an archipelago of 36 islands located off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia. The four main islands are joined by causeways, and make up about 95% of the total land area.

Cities: Capital—Manama, pop. (2002 est.) 148,000. Other cities—Al Muharraq.

Terrain: Low desert plain (highest elevation point—122 m).

Climate: Hot and humid from May-September, with average highs ranging from 30o-40o C (86o-104o F). Maximum temperatures average 20o-30o C (68o-86o F) the remainder of the year.

People

Nationality: Noun and adjective—Bahraini(s).

Population: (July 2005 est.) 688,345, including about 235,108 non-nationals.

Annual growth rate: (2005 est.) 1.51%.

Ethnic groups: Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%.

Religions: 98% Muslim (Shi’a 70%, Sunni 30%), with small Christian, Jewish and Hindu communities.

Languages: Arabic (official), English, Farsi, and Urdu are also widely spoken.

Education: Education is not compulsory, but is provided free to Bahrainis and non-nationals at all levels, including higher education. Estimated net primary school attendance (1991-2001)—84%. Adult literacy, age 15 and over (2003 est.)—89.1% for the overall population (male 91.9%, female 85%).

Health: Infant mortality rate (2005 est.)—17.27 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy—72 yrs. males, 77 yrs. females.

Work force: (2005 est.) 380,000 of which 59% are foreigners and 20.8% female.

Government

Type: Constitutional hereditary monarchy.

Independence: August 15, 1971 (from the United Kingdom).

Constitution: Approved and promulgated May 26, 1973; suspended on August 26, 1975; the National Action Charter was approved by a national popular referendum on February 14-15, 2001, and a new constitution was issued on February 14, 2002.

Government branches: Executive—King (chief of state); Prime Minister (head of government); Council of Ministers (cabinet) is appointed by the King and headed by the Prime Minister. Legislative—The bicameral parliament (al-Majlis al-Watani) consists of a 40-member elected House of Deputies and a 40-member Shura Council appointed by the King. Members of both chambers serve four-year terms. Judicial—High Civil Appeals Court. The judiciary is independent with right of judicial review.

Political subdivisions: 12 municipalities (manatiq) Al Hidd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa’ wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat ‘Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah.

Political parties: None. Formal parties are banned, but political societies have been sanctioned since 2001 and were formally allowed to register per a July 2005 law.

Suffrage: Universal at age 18.

Economy

GDP: (2005 est.) $11.58 billion.

Real GDP growth rate: (2005 est.) 5.9%.

Per capita GDP: (2005 est.) $20,500.

Natural resources: Oil, natural gas, fish, pearls.

Agriculture: (less than 1% of GDP) Products—fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, shrimp, fish.

Industry: Types—oil and gas (13.1% of GDP), manufacturing (12.4% of GDP), aluminum.

Services: Finance (24.2% of GDP), transport and communications (8.9% of GDP), real estate (9.2% of GDP); government services (14.8% of GDP).

Trade: (2004—12.4% of GDP) Exports—$8.14 billion: oil and other mineral products, base metals, textiles. Major markets—India (4.3%), U.S. (2.9%), Saudi Arabia (3.0%), Japan (1.7%), South Korea (1.4%). Imports—$7.83 billion: crude oil, machinery and appliances, transport equipment, foodstuffs. Major suppliers—Saudi Arabia (32.4%), U.S. (5.6%), France (4.8%), U.K. (6.1%), Germany (6.1%), Japan (7.3%).

PEOPLE

Bahrain is one of the most densely populated countries in the Middle East; about 89% of the population lives in the two principal cities of Manama and Al Muharraq. Approximately 66% of the indigenous population is originally from the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Bahrain currently has a sizeable foreign labor force (about 34% of the total population). The government’s policies on naturalization remain controversial. In June 2002, the King issued a decree allowing citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to take up dual Bahraini nationality. Opposition political groups charge that the government is granting citizenship to foreign nationals who have served in the Bahraini armed forces and security services to alter the demographic balance of the country, which is primarily Shi’a. According to passport officials, about 40,000 individuals have been naturalized over the past 50 years (about 10% of the total population).

The indigenous population is 98% Muslim. Although more than two-thirds of the indigenous population is Shi’a Muslim, the ruling family and the majority of government, military, and corporate leaders are Sunni Muslims. The small indigenous Christian and Jewish communities make up the remaining 2% of the population. Roughly half of foreign resident community are non-Muslim, and include Christians, Hindus, Baha’is, Buddhists and Sikhs.

Bahrain has invested its oil revenues in developing an advanced educational system. The first public schools for girls and boys were opened in the 1920s. The government continues to pay for all schooling costs. Although school attendance is not compulsory, primary and secondary attendance rates are high, and literacy rates are currently among the highest in the region. Higher education is available for secondary school graduates at the Bahrain University, Arabian Gulf University and specialized institutes including the College of Health Sciences—operating under the direction of the Ministry of Health—which trains physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics. The government has identified providing educational services to the Gulf Cooperation Council as a potential economic growth area, and is actively working to establish Bahrain as a regional center for higher education.

HISTORY

The site of the ancient Bronze Age civilization of Dilmun, Bahrain was an important center linking trade routes between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley as early as 5,000 years ago. The Dilmun civilization began to decline about 2,000 B.C. as trade from India was cut off. From 750 B.C. on, Assyrian kings repeatedly claimed sovereignty over the islands. Shortly after 600 B.C., Dilmun was formally incorporated into the new Babylonian empire. There are no historical references to Bahrain until Alexander the Great’s arrival in the Gulf in the 4th century B.C. Although Bahrain was ruled variously by the Arab tribes of Bani Wa’el and Persian governors, Bahrain continued to be known by its Greek name Tylos until the 7th century, when many of its inhabitants converted to Islam. A regional pearling and trade center, Bahrain came under the control of the Ummayad Caliphs of Syria, the Abbasid Caliphs of Baghdad, Persian, Omani and Portuguese forces at various times from the 7th century until the Al Khalifa family, a branch of the Bani Utbah tribe that have ruled Bahrain since the 18th century, succeeded in capturing Bahrain from a Persian garrison controlling the islands in 1783.

In the 1830s the Al Khalifa signed the first of many treaties establishing Bahrain as a British Protectorate. Similar to the binding treaties of protection entered into by other Persian Gulf principalities, the agreements entered into by the Al Khalifa prohibited them from disposing of territory and entering into relationships with any foreign government without British consent in exchange for British protection against the threat of military attack from Ottoman Turkey. The main British naval base in the region was moved to Bahrain in 1935 shortly after the start of large-scale oil production.

In 1968, when the British Government announced its decision (reaffirmed in March 1971) to end the treaty relationships with the Persian Gulf sheikdoms, Bahrain initially joined the other eight states (Qatar and the seven Trucial Sheikhdoms now the United Arab Emirates) under British protection in an effort to form a union of Arab emirates. The nine sheikhdoms still had not agreed on terms of union by 1971, however, prompting Bahrain to declare itself fully independent on August 15, 1971.

Bahrain promulgated a constitution and elected its first parliament in 1973, but just two years later, in August 1975, the Amir disbanded the National Assembly after it attempted to legislate the end of Al-Khalifa rule and the expulsion of the U.S. Navy from Bahrain. In the 1990s, Bahrain suffered from repeated incidents of political violence stemming from the disaffection of the Shi’a majority. In response, the Amir instituted the first Bahraini cabinet change in 20 years in 1995 and also and increased the membership of the Consultative

Council, which he had created in 1993 to provide advice and opinion on legislation proposed by the cabinet and, in certain cases, suggest new laws on its own, from 30 to 40 the following year. These steps led to an initial decline in violent incidents, but in early 1996 a number of hotels and restaurants were bombed, resulting in several fatalities. Over 1,000 people were arrested and held in detention without trial in connection with these disturbances. The government has since released these individuals (see Government and Political Conditions Section below for details).

