| About Bahrain |
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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. Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors.
CultureWhile Islam is the religion of some 80% of Bahrain’s 650,000 inhabitants, there is considerable presence of other faiths and religious freedoms are respected. Arabic is the official language of Bahrain, but English, Farsi, Hindi, and Urdu are spoken widely. Most notably, English is considered the official language for business in Bahrain. Human DevelopmentBahrain 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. EducationLooking at education, Bahrainis are among the best-educated people in the Arab world. This guarantees a workforce that is skilled and ready for the highly technical demands of today’s global economy. Secondary school enrollment now measures 97%, or better in 2001, the National Action Charter stipulated the importance Bahrain places on education. The Charter laid out a vision that the Government of Bahrain “guarantees the educational and cultural services for its citizens. Education is compulsory and free.” As a result, the Bahraini literacy rate is among the highest in the Arab world, averaging 85.2 per cent. Literacy among Bahraini males stands at 90 per cent and 80 per cent among women. source: http://www.e.gov.bh |
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