Foundation Islamic Union
Bahrain
Official Name: State of Bahrain ((BH)
Capital city : Menâmâ
Other Important Cities: 12 municipalities; Al Hadd, 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
Area: 770 km2
Population : 1,510,000[1]
Ethnicity: 97% of the population is Arab. About 80 per cent are of Bahraini origin. 5 per cent are Omani. Others are from Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, Pakistan, the UK and the USA.
Language: The official language is Arabic. English is also official.
Religion: The official religion is Islam. 98 per cent of the population is Muslim. The others are non-native Christians. 45 per cent of the Muslims are Sunni and 55 per cent are Shiite Jafari.
Geographical Situation: It consists of archipelagos in front of the coasts of Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the Persian Gulf, with a total of thirty-five islands. The island of Bahrain, which gives its name to the country and is the largest of the archipelago, is 565.7 km2. The capital Menâmâ is also on this island. Five per cent of the country's land is agricultural land and 7 per cent is pasture land. Since the water depth is low in some places among the islands, these places have been turned into agricultural land or residential areas by filling them with soil. Summers are very hot and winters are mild in Bahrain. The air is relatively humid due to the water evaporating from the sea.
Administration: At the head of the state is the 'Emir' who collects all the powers in his hands. Emirate is an institution passed from father to son. The government is appointed by the emir. The prime minister heads the government. The commander of the army and the minister of defence must be from the al-Khalifa family, i.e. the family to which the 'Emir' belongs. There is a 30-member 'Consultative Council' and its members are appointed by the emir. In June 1973, a constitution was promulgated by the emir. The provisions of Islam concerning special cases (marriage, divorce, inheritance, etc.) and criminal law are applied. However, Islamic law does not dominate all life.
The members of the House of Representatives are elected by general elections held every four years, while the members of the Shura Council are elected directly by the King. The Shura Council has veto power over the House of Representatives. Since the 2002 Constitution does not allow parties, political organisations operate as societies.
International Organisations: Bahrain, UN, OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation), League of Arab States, OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries), Gulf Cooperation Council, IMF (International Monetary Fund), Islamic Development Bank.
History: The people of Bahrain met Islam at the time of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.s.). Muiz bin al-Aiz al-Abdi from Bahrain visited the Messenger of Allah (s.a.s.) in Medina with a delegation of twenty people and became a Muslim.
Bahrain was under Portuguese occupation from 1521 to 1602. Portuguese invaders were removed by Iranian forces in 1602. After this date, a rivalry and fight over Bahrain started between the Ottomans, Iran, Arab administrations and European countries. This rivalry and struggle continued until 1783 when the al-Khalifa family established sovereignty in Bahrain. Bahrain has been under the rule of this family since 1783. However, Bahrain has been subjected to various external pressures and attacks even after the domination of this family. Its close neighbour Oman has been a constant threat to Bahrain and has been attacked several times. Against the Omani threat, the Bahraini government sometimes co-operated with the leaders of the Wahhabi movement in the Arabian peninsula. The rivalry and dispute between the Ottomans and the British over Bahrain also continued. With an agreement signed in London in 1913, the Ottoman administration undertook to recognise Bahrain's independence and the British undertook not to annex it to their territory. However, after this agreement, the British became more interested in Bahrain and took it under their patronage. This situation significantly affected Bahrain's economic and therefore political independence. As of 1970, when the British forces started to withdraw from the Gulf, the small countries in the Gulf established a federation called the Federation of Gulf States. However, the Emir of Bahrain declared his independence from this federation with the declaration he issued on 15 August 1971. Bahrain has been ruled by Isa bin Salman Ali Khalifa from the al-Khalifa family since 1 November 1961. His successor is his son Hamed bin Isa Ali Khalifa.
External Problems: There is a dispute with Qatar over territorial waters and the Hawar islands in the Persian Gulf. On 20 April 1993, the Bahraini government announced that it had increased its territorial waters to 12 miles, thus formalising its claim over the disputed area with Qatar. With this statement, Bahrain announced that it would exercise its sovereignty rights within the framework of international law. Bahrain's stance further deepened the dispute with Qatar. The two countries applied to the International Court of Justice for the resolution of the issue.
Islamic Activity: The 'Islah Society' is one of the leading institutions organising Islamic activities in Bahrain. This society is considered as an organisation of the Muslim Brotherhood in Bahrain. Its activities are similar to those of the Society for Social Reform in Kuwait and the Society for Reform and Social Guidance in the United Arab Emirates. The Society has a special council called the 'Charity Council' to organise charity and relief work. This council provides aid to the needy people in the country as well as to many needy Muslims outside the country.
Since there is no electoral political system in Bahrain, there is no organised political activity. What is done in this field consists only of informing people about Islamic principles and politics. However, some activities are carried out in order to ensure that the administration implements Islamic laws. Some other Islamic movements, especially Salafis, also have some educational activities in the country.
