Bahrain

Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands that has a land area of 665 sq km which is located in the Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia and Qatar Peninsula. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family and has an estimated population that stands at 1,214,705, together with 235,108 non-nationals. The capital is Manama; this city is considered as the largest city of Bahrain with an estimated population of 155,000 people.

Bahrain has a warm and dry climate, and can be unbearable. During the summer months, from April to October, the temperatures can get to an average of 48° C and can reach 40° C during June and July. The perfect time to visit Bahrain is in the winter between November and March when the climate is cool and quite pleasant.

Bahrain’s official language is Arabic but English is also commonly spoken. English is required as a second language in schools and is widely used in business. Among the non-Bahraini inhabitants, many people speak Farsi, the official language of Iran and several others speak the national language of Pakistan known as Urdu.

Bahraini Dinar is the Bahrain’s official currency. In 1965, the Dinar was introduced and thus replacing the Gulf Rupee at a rate of 10 Rupees per Dinar. The country is known to have the freest economy in the Middle East and is tenth overall in the world.

There are a wide variety of tourist attractions in Bahrain. Al-Fateh Mosque is considered as one of the most popular attractions for the reason that this is one of the largest mosques in the world, with the capability to accommodate over 7,000 worshippers at a time.

Bahrain also has The Tree of Life. This is a 400 year-old, 32 feet high North American mesquite tree that is located 1.2 miles or 2 km away from Jebel Dukhan. The tree can be seen in the centre of the desert, miles away from other plants and with no apparent supply of water.

Click Here For Entry/Exit Requirements and Local Embassy Information from The U.S. Department of State