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa succeeded the throne in March 1999, after the death of his father Shaikh Isa bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s ruler since 1961. He championed a program of democratic reform shortly after his succession. In November 2000, Shaikh Hamad established a committee to create a blueprint to transform Bahrain from a hereditary emirate to a constitutional monarchy within 2 years. The resulting “National Action Charter” was presented to the Bahraini public in a referendum in February 2001. In the first comprehensive public vote in Bahrain since the 1970s, 94.8% of voters overwhelmingly endorsed the charter. That same month, Shaikh Hamad pardoned all political prisoners and detainees, including those who had been imprisoned, exiled or detained on security charges. He also abolished the State Security Law and the State Security Court, which had permitted the government to detain individuals without trial for up to 3 years.

On February 14, 2002, one year after the referendum endorsing his National Action Charter, Shaikh Hamad pronounced Bahrain a constitutional monarchy and changed his status from Amir to King. He simultaneously announced that the first municipal elections since 1957 would be held in May 2002, and that a bicameral parliament, with a representative lower house, would be reconstituted with parliamentary elections in October 2002. As part of these constitutional reforms, the government also created an independent financial watchdog empowered to investigate cases of embezzlement and violations of state expenditure in July 2002.

Turnout for the May 2002 municipal elections was 51%, with female voters making up 52% percent of voters. Turnout for the 2002 parliamentary elections—the first in almost three decades—was 53% in the first round and 43% in the second round, despite the fact that four political societies, including the largest Shi’a society, organized a boycott to protest constitutional amendments enacted by the King that gave the appointed upper chamber of parliament voting rights equal to the elected lower chamber. Sunni Islamists won 19 of the 40 seats. Despite strong participation by female voters, none of the female candidates standing in these elections won a parliamentary seat. The new parliament held its first joint sitting in December 2002. Bahrain will hold elections for the five municipal councils and the 40 seats in the lower house of parliament in November 2006.

Bahrain has 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 regulations created with the help of British advisers in the early 20th century. In 2001, Shaikh Hamad created the Supreme Judicial Council to regulate these courts and separate the administrative and judicial branches of government.

Principal Government Officials

Last Updated: 1/16/2007

Bahrain

King: HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa

Prime Minister: KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa

Dep. Prime Minister: ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa

Dep. Prime Minister: Jawad al-ARAIDH Dep. Prime Minister: MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak al-Khalifa

Min. of King’s Court Affairs: ALI bin Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa

Min. of Communication: ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa

Min. of Defense: KHALIFA bin Ahmad al-Khalifa Maj. Gen.

Min. of Education: Majid bin Ali Hasan al-NUAYMI

Min. of Electricity & Water: ABDALLAH bin Salman al-Khalifa

Min. of Finance & Economy: AHMAD bin Muhammad bin Hamad bin Abdallah al-Khalifa

Min. of Foreign Affairs: KHALID bin Ahmad al-Khalifa

Min. of Health: Nada bint Abbas HAFADH, Dr.

Min. of Industry & Commerce: HASAN bin Abdallah al-Fakhru

Min. of Information: Muhammad Abd al-GHAFFAR

Min. of Interior: RASHID bin Abdallah bin Ahmad al-Khalifa

Min. of Islamic Affairs: KHALID bin Ali al-Khalifa

Min. of Justice: KHALID bin Ali al-Khalifa

Min. of Labor: Majid bin Muhsin al-ALAWI

Min. of Municipalities & Agricultural Affairs: Mansur bin RAJAB

Min. of Oil & Gas: Abd al-Husayn MIRZA

Min. of Public Works & Housing: Fahmi bin Ali al-JAWDAR

Min. of Social Affairs: Fatima bint Ahmad al-BALUSHI

Min. of Transportation: ALI bin Khalifa al-Khalifa

Min. of State for Cabinet Affairs: AHMAD bin Atiyatallah al-Khalifa

Min. of State for Defense: MUHAMMAD bin Abdallah al-Khalifa

Min. of State for Foreign Affairs: Nizar al-BAHARNA

Min. of State for Shura Council Affairs & Parliament: Abd al-Aziz bin Muhammad al-FADHIL

Attorney General: ABD al-Rahman bin Jabir al-Khalifa

Director, Bahrain National Security Agency: KHALIFA bin Ali bin Rashid

Chmn., Bahrain Monetary Agency: KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa

Governor, Bahrain Monetary Agency: Rashid al-MARAJ

Ambassador to the US: Nasir bin Muhammad al-BALUSHI

Permanent Representative to the UN, New York: Tawfiq Ahmad Khalil al-MANSUR

Bahrain maintains an embassy in the United States at 3502 International Drive N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008; tel: [1] (202) 342-1111; fax: [1] (202) 362-2192. The Bahraini Mission to the UN is located at 866 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017; tel: [1] (212)223-6200; fax [1] (212) 319-0687.

ECONOMY

The first Gulf state to discover oil, Bahrain’s reserves are expected to run out in 10-15 years. Accordingly, Bahrain has worked to diversify its economy over the past decade and has stabilized its oil production at about 40,000 barrels per day (b/d). Revenues from oil and natural gas currently account for 11.1% of GDP yet currently provide about 76% of government income. The state-owned Bahrain Oil Company refinery built in 1935, the first in the Gulf, has a capacity of about 260,000 b/d. Saudi Arabia provides most of the crude for refinery operation via pipeline. Through an agreement with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain also receives half 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. However, rising domestic demand spurred by a recent development boom has highlighted the need to increase gas supplies. 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. Growth in the hydrocarbons sector will be contingent upon new discoveries—Bahrain awarded exploration rights to Malaysia’s Petronas and the U.S.’ Chevron Texaco after the resolution of Bahrain’s long-standing territorial dispute with Qatar, but no meaningful finds have been announced to date. Bahrain’s other industries include the majority state-owned Aluminum Bahrain (Alba)—which operates the largest aluminum smelter in the world outside Eastern Europe with an annual production of about 843,000 metric tons (mt) in 2005 after the completion of an expansion program—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. Bahrain is a regional financial and business center; international financial institutions operate in Bahrain, both offshore and onshore, without impediments, and the financial sector is currently the largest contributor to GDP at 27.6%. Some 370 offshore banking units and representative offices are located in Bahrain, as well as 65 American firms. Bahrain has also made a concerted effort to become the leading Islamic finance center in the world, standardizing regulations of the Islamic banking industry. It currently has 32 Islamic commercial, investment and leasing banks as well as Islamic insurance (takaful) companies —the largest concentration of Islamic financial institutions in the Middle East.

Bahrain is working to develop other service industries such as information technology, healthcare and education. The government has used its oil revenues to build an advanced infrastructure in transportation and telecommunications. The state monopoly—Batelco—was broken in April 2003 following the establishment of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). Since that time, the TRA has granted some 63 licenses in the interest of promoting healthy industry competition.

Bahrain plans to expand its airport, one of the busiest in the Gulf. More than 4.8 million passengers transited Bahrain International Airport in 2005. A modern, busy port offers direct and frequent cargo shipping connections to the U.S., Europe, and the Far East. To boost its competitiveness as a regional center, Bahrain is building a new port and has privatized port operations.

