During the Bronze Age, what is now known as Bahrain was the site of the Dilmun Civilisation, which was an important centre linking Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley for trade purposes. Around 2,000 BC, trade from India was cut off, thus bringing about the decline of the Dilmun civilisation.

From 750 BC and on, the islands were repeatedly taken over by Assyrian kings.

In 1783, the Al Khalifa family captured Bahrain from a Persian garrison that was controlling it. Prior to that, Bahrain came under the control of many different rulers: the Ummayad Caliphs of Syria, the Abbasid Caliphs of Baghdad, as well as Persian, Omani and Portuguese forces.

In the 1830s, Bahrain, alongside some other Persian Gulf principalities, became a British Protectorate after Al Khalifa signed a treaty establishing it in order to protect it from Ottoman Turkey. In 1935, after the start of large scale oil production in Bahrain, the main British naval base in the region was moved there.

When the British declared the end of the treaty relationships with the nine Persian Gulf sheikhdoms in 1968, Bahrain initially joined the other eight states, Qatar and the Trucial Sheikhdoms (now known as the United Arab Emirates) to form an Arab Emirate union. However, when by 1971 no agreement had been reached, Bahrain declared its full independence on August 15, 1971.

The first parliament was elected in 1973. It was disbanded in 1975. No, the term was not supposed to be that short. The National Assembly was disbanded due to its attempt to legislate the end of the Al-Khalifa rule, as well as expel the U.S. Navy from Bahrain.

In the 1990s, political problems started arising because of the estrangement of the Shi'a majority, so in 1995 the Emir changed the Bahraini cabinet for the first time in 20 years. The number of members in the Consultative Council (which was created in 1993 to provide advice on cabinet legislation and to sometimes suggest new laws) was increased from 30 to 40 the following year.

As expected, the weather in Bahrain during the summer (May to September) is extremely hot; temperatures may rise up to 50°C, and the humidity can get so intense that drivers actually have to turn on their wipers to be able to see!
The winters, however, are way milder, the average temperatures in January being around 17°C. And between the months of November to March, it usually is quite pleasant; sometimes it even becomes chilly in the evenings.

Cheer up though, the winter months (December until February) have mild weather; pleasant days and cool evenings, spiced up with the occasional shower.

Bahrain is an archipelago of 36 islands, four of which take up 95% of the total land area, and they’re joined by causeways. The islands that make up Bahrain have a combined area of 727 sq. km. and they are located off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia. The terrain is basically low desert plain. When there, you will notice that the main scenery that will meet your eyes is a mix of beige sand and rock, but many locals put great effort into creating beautiful gardens, so you have beautiful sites of greenery and flowers.

Although you really don’t need any vaccinations to get into Bahrain, a Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended. There are well-stocked pharmacies all over the country and healthcare facilities are good, but they’re expensive, so we advise you to make sure you have comprehensive insurance. Bahrain’s water is considered clean and safe by the authorities, but if you prefer bottled water, no need to worry, as it is widely available. Crime rate in the country is relatively negligible.

Bahrain is a constitutional hereditary monarchy.

It is divided into 12 municipalities: 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.

The king of Bahrain is Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

All visitors to Bahrain require visas, with the exception of the following:

1) Passport holders Gulf Cooperation Council States (Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates)

2) Citizens of the UK visiting for a maximum of 4 weeks (provided their passport has a minimum validity of 6 months)

3) Transit visitors who will be leaving the country within 72 hours to continue their journey; they must have confirmed tickets and appropriate travel documents. Also, they must remain within the transit area. (However, in this case a fee of BD 0.500 will be charged.)

For all the visa details you might need, click right here.

Upon arrival to the country, you land in the Bahrain International Airport.
Once in Bahrain, you can use the taxis provided there; there currently is no rail network in the country, but there are plans to build one.

Bahrain is a pastiche of modernity and traditionalism. The citizens are good natured, friendly people who are for the most part accepting of Western culture. The trick is not to abuse that acceptance; there are some social norms you should not infringe upon. This means that although there are no regulations concerning dress code, and women do not have to be veiled, scanty clothing is not accepted (shoulders and legs should be covered). For men, the traditional clothes are a long, white “thobe”, and a headdress which includes the “keffiyeh,” “ghutra” and “agal”. As for women, a black “daffah”, which they are entirely covered with, is conventional.

Bahrain is first and foremost a Muslim country (population is 98% Muslim, 2% Christians and Jews), and foreigners should respect religious sensitivities; for example, although nobody is forced to fast during the month of Ramadan, it is extremely rude to smoke, eat, or drink in public. Avail Hotels in Bahrain, Hotel Reservations in Bahrain, Cheap Bahrain Hotels, Bahrain Online Hotel Reservations, Bahrain Fast Facts, Online Motel Reservations in Bahrain.

Restaurants are omnipresent and varied; you will find almost any food you might crave, from Lebanese, Italian, Thai, Indian, French, and Japanese, to small sandwich stores.

Usually, hotels and restaurants add a 10% - 15% service charge to bills, so you can tip as you please. As for taxi drivers, a 10% tip is expected, and porters appreciate 100 Fils per baggage item.

Bahrain is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and 89% of its population is concentrated within the two cities of Al Muharraq and Manama.

The first public schools for girls and boys were founded in the 1920s. The government pays for schooling, and literacy rates are currently among the highest in the region.

High school graduates can further their education at the Bahrain University, Arabian Gulf University and other institutes including the College of Health Sciences, which operates under the Ministry of Health, and trains physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics.

Currently, Bahrain’s economic base is petroleum, oil refining, dhow building, fishing, and pearl diving.

For a report on the Bahraini human rights, click here.