Bahrain, which means “two seas,” is an archipelago in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia. The islands are mainly level expanses of rock and sand. A jetty connects Saudi Arabia to Bahrain. Known in ancient times as Dilmun, Bahrain was an important center of trade by the 3rd millennium B.C. The islands were ruled by the Persians in the 4th century A.D. , and then by Arabs until 1541, when the Portuguese attacked them. Persia again claimed Bahrain in 1602.

The Kingdom of Bahrain consists of some 36 islands, situated midway along the Persian (Arabian) Gulf. Formerly a British Protected State, Bahrain seceded from the Federation of Arab Emirates to become a separate independent state in 1971. After the dissolution of the National Assembly in 1975, the ruling al-Khalifa family exercised near-absolute power. In 2001 voters approved reforms contained in a National Action Charter, and in 2002 the Amir of Bahrain announced the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, proclaiming himself King. Bahrain’s first legislative elections for 27 years took place in October of that year. The capital is Manama. Arabic is the official language.