The government of Bahrain moved toward privatizing the production of electricity and water by licensing Al Ezzal to construct an independent power plant at a cost of $500 million. The company commenced operations in May 2006. In January 2006, the government announced the sale of the Al Hidd Power Plant for $738 million to Hidd Power Company, a consortium of British, Japanese, and Belgian companies.

Regional tourism is also a significant source of income. The government continues to favor large-scale tourism projects. It opened the only Formula One race track in the Middle East in 2004, and has awarded tenders for several tourist complexes. New hotel and spa projects are progressing within the context of broader real estate development, much of which is geared toward attracting increased tourism.

Government revenues continue to be largely dependent on the oil industry. Bahrain has received significant budgetary support and project grants from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. Bouyed by rising oil revenues, the 2007-08 budget approved by the parliament in July 2006 provides for sizable increases in urban development, education, and social spending. Ministry of Defense spending will account for 13% of current spending in 2007 and 2008 based on the new budget. The Ministry of Education and Ministry of the Interior also receive substantial budget allocations. Significant capital outlays have been allocated to improving housing and infrastructure in line with government efforts to raise the standard of living of the Shi’a population and to attract foreign investment.

The government has also started to extend protections to workers. Private sector employees won permission to form unions in late 2002; King Hamad has given his tentative approval for the formation of unions in government departments. In June 2006, Bahrain passed laws legalizing the existence of multiple trade federations and codifying several protections for workers engaged in union activity. As part of the government’s labor reform program, it has formed a Labor Market Regulatory Authority and established a fund to support the training of Bahraini workers. In the first seven months of 2006, Bahraini exports to the U.S. totaled $399 million and U.S. exports to Bahrain reached $267 million, with trade volume up 64% over the same period in 2005. In 2006, bilateral trade is expected to exceed $1 billion for the first time. The U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement took effect on August 1, 2006 and is generating increased U.S. commercial interest in Bahrain.

DEFENSE

The Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) numbers about 12,000 personnel and consists of army, navy, air force, air defense, and royal guard units. The public security forces and the coast guard are separate from the BDF and report to the Ministry of the Interior. Bahrain also has a national guard that consists of about 1,200 personnel. Bahrain’s defense spending since 1999 has been steady. The government spends around $630 million annually on their military, about 20% of current expenditures. The reconstituted parliamentary process has produced spirited debate over government spending, particularly defense spending, but no actual reductions.

With the help of the U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Bahrain has made significant efforts to upgrade its defense systems and modernize its armed forces over the last 20 years. In 1982, the GCC gave Bahrain $1.7 billion for this purpose. Since the 1991 Gulf War, the U.S. has provided military and defense technical assistance and training to Bahrain from Foreign Military Sales (FMS), commercial sources, excess defense article sales (EDA) and under the International Military and Education Training (IMET) program. The U.S. Office of Military Cooperation in Bahrain is attached to the U.S. Embassy and manages the security assistance mission. U.S. military sales to Bahrain since 2000 total $608.9 million. Principal U.S. military systems acquired by the BDF include eight Apache helicopters, 54 M60A3 tanks, 22 F-16C/D aircraft, 20 Cobra helicopters, 20 M109A5 Howitzers, 1 Avenger AD system, and the TPS-59 radar system. Bahrain has received $410 million in U.S. EDA acquisition value delivered since the U.S.-Bahraini program began in 1993.

Military exercises are conducted on a regular basis to increase the BDF’s readiness and improve coordination with the U.S. and other GCC forces. The BDF also sends personnel to the United States for military training. This training includes courses from graduate level professional military education down to entry level technical training.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Since achieving independence in 1971, Bahrain has pursued a policy of close consultation with neighboring states. Bahrain became a member of the United Nations and the Arab League in 1971. In 1981 it joined its five neighbors—Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, the U.A.E. and Qatar—to form the strategic Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Bahrain has complied with GCC efforts steps to coordinate economic development and defense and security planning. In December 1994, for example, Bahrain concurred with the GCC decision to drop secondary and tertiary boycotts against Israel. Bahrain also responded positively to Kuwait’s request to deploy the GCC collective defense force, “Peninsula Shield,” during the build up and execution of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in 2003.

In addition to maintaining strong relations with its largest financial backers, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the U.A.E., Bahrain has worked to improve its relations with Qatar and Iran in recent years. Bahrain-Iran relations have been strained since the discovery in 1981 of an Iran-sponsored coup plot in Bahrain. Bahraini suspicions of the Iranian role in local unrest in the mid-1990s remain. On March 16, 2001, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced its judgment on the long-standing maritime delimitation and territorial dispute between Bahrain and Qatar. The binding judgment awarded sovereignty over the Hawar Islands and Qit’at Jaradah to Bahrain and sovereignty over Zubarah (part of the Qatar Peninsula), Janan Island and Fasht ad Dibal to Qatar. The peaceful settlement of this dispute has allowed for renewed co-operation. Bahrain’s strategic partnership with the U.S. has intensified since 1991. Bahraini pilots flew strikes in Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War, and the island was used as a base for military operations in the Gulf. Bahrain also provided logistical and basing support to international Maritime Interdiction efforts to enforce UN sanctions and prevent illegal smuggling of oil from Iraq in the 1990s. Bahrain also provided extensive basing and overflight clearances for a multitude of U.S. aircraft operating in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Bahrain also deployed forces in support of Coalition operations during both OEF and OIF. Bahrain has delivered humanitarian support and technical training to support the reconstruction of the Iraqi banking sector, and has offered support for each stage of Iraq’s political transformation. Bahrain has also cooperated effectively on criminal investigation issues in support of the campaign on terrorism; the Bahrain Monetary Agency (which became the Central Bank of Bahrain in September 2006) moved quickly to restrict terrorists’ ability to transfer funds through Bahrain’s financial system.

U.S.-BAHRAINI RELATIONS

The American Mission Hospital, affiliated with the National Evangelical Church, has operated continuously in Bahrain for more than a century. Bahrain has also been a base for U.S. naval activity in the Gulf since 1947. When Bahrain became independent, the 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 Salman Al Khalifa made a state visit to Washington. In 2001, Amir Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa made his first visit to the U.S. after succeeding his father in 1999. He returned to Washington on an official visit in January 2003. King Hamad made an official visit to Washington in November 2004 to meet with President Bush and cabinet-level officials. Bahrain and the United States signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in October 1991 granting U.S. forces access to Bahraini facilities and ensuring the right to pre-position material for future crises. Currently the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, the U.S. designated Bahrain a Major Non-NATO Ally in October 2001.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

MANAMA (E) Address: Building 979, Road 3119, Block 331, Zinj District; APO/FPO: PSC 451 Box 660, FPO AE 09834; Phone: 973-1724-2700; Fax: 973-1727-2594; Workweek: Sun to Thurs, 0800-1700; Website: www.usembassy.com.bh.

Last Updated: 11/14/2006

TRAVEL

Consular Information Sheet : October 2, 2006

Country Description: Bahrain is a hereditary kingdom governed by the Al-Khalifa family. In 2002, the country became a monarchy with a new constitution that reinstated a legislative body with one elected and one appointed chamber. Islamic ideals and beliefs provide the conservative foundation of the country’s customs, laws and practices. Bahrain is a modern, developed country and tourist facilities are widely available. The capital is Manama.

