Bahrain, formally the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island nation in Western Asia. It is located on the Persian Gulf, as well as comprises a small archipelago comprised of 50 all-natural islands and also an additional 33 artificial islands, fixated Bahrain Island which makes up around 83 percent of the nation’s landmass. Bahrain is positioned between Qatar and the northeastern coast of Saudi Arabia, to which it is attached by the King Fahd Causeway. According to the 2020 demographics, the nation’s population numbers 1,501,635, of which 712,362 are Bahraini nationals. Bahrain spans some 760 square kilometres (290 sq mi), as well as is the third-smallest country in Asia after the Maldives as well as Singapore. The capital and largest city is Manama.

Bahrain is the website of the ancient Dilmun human being. It has actually been well known since classical times for its pearl fisheries, which were considered the best on the planet into the 19th century. Bahrain was among the earliest areas to be affected by Islam, throughout the lifetime of Muhammad in 628 CE. Following a duration of Arab regulation, Bahrain was ruled by the Portuguese Empire from 1521 till 1602, when they were gotten rid of by Shah Abbas I of the Safavid dynasty. In 1783, the Bani Utbah clan captured Bahrain from Nasr Al-Madhkur and also it has actually because been ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family members, with Ahmed al Fateh as Bahrain’s very first hakim.

In the late 1800s, complying with successive treaties with the British, Bahrain ended up being a protectorate of the United Kingdom. In 1971, it proclaimed self-reliance. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was stated an Islamic absolute monarchy in 2002. In 2011, the country experienced demonstrations inspired by the local Arab Spring. Bahrain’s ruling Al Khalifa royal household has been criticised for breaking the human rights of teams consisting of objectors, political resistance numbers, and its majority Shia Muslim populace.

Bahrain created the first post-oil economy in the Persian Gulf, the result of decades of buying the financial and also tourism sectors; a number of the world’s largest financial institutions have an existence in the country’s capital. It as a result places 42nd in the Human Being Growth Index as well as is recognised by the Globe Bank as a high-income economic situation. Bahrain is a member of the United Nations, Non-Aligned Activity, Arab Organization, Organisation of Islamic Teamwork and also the Gulf Participation Council.