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Bahrain – Important Facts

Bahrain officially the Kingdom of Bahrain is an island country situated near the western shores of the Persian Gulf in the Middle East. It is a small archipelago centred on Bahrain Island, its largest land mass. It is just 23 km (14 mi) east off Saudi Arabia, connected to it through the King Fahd Causeway. The peninsula of Qatar is also nearby, about 50 km (31 mi) to the south east across the Gulf of Bahrain. Iran lies 200 km (124 mi) to the north across the Persian Gulf. The population in 2010 stood at 1,234,571, including 666,172 non-nationals. It is 780 km2 in size, making it the third smallest nation in Asia after the Maldives and Singapore. Bahrain had the first post-oil economy in the Persian Gulf. Since the late 20th century, Bahrain has invested in the banking and tourism sectors.

In 2008, Bahrain was named the world’s fastest growing financial center by the City of London’s Global Financial Centres Index. Bahrain’s banking and financial services sector, particularly Islamic banking, have benefited from the regional boom driven by demand for oil. Petroleum production and processing is Bahrain’s most exported product, accounting for 60% of export receipts, 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP.Aluminium production is the second most exported product, followed by finance and construction materials.

As a tourist destination, Bahrain received over eight million visitors in 2008 though the exact number varies yearly

Important Details

  • Country ISO3:BHR
  • Country Code:48
  • Income Group:Middle East & North Africa
  • Lending Category:High income
  • Region:Not Available
  • Currency Unit:Bahrain dinar
  • WTO Member:YES
  • Trade organisations:GCC
  • world rank:18
  • Regional Ranking:1st in the Middle East/North Africa Region