Entry/Exit Requirements: Passports and visas are required. U.S. citizens may obtain a two-week visa for a fee upon arrival at the airport. U.S. diplomatic passport holders receive a no-fee two-week visa. Prior to travel, visitors may obtain five-year multiple entry visas valid for stays as long as one month from Bahraini embassies overseas. Bahrain assesses heavy fines on visitors who fail to depart Bahrain at the end of their authorized stay. The exact amount of the fine is determined by a formula related to the visa type, duration, and location of issuance. An exit tax is included in the ticket price for flights out of Bahrain, and no additional exit fees are required upon departure. Residents of Bahrain who intend to return must obtain a re-entry permit before departing. For further information on entry/exit requirements, travelers may contact the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain, 3502 International Drive, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 342-1111; or the Bahrain Permanent Mission to the U.N., 2 United Nations Plaza, East 44th St., New York, N.Y. 10017, telephone (212) 223-6200.

Visit the Embassy of Bahrain web site at www.bahrainembassy.org for the most current visa information.

Safety and Security: Americans in Bahrain should maintain a high level of security awareness. The security situation in Bahrain has changed significantly since the September 11, 2001 attack against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the initiation of U.S. military operations in Iraq in 2003, and the onset of the current cycle of violence in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Several anti-American demonstrations occurred in 2002, one of which resulted in the U.S. Embassy being attacked with firebombs, and in 2003 at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Isolated incidents of aggressive or violent confrontations with individual Americans have also occurred. Events in the region can spark a mass response locally and further inflame current sentiments. Spontaneous demonstrations pertaining to local issues have occurred, and some recent protests against Israel’s military actions in Lebanon included criticism of the U.S. Visiting U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Manama upon arrival and to maintain a low profile. The Embassy recommends that visitors limit their activities to tourist attractions and major urban commercial districts, particularly at night. The Embassy also suggests that all Americans maintain an unpredictable schedule and vary travel routes whenever possible. Americans also are urged to treat mail from unfamiliar sources with caution and to avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar objects. Please report any suspicious activity, individuals, vehicles, or objects to the U.S. Embassy’s Regional Security Office at telephone (973) 1724-2700 during office hours or (973) 1727–5126 after hours.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet web site, where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and other Public Announcements can be found. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.

These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Crime: The crime rate in Bahrain is low and violent crime is rare. However, burglary, petty theft, and robberies do occur. Visiting Americans are urged to take the same security precautions in Bahrain that one would practice in the United States. Hotel room doors should be locked when visitors are in their rooms, and travelers are encouraged to store valuables in hotel room safes when they are available. Women are encouraged to keep their purses firmly under their arms, and men should avoid keeping their wallets in their hip pockets while in the old market area (Souk). The U.S. Embassy in Manama recommends that travelers using local taxis insist on the use of a meter since unexpectedly high fares may otherwise be charged. Bahrain has a professional police force, and visitors are encouraged to contact the police if problems are encountered.

Information for Victims of Crime: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how to transfer funds. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

Medical Facilities and Health Information: Basic modern medical care and medicines are available in several hospitals and health centers in Bahrain. Two government hospitals, several private hospitals, and numerous private clinics located throughout the country offer a wide range of medical services. Cardiac care, general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedics and dentistry services are readily available, as are x-rays, CT-scan and MRI testing. The government hospitals house both trauma and ICU units. Pharmacies are common throughout Bahrain and carry a wide range of medications. Prescriptions are normally required.

Payment at all medical facilities is due at the time of service. Some hospitals have limited direct billing capability for certain insurance carriers. Billing and insurance practices vary among the medical facilities.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

Medical Insurance: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Bahrain is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Travel by road in Bahrain is generally safe although unsafe driving practices are common. Highways and major roads in the northern third of Bahrain are four to six lanes wide and well maintained; roads in villages and older parts of Manama and Muharraq are narrow and twisting. As in the United States, traffic in Bahrain moves on the right. Roundabouts (traffic circles) follow the British system, with those automobiles within the traffic circle having right of way over those attempting to enter. While there is a fine of at least 50 Bahraini Dinars (135 U.S. dollars) for speeding, it is not uncommon for drivers to drive well over the posted speed limits of 50-120 km per hour. A driver flashing the car’s high beams is generally asking for a chance to pass.

Under Bahraini law, any sign of having consumed alcohol may be taken as prima facie evidence of driving under the influence, which can lead to imprisonment and/or fines of up to 1,000 Bahraini Dinars (2,700 U.S. dollars). Except for minor accidents, drivers may not move their vehicles after an accident until a report has been filed with the traffic police. This is true even in cases of single-car accidents. Insurance companies may not provide coverage if the cars are moved. However, drivers involved in minor, non-injury accidents no longer need to wait at the scene for the police. Individuals should get their vehicles off the road to avoid further accidents. Drivers must then call the Bahrain Accident Hotline (1768-8888 or 1768-5999) where they will be directed to one of five new centers to file the accident report. This report must be filed within 24 hours of the accident. Both drivers may be prohibited from leaving the country until the matter is resolved if an accident results in legal proceedings.

Emergency numbers are as follows:
Fire/Ambulance/Police: 999
Traffic/Accidents: 1768-8888 or 1768-5999

Visit the website of Bahrain’s national authority responsible for road safety at http://www.traffic.gov.bh/main.htm.

Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service between the United States and Bahrain, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s Internet web site at http://www.faa.gov.

Special Circumstances: Individuals subject to Bahraini court orders arising from indebtedness, labor disagreements, or other legal disputes may be prevented from departing Bahrain until their cases are resolved. Instances have occurred in which departure was prohibited for several years, since the legal process can be both lengthy and complex. A list of local attorneys capable of representing Americans in such matters is available from the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Manama.

Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country’s laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Bahrain’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Bahrain are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Children’s Issues: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children’s Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family/family_1732.html.

Registration/Embassy Location: Americans living or traveling in Bahrain are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Bahrain. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at Bldg. 979, Road no. 3119, Zinj District (next to Al Ahli Sports Club). The mailing address is P.O. Box 26431, Manama, Bahrain. The telephone number is (973) 1724-2700. The after-hours number is (973) 1727-5126. The Consular Section’s fax number is (973) 1725-6242. The Embassy’s website, which includes consular information and the most recent messages to the American community in Bahrain, is at http://bahrain.usembassy.gov/. The workweek in Bahrain is Sunday through Thursday.

International Adoption : February 2007

The information below has been edited from a report of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Overseas Citizens Services. For more information, please read the International Adoption section of this book and review current reports online at www.travel.state.gov/family.

Disclaimer: The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and current understanding. Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel. The Ministry of Islamic and Justice Affairs has informed the American Embassy in Manama, that adoption is not possible in Bahrain. Muslims from birth may support a child whose father is not known, however, the child cannot inherit or take the name of the family providing support, nor can the child depart Bahrain with this family. These restrictions extend to third country national children, who are considered citizens of Bahrain when the biological father is not known.

Specific questions regarding adoption issues may be addressed to:

Embassy of the State of Bahrain
3502 International Drive, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Phone: (202) 342-0741
Fax: (202) 362-2192

Bahrain also has a consulate in New York City, New York.

U.S. Embassy Manama
Box 26431
Manama, Bahrain
Zinj, Bahrain

Additional Information: Prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to consult USCIS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children, as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions for general information on international adoptions.