Economy: The economy is generally based on oil and natural gas production. The share of oil and natural gas in gross domestic product is 22%. In 1992, 15 million barrels of crude oil were produced. The oil reserves in 1993 were estimated at 56 million barrels. Oil reserves are expected to run out in 1995 and the government is therefore trying to find other sources of income by reducing the dependence of the national economy on oil. In addition to Bahraini oil, crude oil from Saudi Arabia is also refined at the oil refining plants in Citre. In addition to oil, natural gas also provides significant income to the country's economy. In 1992, a total of 4 billion 785 million m3 of natural gas was produced. Bahrain's natural gas reserves in 1993 were estimated at 160 billion m3 .
In agriculture, vegetables and cereals are cultivated and dates are produced.
Another source of income worth mentioning is pearl hunting and trade. Banking and tourism have also developed in Bahrain in recent years. In parallel with the development of tourism, transportation has also been modernised and air connection with many foreign centres has been provided. Bahrain meets its water needs with water obtained from artesian wells and sea water treatment plants. The world's largest sea water treatment plants are in Bahrain. Bahrain has a modern telecommunication system. Since the Bahraini government pursues an open economy policy and encourages foreign capital to do business in the country, foreign capital is quite effective in this country. Many industrial enterprises are in the hands of foreigners. Foreigners are also influential in trade.
National Income Per Capita: 29.102 USD.[2]
Foreign Trade: The most important exports are oil, natural gas (these two account for 80% of its exports), chemicals and pearls. It also trades some industrial products. The main imports are crude oil (for refining in its own facilities), electrical and electronic equipment, machinery, transport equipment and foodstuffs. Its foreign trade is mainly with Japan, the USA, the UK, Italy, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and India.
Export products: Oil and petroleum products 61%, aluminium 7%.
Export partners: Saudi Arabia 3.3%, USA 2.6%, United Arab Emirates 2.3%
Import partners: Saudi Arabia 36.4%, Japan 6.6%, Germany 6.4%, USA 5.4%, United Kingdom 5%, United Arab Emirates 4.1% (2005)
Industry: The most important industrial facilities in Bahrain are oil refining plants. Bahrain also receives crude oil from neighbouring countries and exports it after refining it in its own facilities. It has also developed the petrochemical industry. Tyre factories have been established and this industry is developing. Aluminium smelting plants also have an important place in Bahrain industry. In addition, traditional boats are manufactured and ships up to one thousand tonnes are repaired and maintained in the shipyards in Mina Selman. The share of industrial income in gross domestic product is 17 per cent. Approximately 15 % of the working population is employed in the industrial sector.
Energy: Electricity production: 7.345 billion kWh (2003)
Transport: Enormous structures have been built in the name of transport in the country in recent years. The Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman causeway connecting the islands of Manama and Muharraq, which cost more than 38 million dollars, is one of them. Another is the two flyovers in the Seef region, the construction of which was completed in 2004 and cost 26 million dollars. The King Fahd Causeway connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, another monumental structure costing $1.2 billion, was inaugurated in 1986.
Bahrain's only airport is the airport in the capital Menâmâ, which is open to international traffic. Being an island country and being at a strategic point in terms of maritime transport gives Bahrain wide opportunities in maritime transport. The largest and modern port is the port called Minâ Selmân. Sea transport is carried out to many countries from here. Bahrain has 87 ships capable of carrying cargo over 100 gph. It has 2.675 km of motorways, all of which are asphalted.
In this country, there is one motorised transport vehicle for an average of 3.8 people.
Education: Education is not compulsory in Bahrain. There are 140 primary schools, 40 general secondary schools and 10 vocational secondary schools. This education is available to 95 per cent of primary school children and 83 per cent of secondary school children. In addition to public schools, there are also private schools. There are two universities. Among these, Gulf University started to serve in 1984. In addition to these, there are 2 colleges and 3 research institutes.
Among the young people of higher education age, the rate of those enrolled in these institutions is 10 per cent and the rate of those who can read and write is 78 per cent.
Health: A clean and healthy environment prevails in Bahrain and health and treatment services are generally adequate. All kinds of medical specialities are available in Bahraini hospitals with their emergency services and services are provided with very modern devices and facilities. It is possible to find public and private hospitals and health centres, as well as private clinics and doctors in various parts of the country. Health care in public hospitals is free of charge for everyone, including foreigners.
Bahrain was the first Arab country to start producing crude oil in 1932 and this was an important factor that changed the history of Bahrain and the interest of foreign powers in this country.
Bahrain Islamic Bank: The Islamic Bank of Bahrain, established by Decree No. 2 issued in 1979, is bound by law. The company will be able to carry out all the business and activities of other banks in Bahrain on a partnership basis. The condition that the bank's adherence to the laws of the country does not conflict with Islamic rules is also valid.
There are branches of many international banks, trade companies and financial institutions in Bahrain, which has shown significant developments in the fields of banking, tourism and transport in recent years. The transport system has been modernised. The airport on the island of Muharraq is the busiest airport in the region. In addition, transport by sea is also developed.
Currency: Bahrain Dinar (BHD)
[1]www.ticaret.gov.tr (accessed April 2022)
[2] www.ticaret.gov.tr (accessed April 2022)
