His Majesty
the King, Sheikh
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
National
Day
December
16, 1971
Population
760,168
Location
/ Size
Arabian Gulf
, 257 Square
Miles
Capital
Manama
Languages
Arabic (English
Widely use in
Bussiness)
Currency
Bahraini
Dinar
Economic
Overview
2002
2003
2004
Nominal GDP
USD Bn
8.4
9.0
9.5
Real GDP Growth Rate
%
4.5
4.1
3.8
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)
%
0.7
2.4
2.2
Current Account Balance
USD Mn
-151.2
3.1
145.2
General
Overview
Business Hours
Government offices
07:00-14:15 (Sunday to Thursday) Banks
07:30-13:00 is the normal business hours (Sunday to Thursday)
Some banks are also open for a few hours on some afternoons Central Post Office
(Manama,
near Bab
Al Bahrain)
07:00-19:30
(Saturday
to Thursday) Shops
Working hours vary, but typically 08:30-12:30 and 16:00-20:00 (Saturday
to Thursday)
Many shops are open for half or full day on Friday as well
Weekly holidays
Friday, Saturday
Time zone
3 hours ahead of GMT (GMT+3)
Climate
Summer:
July-September, very hot and humid (Avg. 36C). Winter:
December to February, cool or mild with occasional rain (10C - 20C).
Remaining months: March to May and October to November, warm with
occasional pleasant breezes (20C - 30C).
Introduction to
Bahrain
The Kingdom of Bahrain a name that translates as "Two Seas" is actually an
archipelago of 33 low-lying islands located in the heart of the Gulf.
Situated along major Arabian and international trade routes between
Asia
and the West, the Kingdom has, for millennia,
served as an important port and center of business. The capital city of
Manama
is a vibrant
cosmopolitan center offering an open economy and an educated workforce
enhanced by modern cultural amenities like museums, shopping, restaurants and
fine hotels.
Human
Development Bahrain
is consistently one of the top Middle Eastern countries in the United Nations
Development Program's (UNDP) annual index on human development. The UNDP's report tracks statistics like access to medicine
and medical care, life expectancy, infant mortality and availability of safe
drinking water.
Bahrain
ranks proudly among the top countries in those important yardsticks.