Questions : Specific questions regarding adoption in Bahrain may be addressed to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Bahrain. You may also contact the Office of Children’s Issues, SA-29, 2201 C Street, NW, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-2818, telephone 1-888-407-4747 with specific questions. Information is also available 24 hours a day from several sources.

BAHRAIN

Compiled from the January 2006 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.

Official Name:
Kingdom of Bahrain

PROFILE

Geography

Area:

727 sq. km. (274 sq. mi.); approximately four times the size of Washington, D.C. Bahrain is an archipelago of 36 islands located off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia. The four main islands are joined by causeways, and make up about 95% of the total land area.

Cities:

Capital—Manama, pop. (2002 est.) 148,000. Other cities—Al Muharraq.

Terrain:

Low desert plain (highest elevation point–122 m).

Climate:

Hot and humid from May-September, with average highs ranging from 30-40 C (86-104 F). Maximum temperatures average 20-30C (68-86F) the remainder of the year.

People

Nationality:

Noun and adjective—Bahraini(s).

Population (July 2005 est.):

688,345, including about 235,108 non-nationals.

Annual growth rate (2005 est.):

1.51%.

Ethnic groups:

Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%.

Religion:

98% Muslim (Shi'a 70%, Sunni 30%), with small Christian, Jewish and Hindu communities.

Language:

Arabic (official), English, Farsi, and Urdu are also widely spoken.

Education:

Education is not compulsory, but is provided free to Bahrainis and non-nationals at all levels, including higher education. Estimated net primary school attendance (1991-2001)—84%. Adult Literacy (age 15 and over) (2003 est.)—89.1% for the overall population (male 91.9% female 85%).

Health:

Infant mortality rate—19.02 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy—71 yrs. males, 76 yrs. females.

Work force (2001):

307,000 of which 59% are foreigners and 20.8% female.

Government

Type:

Constitutional Monarchy.

Independence:

August 15, 1971 (from the UK).

Constitution:

Approved and promulgated May 26, 1973; suspended on August 26, 1975; amended and approved by a national popular referendum again on February 14-15, 2001.

Branches:

Executive—King (chief of state); Prime Minister (head of government); Council of Ministers (cabinet) is appointed by the King and headed by the Prime Minister. Legislative—The bicameral parliament (al-Majlis al-Watani) consists of a 40-member elected House of Deputies and a 40-member Shura Council appointed by the King. Members of both chambers serve four-year terms. Judicial—High Civil Appeals Court. The judiciary is independent with right of judicial review.

Administrative subdivisions:

12 municipalities (manatiq): Al Hidd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah.

Political parties:

None. Formal parties are banned but political societies have been formally sanctioned since 2001.

Suffrage:

Universal at age 18.

Economy

GDP (2005 est):

$11.58 billion.

Real GDP Growth Rate (2005 est.):

5.9%.

Per capita GDP (2005 est.):

$20,500.

Natural resources:

Oil, natural gas, fish, pearls.

Agriculture (less than 1% of GDP):

Products—With the exception of eggs, vegetables, dates, and fish, most food is imported.

Industry:

Types—oil and gas (13.1% of GDP), manufacturing (1242% of GDP), aluminum.

Services:

Finance (24.2% of GDP), transport and communications (8.9% of GDP), real estate (9.2% of GDP),. Government Services (14.8% of GDP).

Trade (2004—about 12.4% of GDP):

Exports—$8.14 billion: oil and other mineral products, base metals, textiles. Major markets—India (4.3%), U.S. (2.9%), Saudi Arabia (3.0%), Japan (1.7%), South Korea (1.4%). Imports—$7.83 billion: crude oil, machinery and appliances, transport equipment, foodstuffs. Major suppliers—Saudi Arabia (32.4%), U.S. (5.6%), France (4.8%), U.K. (6.1%),Germany (6.1%), Japan (7.3%).

PEOPLE

Bahrain is one of the most densely populated countries in the Middle East; about 89% of the population lives in the two principal cities of Manama and Al Muharraq. Approximately 66% of the indigenous population is originally from the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Bahrain currently has a sizeable foreign labor force (about 38% of the total population). The government's policies on naturalization remain controversial. In June 2002, the King issued a decree allowing citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to take up dual Bahraini nationality. Opposition political groups charge that the government is granting citizenship to foreign nationals who have served in the Bahraini armed forces and security services to alter the demographic balance of the country, which is primarily Shi'a. According to passport officials, about 40,000 individuals have been naturalized over the past 50 years (about 10% of the total population).

The indigenous population is 98% Muslim. Although more than twothirds of the indigenous population is Shi'a Muslim, the ruling family and the majority of government, military, and corporate leaders are Sunni Muslims. The small indigenous Christian and Jewish communities make up the remaining 2% of the population. Roughly half of foreign resident community are non-Muslim, and include Christians, Hindus, Baha'is, Buddhists and Sikhs.

Bahrain has invested its oil revenues in developing an advanced educational system. The first public schools for girls and boys were opened in the 1920s. The government continues to pay for all schooling costs. Although school attendance is not compulsory, primary and secondary attendance rates are high, and literacy rates are currently among the highest in the region. Higher education is available for secondary school graduates at the Bahrain University, Arabian Gulf University and specialized institutes including the College of Health Sciences—operating under the direction of the Ministry of Health—which trains physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics. The government has identified providing educational services to the Gulf Cooperation Council as a potential economic growth area, and is actively working to establish Bahrain as a regional center for higher education.

HISTORY

The site of the ancient Bronze Age civilization of Dilmun, Bahrain was an important center linking trade routes between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley as early as 5,000 years ago. The Dilmun civilization began to decline about 2,000 B.C. as trade from India was cut off. From 750 B.C. on, Assyrian kings repeatedly claimed sovereignty over the islands. Shortly after 600 B.C., Dilmun was formally incorporated into the new Babylonian empire. There are no historical references to Bahrain until Alexander the Great's arrival in the Gulf in the 4th century B.C. Although Bahrain was ruled variously by the Arab tribes of Bani Wa'el and Persian governors, Bahrain continued to be known by its Greek name Tylos until the 7th century, when many of its inhabitants converted to Islam. A regional pearling and trade center, Bahrain came under the control of the Ummayad Caliphs of Syria, the Abbasid Caliphs of Baghdad, Persian, Omani and Portuguese forces at various times from the 7th century until the Al Khalifa family, a branch of the Bani Utbah tribe that have ruled Bahrain since the 18th century, succeeded in capturing Bahrain from a Persian garrison controlling the islands in 1783.

In the 1830s the Al Khalifa signed the first of many treaties establishing Bahrain as a British Protectorate. Similar to the binding treaties of protection entered into by other Persian Gulf principalities, the agreements entered into by the Al Khalifa prohibited them from disposing of territory and entering into relationships with any foreign government without British consent in exchange for British protection against the threat of military attack from Ottoman Turkey. The main British naval base in the region was moved to Bahrain in 1935 shortly after the start of large-scale oil production.

In 1968, when the British Government announced its decision (reaffirmed in March 1971) to end the treaty relationships with the Persian Gulf sheikdoms, Bahrain initially joined the other eight states (Qatar and the seven Trucial Sheikhdoms now the United Arab Emirates) under British protection in an effort to form a union of Arab emirates. The nine sheikhdoms still had not agreed on terms of union by 1971, however, prompting. Bahrain to declare itself fully independent on August 15, 1971.

