alBahrain

alBahrain is a transliteration variant of the Arabic name for the country Bahrain (Arabic: البحرين, transliterated al-Baḥrayn or al-Bahrayn), meaning “the two seas.” In English usage the country is usually spelled Bahrain; the form “alBahrain” appears in some transliteration contexts and academic texts.

Geography and naming conventions are closely linked in Bahrain. The nation is a small archipelago in the Persian Gulf, comprising Bahrain Island and numerous smaller islands. It covers around 765 square kilometers. The capital and largest city is Manama. Located off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain is connected to the mainland by the King Fahd Causeway. The climate is hot and arid, with mild winters and very hot summers.

Population and society. Bahrain has a population of about 1.5 to 2 million people, with a large expatriate community. The official language is Arabic, while English is widely used in business, government, and daily life. The population practices a mix of Muslim traditions, including both Sunni and Shia communities, along with minority Christians, Hindus, and other religious groups. Bahraini culture blends Arab, Persian, and Persian Gulf influences, with a contemporary economy shaping social norms around work and education.

Government and economy. Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy in which the king is the head of state and a prime minister heads government. The legislature consists of a directly elected House of Representatives and an appointed Shura Council. The economy is diversified, with financial services, shipping, oil refining, and aluminum production (notably through Alba) playing major roles. The Bahraini dinar (BHD) is the currency.

History. The area has ancient roots in the Dilmun civilization and later saw Persian, Arab, Portuguese, and British influence. Bahrain gained independence from the United Kingdom in the 1970s and developed a modern constitutional framework in the early 2000s, expanding political participation and reforming the state structure.