Bahrain

Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in the Persian Gulf. It comprises a small archipelago centered around Bahrain Island, situated between the Qatar peninsula and the northeastern coast of Saudi Arabia. Covering approximately 780 square kilometers, it is one of the smallest countries in Asia. As of recent estimates, Bahrain has a population of about 1.7 million people. The capital and largest city is Manama. The official language is Arabic. Bahrain declared independence from the United Kingdom in 1971 and is a constitutional monarchy. The economy has diversified from its traditional oil-based revenues to include banking, finance, and tourism sectors. Bahrain is a member of the United Nations, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.