Bahrain promulgated a constitution and elected its first parliament in 1973, but just two years later, in August 1975, the Amir disbanded the National Assembly after it attempted to legislate the end of Al-Khalifa rule and the expulsion of the U.S. Navy from Bahrain. In the 1990s, Bahrain suffered from repeated incidents of political violence stemming from the disaffection of the Shi'a majority. In response, the Amir instituted the first Bahraini cabinet change in 20 years in 1995 and also and increased the membership of the Consultative Council, which he had created in 1993 to provide advice and opinion on legislation proposed by the cabinet and, in certain cases, suggest new laws on its own, from 30 to 40 the following year. These steps led to an initial decline in violent incidents, but in early 1996 a number of hotels and restaurants were bombed, resulting in several fatalities. Over 1,000 people were arrested and held in detention without trial in connection with these disturbances. The government has since released these individuals.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa succeeded the throne in March 1999, after the death of his father Shaikh Isa bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Bahrain's ruler since 1961. He championed a program of democratic reform shortly after his succession. In November 2000, Shaikh Hamad established a committee to create a blueprint to transform Bahrain from a hereditary emirate to a constitutional monarchy within 2 years. The resulting "National Action Charter" was presented to the Bahraini public in a referendum in February 2001. In the first comprehensive public vote in Bahrain since the 1970s, 94.8% of voters overwhelmingly endorsed the charter. That same month, Shaikh Hamad pardoned all political prisoners and detainees, including those who had been imprisoned, exiled or detained on security charges. He also abolished the State Security Law and the State Security Court, which had permitted the government to detain individuals without trial for up to 3 years.

On February 14, 2002, one year after the referendum endorsing his National Action Charter, Shaikh Hamad pronounced Bahrain a constitutional monarchy and changed his status from Amir to King. He simultaneously announced that the first municipal elections since 1957 would be held in May 2002, and that a bicameral parliament, with a representative lower house, would be reconstituted with parliamentary elections in October 2002. As part of these constitutional reforms, the government also created an independent financial watchdog empowered to investigate cases of embezzlement and violations of state expenditure in July 2002.

Turnout for the May 2002 municipal elections was 51%, with female voters making up 52% percent of voters. Turnout for the 2002 parliamentary elections—the first in almost three decades—was 53% in the first round and 43% in the second round, despite the fact that the four-largest Shi'a political societies organized a boycott to protest constitutional amendments enacted by the King that gave the appointed upper chamber of parliament voting rights equal to the elected lower chamber. Sunni Islamists won 19 of the 40 seats. Despite strong participation by female voters, none of the female candidates standing in these elections won a parliamentary seat. The new parliament held its first joint sitting in December 2002. Bahrain will hold elections for the five municipal councils in May 2006 and for the 40 seats in the lower house of parliament in October 2006.

Bahrain has a complex system of courts, based on diverse legal sources, including Sunni and Shi'a Shari'ah (religious law), tribal law, and other civil codes and regulations created with the help of British advisers in the early 20th century. In 2001, Shaikh Hamad created the Supreme Judicial Council to regulate these courts and separate the administrative and judicial branches of government.

Principal Government Officials

Last Updated: 11/1/2005

King: HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa
Prime Minister: KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa
Dep. Prime Minister: ABDALLAH bin Khalid al-Khalifa
Dep. Prime Minister: MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak al-Khalifa
Dep. Prime Minister: ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa
Min. of King's Court Affairs: ALI bin Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa
Min. of Communication: ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa
Min. of Defense: KHALIFA bin Ahmad al-Khalifa Maj. Gen.
Min. of Education: Majid bin Ali al-NUAYMI
Min. of Electricity & Water: ABDALLAH bin Salman al-Khalifa
Min. of Finance: AHMAD bin Muhammad bin Hamad bin Abdallah al-Khalifa
Min. of Foreign Affairs: KHALID bin Ahmad al-Khalifa
Min. of Health: Nada bint Abbas HAFADH, Dr.
Min. of Public Works & Housing: Fahmi bin Ali al-JAWDAR
Min. of Industry & Commerce: Hasan bin Abdallah al-FAKHRU
Min. of Information: Muhammad Abd al-GHAFFAR
Min. of Interior: RASHID bin Abdallah bin Ahmad al-Khalifa
Min. of Islamic Affairs: ABDALLAH bin Khalid al-Khalifa
Min. of Justice: Muhammad bin Ali al-SITRI
Min. of Labor: Majid bin Muhsin al-ALAWI
Min. of Municipalities & Agricultural Affairs: Ali bin Salih bin Abdallah al-SALIH
Min. of Social Development: Fatima bint Ahmad al-BALUSHI
Min. of Transportation: ALI bin Khalifa al-Khalifa
Min. of State & Head, Oil & Gas Authority: Abd al-Husayn bin Ali al-MIRZA
Min. of State for Cabinet Affairs: AHMAD bin Attiyah al-Khalifa
Min. of State for Foreign Affairs: Muhammad Abd al-GHAFFAR
Min. of State for Shura Council Affairs & Parliament: Abd al-Aziz bin Muhammad al-FADHIL
Attorney General: ABD al-Rahman bin Jabir al-Khalifa
Director, Bahrain National Security Agency: ABD al-Aziz bin Atiyatallah al-Khalifa
Chmn., Bahrain Monetary Agency: KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa
Governor, Bahrain Monetary Agency: Rashid al-MARAJ
Ambassador to the US: Nasir bin Muhammad al-BALUSHI
Permanent Representative to the UN, New York: Tawfiq al-Ahmad al-MANSUR

Bahrain maintains an embassy in the United States at 3502 International Drive N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008; tel: [1] (202) 342-1111; fax: [1] (202) 362-2192. The Bahraini Mission to the UN is located at 866 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017; tel: [1] (212) 223-6200; fax [1] (202) 319-0687.

ECONOMY

The first Gulf state to discover oil, 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. Revenues from oil and natural gas currently account for 13.1% of GDP and provide about 74% of government income. The Bahrain Oil Company refinery built in 1935, the first in the Gulf, has a capacity of about 260,000 b/d. Since 1980, 60% of the refinery has been owned by the Bahrain National Oil Company and 40% by the U.S. company Caltex. Saudi Arabia provides most of the crude for refinery operation via pipeline. Through an agreement with Saudi Arabia, 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 oil-fields. 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. Growth in the hydrocarbons sector will be contingent upon new discoveries—Bahrain awarded exploration rights to Malaysia's Petronas and the U.S.' Chevron Texaco after the resolution of Bahrain's long-standing territorial dispute with Qatar, but no meaningful finds have been announced to date. Bahrain's other industries include the majority state-owned Aluminum Bahrain (Alba)—which operates the largest aluminum smelter in the world outside Eastern Europe with an annual production of about 720,000 metric tons (mt) in 2005 after the completion of an expansion program—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. Bahrain is a regional financial and business center; international financial institutions operate in Bahrain, both offshore and onshore, without impediments, and the financial sector is currently the largest contributor to GDP at 24.2%. More than 100 offshore banking units and representative offices are located in Bahrain, as well as 65 American firms. Bahrain has also made a concerted effort to become the leading Islamic finance center in the world, standardizing regulations of the Islamic banking industry. It currently has 28 Islamic banks—the largest concentration of Islamic financial institutions.

Bahrain is working to develop other service industries such as information technology, healthcare and education. The government has used its oil revenues to build an advanced infrastructure in transportation and telecommunications. The transport and communications sector grew by almost 9% in 2002 and is likely to expand as the government proceeds with liberalization of the state-owned telecommunications industry. The state monopoly—Batelco—was broken in April 2003. Bahrain's international airport is one of the busiest in the Gulf. A modern, busy port offers direct and frequent cargo shipping connections to the U.S., Europe, and the Far East.

