Bahrain consists of 33 islands, including Bahrain (the name of the main island as well as the nation), Muharraq, Umm Nasan, Sitrah, An Nabi Salih and the Hawar Islands. The country is flat (the highest point is only 445 ft/135 m above sea level), and though it receives very little rainfall, it can be very humid.
This ancient island nation in the Persian Gulf was settled relatively early because it had what surrounding areas lacked: fresh water and soil fit for cultivation. (Its old name, Dilmun, means "Land of Life" or "Sacred Land.") Some even claim Bahrain was the biblical Garden of Eden. Apart from a lone tree in the dry, southern part of the main island, there's scant evidence to support this claim. But as early as 2000 BC, Bahrain was an important trade center, fueled by an abundance of pearls in the waters offshore. The pearls attracted Babylonians, Assyrians and Greeks, all of whom left their mark on the country. In fact, pearls remained Bahrain's best-known commodity for thousands of years, until the introduction of Japanese cultured pearls in the 1960s. The country survived the collapse of its pearl industry because oil had been found in southern Bahrain in the 1930s, providing a new—and lucrative—source of revenue. In 1971, the British, who had ruled Bahrain for more than 100 years, finally granted the country its independence. Bahrain toyed with the possibility of becoming a part of the fledgling United Arab Emirates, but then (along with Qatar), decided to remain independent.
For most of its history as an independent nation, Bahrain was a monarchy governed by the Al Khalifa family. The ruling emirs were Sunni Muslims, even though the majority of the population is Shiite. By the 1990s, this religious rift had spawned a bombing campaign that killed dozens of people, and there was widespread disapproval of the monarchy. When Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa succeeded his father as emir in 1999, he began making plans to turn Bahrain into a constitutional monarchy. By 2002, a parliament was in place and membership was open to all Bahrainis—including women.
Bahrain was one of the first Arab Gulf states to discover oil, was the first with a refinery and will be, experts predict, the first to run out (sometime before 2015). This is one of the reasons Bahrain has developed a more diversified economy than many other Gulf countries—banking, aluminum, fertilizer and shipbuilding all play a role in the economy. The nation's nightlife is starting to catch up to its booming economy. Although it was previously confined to expat drinking holes, there are now sleek modern bars on offer. Salsa dancing has made a big impression on Bahrain's youth, and is the dance of choice in the clubs.
Bahrain's chief attractions are beaches, souks, Middle Eastern culture, camels and ancient history.
Bahrain will appeal to seasoned travelers who are interested in the region and its history, but who also require modern conveniences.
Bahrain was the center of international attention when it became the adopted home of Michael Jackson. The King of Pop has invested a reported US$1.5 million in real estate on the Amwaj network of reclaimed islands.
Bahrainis have an uneasy relationship with the Saudis, their closest neighbors. Some Saudis look on Bahrain as a spot for a guilt-free weekend getaway, and on Wednesday nights (the start of the weekend in Bahrain), the causeway from Saudi is packed with visitors eager to indulge in activities that would be frowned upon in their home country.
The pearl trade might seem like a romantic way to have made a living, but, in fact, it was terrible: Divers remained at sea for months on end, and were often burdened by huge debts to boat owners, making them little more than indentured slaves.
During the height of the pearling trade, the shells from local oysters went to England, France and Germany to make mother-of-pearl buttons. And in the 1930s, U.S. socialite Barbara Hutton paid US$75,000 for a Bahraini pearl.
F'jeri is the beautiful rhythmic music of pearl divers and sailors.
Dugongs, relatives of the manatee, can be found in Bahrain's shallow waters.
The Hawar Islands are a breeding ground for endangered falcons and the Socotra cormorant. In December and January, tens of thousands of birds nest on the islands in an amazing natural display. (There is a long-standing border dispute between Bahrain and Qatar over ownership of the islands.)
The odd funnels on top of some old buildings are wind towers. They are a form of air-conditioning—in use before electricity—designed to catch the slightest breeze and scoop it inside.
The original people of Bahrain (the Dilmun) lived, on average, 40 years and suffered horribly from tooth decay, thanks to a steady diet of sweet dates. Date palms still play an important role in Bahrain: They are the country's biggest agricultural export. Throughout the country you can find rows of date palms lining spring-fed irrigation channels.
Bahrain claims the highest literacy rate in the Arab world. Attendance at primary schools is nearly 100%.