The government of Bahrain moved toward privatizing the production of electricity and water by licensing Al Ezzal to construct an independent power plant that will cost $500 million. It is expected to start operating at full capacity in April 2006. In January 2006, the Finance Minister announced that Al Hidd Power Plant will be sold for $738 million to consortium of British, Japanese, and Belgian companies.

Regional tourism is also a significant source of income. The government continues to favor large-scale tourism projects. It opened the only Formula One race track in the Middle East in 2004, and has awarded tenders for several tourist complexes.

Government revenues continue to be largely dependent on the oil industry. Bahrain has received significant budgetary support and project grants from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. The reconstituted parliamentary process has produced spirited debate over government spending, particularly defense spending, but no actual reductions. Ministry of Defense spending will account for 18% of current spending in 2005 and 2006 based on the budget approved by parliament in July 2005. The Ministry of Education and Ministry of the Interior are the second and third largest spenders. The bulk of capital outlays have been allocated to improving housing and infrastructure in line with government efforts to raise the standard of living of the Shi'a population and to attract foreign investment.

The government has also started to extend protections to workers. Private sector employees won permission to form unions in late 2002; King Hamad has given his tentative approval for the formation of unions in government departments. As part of the government's labor reform program, it presented legislation to parliament to form the Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and establish a fund to support the training of Bahraini workers.

Bahrain and the United States signed a free trade agreement in September 2004. The Bahraini parliament ratified it in July 2005, and the U.S. Congress followed in December 2005. President Bush signed the agreement into law in January 2006. Entry-into-force is pending as Bahrain completes implementing legislation.

DEFENSE

The Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) numbers about 9,000 personnel and consists of army, navy, air force, air defense, and royal guard units. The public security forces and the coast guard are separate from the BDF and report to the Ministry of the Interior. Bahrain's defense spending since 1999 has been steady. The government spends around $440 million annually on their military, about 20% of current expenditures. The reconstituted parliamentary process has produced spirited debate over government spending, particularly defense spending, but no actual reductions.

With the help of the U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Bahrain has made significant efforts to upgrade its defense systems and modernize its armed forces over the last 20 years. In 1982, the GCC gave Bahrain $1.7 billion for this purpose. Since the 1991 Gulf War, the U.S. has provided military and defense technical assistance and training to Bahrain from foreign military sales (FMS), commercial sources, excess defense article sales (EDA) and under the International Military and Education Training (IMET) program. The U.S. Office of Military Cooperation in Bahrain is attached to the U.S. Embassy and manages the security assistance mission. U.S. military sales to Bahrain currently total $2.5 billion. Principal U.S. military systems purchased by the BDF include eight Apache helicopters, 54 M60A3 tanks, 12 F-16C/D aircraft, 14 Cobra helicopters, and the TPS-59 radar system. Bahrain has received $255 million in U.S. EDA since 1995.

Military exercises are conducted on a regular basis to increase the BDF's readiness and improve coordination with the U.S. and other GCC forces. The BDF also sends personnel to the United States for military training. This training includes courses from graduate level professional military education down to entry level technical training.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Since achieving independence in 1971, Bahrain has pursued a policy of close consultation with neighboring states. Bahrain became a member of the United Nations and the Arab League in 1971. In 1981 it joined its five neighbors—Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar–to form the strategic Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Bahrain has complied with GCC efforts steps to coordinate economic development and defense and security planning. In December 1994, for example, Bahrain concurred with the GCC decision to drop secondary and tertiary boycotts against Israel. Bahrain also responded positively to Kuwait's request to deploy the GCC collective defense force, "Peninsula Shield," during the build up and execution of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in 2003.

In addition to maintaining strong relations with its largest financial backers, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE, Bahrain has worked to improve its relations with Qatar and Iran in recent years. Bahrain-Iran relations have been strained since the discovery in 1981 of an Iran-sponsored coup plot in Bahrain. Bahraini suspicions of the Iranian role in local unrest in the mid-1990s remain. However, with the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, Bahrain has begun taking steps to improve relations with Iran. These efforts have included encouraging Bahrain-Iran trade and maritime security cooperation.

On March 16, 2001, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced its judgment on the long-standing maritime delimitation and territorial dispute between Bahrain and Qatar. The binding judgment awarded sovereignty over the Hawar Islands and Qit'at Jaradah to Bahrain and sovereignty over Zubarah (part of the Qatar Peninsula), Janan Island and Fasht ad Dibal to Qatar. The peaceful settlement of this dispute has allowed for renewed cooperation

Bahrain's strategic partnership with the U.S. has intensified since 1991. Bahraini pilots flew strikes in Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War, and the island was used as a base for military operations in the Gulf. Bahrain also provided logistical and basing support to international Maritime Interdiction efforts to enforce UN sanctions and prevent illegal smuggling of oil from Iraq in the 1990s. Bahrain also provided extensive basing and overflight clearances for a multitude of U.S. aircraft operating in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Bahrain also deployed forces in support of Coalition operations during both OEF and OIF. Bahrain is currently offering humanitarian support and technical training to support the reconstruction of the Iraqi banking sector, and has offered support for each stage of Iraq's political transformation. Bahrain has also cooperated effectively on criminal investigation issues in support of the campaign on terrorism; the Bahrain Monetary Agency moved quickly to restrict terrorists' ability to transfer funds through Bahrain's financial system.

U.S.-BAHRAINI RELATIONS

The American Mission Hospital, affiliated with the National Evangelical Church, has operated continuously in Bahrain for more than a century. Bahrain has also been a base for U.S. naval activity in the Gulf since 1947. When Bahrain became independent, the 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 Salman Al Khalifa made a state visit to Washington. In 2001, Amir Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa made his first visit to the U.S. after succeeding his father in 1999. He returned to Washington on an official visit in January 2003. King Hamad made an official visit to Washington in November 2004 to meet with President Bush and cabinet-level officials.

Bahrain and the United States signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in October 1991 granting U.S. forces access to Bahraini facilities and ensuring the right to pre-position material for future crises. Currently the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, the U.S. designated Bahrain a Major Non-NATO Ally in October 2001.

U.S.-Bahraini economic ties have grown steadily since 1932, when Americans participated in the development of Bahrain's oil industry. Bahrain is a regional base for numerous American banks and firms. President Bush signed the U.S.-Bahrain free trade agreement (FTA) into law in January 2006.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

MANAMA (E) Address: Building 979, Road 3119, Block 331, Zinj District; APO/FPO: PSC 451 Box 660, FPO AE 09834; Phone: 973-1724-2700; Fax: 973-1727-2594; Work-week: Sat to Wed, 0800-1700; Web-site: www.usembassy.com.bh

TRAVEL

Consular Information Sheet

June 30, 2005

Country Description:

Bahrain is a hereditary kingdom, governed by the Al-Khalifa family. In 2002, the country became a monarchy with a constitution that reinstated a legislative body, one of whose chambers is elected. Islamic ideals and beliefs provide the conservative foundation of the country's customs, laws and practices. Bahrain is a modern, developed country and tourist facilities are widely available. The capital is Manama.

Entry/Exit Requirements:

Passports and visas are required. For U.S. citizens, two-week visas may be obtained for a fee upon arrival at the airport. U.S. diplomatic passport holders receive a free two-week visa. Prior to travel, visitors may obtain five-year multiple entry visas valid for stays as long as one month from Bahraini embassies overseas. Visitors who fail to depart Bahrain at the end of their authorized stay are heavily fined. The exact amount of the fine is determined by a formula related to the visa type, duration, and location of issuance. An exit tax is charged all travelers upon departure. Diplomatic passport holders do not pay the exit tax. Residents of Bahrain who intend to return must obtain a re-entry permit before departing. For further information on entry requirements, travelers may contact the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain, 3502 International Drive, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 342-1111; or the Bahrain Permanent Mission to the U.N., 2 United Nations Plaza, East 44th St., New York, N.Y. 10017, telephone (212) 223-6200. Visit the Embassy of Bahrain web site at www.bahrainembassy.org for the most current visa information.

Safety and Security:

Americans in Bahrain should maintain a high level of security awareness. The security situation in Bahrain has changed significantly since the September 11, 2001 attack against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the initiation of U.S. military operations in Iraq, and the onset of the current cycle of violence in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Several anti-American demonstrations occurred in 2002, one of which resulted in the U.S. Embassy being attacked with firebombs, and in 2003 at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Isolated incidents of aggressive or violent confrontations with individual Americans have also occurred. Events in the region can spark a mass response locally and further inflame current sentiments. Visiting U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Manama upon arrival and to maintain a low profile. The Embassy recommends that visitors limit their activities to tourist attractions and major urban commercial districts, particularly at night. The Embassy also suggests that all Americans maintain an unpredictable schedule and vary travel routes whenever possible. Americans also are urged to treat mail from unfamiliar sources with caution and to avoid contact with any suspicious, unfamiliar objects. Please report any suspicious activity, individuals, vehicles, or objects to the U.S. Embassy's Regional Security Office at telephone (973) 1724-2700 during office hours or 1727–5126 after hours.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement and Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement, can be found. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers out-side the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Crime:

The crime rate in Bahrain is low and violent crime is rare. However, burglary, petty theft, and robberies do occur. Visiting Americans are urged to take the same security precautions in Bahrain that one would practice in the United States. Hotel room doors should be locked when visitors are in the rooms, and travelers are encouraged to store valuables in hotel room safes when they are available. Women are encouraged to keep their purses firmly under their arm, and men should avoid keeping their wallets in their hip pocket while in the old market area (Souk). The U.S. Embassy in Manama recommends that travelers using local taxis insist on the use of a meter since unexpectedly high fares may otherwise be charged. Bahrain has a professional police force, and visitors are encouraged to contact the police if problems are encountered.

Information for Victims of Crime:

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

Medical Facilities and Health Information:

Basic modern medical care and medicines are available in several hospitals and health centers in Bahrain. Two government hospitals, several private hospitals, and numerous private clinics located throughout the country offer a wide range of medical services. Cardiac care, general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedics and dentistry services are readily available, as are x-rays, CT-scan and MRI testing. The government hospitals house both trauma and ICU units. Pharmacies are common throughout Bahrain and carry a wide range of medications. Prescriptions are normally required.

Payment at all medical facilities is due at the time of service. Some hospitals have limited direct billing capability for certain insurance carriers. Billing and insurance practices vary among the medical facilities.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) web-site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

Medical Insurance:

The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions:

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Bahrain is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Travel by road in Bahrain is generally safe although unsafe driving practices are common. Highways and major roads in the northern third of Bahrain are four to six lanes wide and well maintained; roads in villages and older parts of Manama and Muharraq are narrow and twisting. As in the United States, traffic in Bahrain moves on the right. Roundabouts (traffic circles) follow the British system, with those automobiles within the traffic circle having right of way over those attempting to enter. While there is a fine of at least 50 Bahrain Dinars (135 US dollars) for speeding (speed limits range from 50 to 120 km per hour), it is not uncommon to be passed by cars traveling 140 km per hour or more on the highway. A driver flashing the car's high beams is generally asking for a chance to pass.

Under Bahraini law, any sign of having consumed alcohol may be taken as prima facie evidence of driving under the influence, which can lead to imprisonment and/or fines of up to 1,000 Bahraini Dinars (2,700 U.S. dollars). Except for minor accidents, drivers may not move their vehicles after an accident until a report has been filed with the traffic police. This is true even in cases of single-car accidents. Insurance companies may not provide coverage if the cars are moved. However, drivers involved in minor, non-injury accidents no longer need wait at the scene for the police. Individuals should get their vehicles off the road to avoid further accidents. Drivers must then call the Bahrain Accident Hotline (1768-8888 or 1768-5999) where they will be directed to one of five new centers to file the accident report. This report must be filed within 24 hours of the accident. Both drivers may be prohibited from leaving the country until the matter is resolved if an accident results in legal proceedings.

Emergency numbers are as follows: Fire/Ambulance/Police: 999; Traffic/Accidents: 1768-8888. Visit the web-site of Bahrain's national tourist office and national authority responsible for road safety at www.traffic.gov.bh/main.htm.

Aviation Safety Oversight:

As there is no direct commercial air service between the United States and Bahrain, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Bahrain's Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA's internet web site at www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/index.cfm.

Special Circumstances:

Individuals subject to Bahraini court orders arising from indebtedness, labor disagreements, or other legal disputes may be prevented from departing Bahrain until their cases are resolved. Instances have occurred in which departure was prohibited for several years, since the legal process can be both lengthy and complex. A list of local attorneys capable of representing Americans in such matters is available from the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Manama.

Criminal Penalties:

While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Bahrain's laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Bahrain are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Children's Issues:

For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children's Issues website at http://www.travel.state.gov/family/family_1732.html.

Registration/Embassy Location:

Americans living or traveling in Bahrain are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Bahrain. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at Bldg. 979, Road no. 3119, Zinj District (next to Al Ahli Sports Club). The mailing address is P.O. Box 26431, Manama, Bahrain. The telephone number is (973) 1724-2700. The after-hours number is (973) 1724-5126. The Consular Section fax number is (973) 1725-6242. The Embassy's website, which includes consular information and the most recent messages to the American community in Bahrain, is at http://bahrain.usembassy.gov/. The work-week in Bahrain is Saturday through Wednesday.

International Adoption

June 2001

The information below has been edited from a report of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Overseas Citizens Services. For more information, please read the International Adoption section of this book and review current reports online at www.travel.state.gov/family.

Disclaimer:

The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and our current understanding. Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel.

The Ministry of Islamic and Justice Affairs has informed the American Embassy in Manama, that adoption is not possible in Bahrain. Muslims from birth may support a child whose father is not known, however, the child cannot inherit or take the name of the family providing support, nor can the child depart Bahrain with this family. These restrictions extend to third country national children, who are considered citizens of Bahrain when the biological father is not known.

Bahrain Embassy and Consulates in the United States:

Embassy of the State of Bahrain
3502 International Drive, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Phone: (202) 342-0741
Fax: (202) 362-2192

Bahrain also has a consulate in New York City, New York.

U.S. Embassy in Bahrain:

Mailing Address
U.S. Embassy Manama
Box 26431
Manama, Bahrain
Zinj, Bahrain

Street Address
U.S. Embassy Manama
Bldg. 979
Road 3119 Block 331
Phone: 973-273-300
After-hours: 973-275-126
Fax: 973-272-594

Questions:

Specific questions regarding adoption in Bahrain may be addressed to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Bahrain. You may also contact the Office of Children's Issues, SA-29, 2201 C Street, NW, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-2818, telephone 1-888-407-4747 with specific questions.