Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • Country

Bahrain

Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in the Persian Gulf in West Asia.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Bahrain is an island country and constitutional monarchy in the Persian Gulf, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain. It is an archipelago of 33 natural and additional artificial islands, with Manama as its capital.

What it is

Bahrain is a small island country in West Asia, located in the Persian Gulf east of Saudi Arabia and west of Qatar. It covers about 760 square kilometres, making it the third-smallest country in Asia by area. The country is connected to Saudi Arabia by the King Fahd Causeway.

Why it matters

Bahrain’s economy has historically relied on oil and refining, but has diversified into finance, services, communications, and tourism. It is relevant to Canadian readers through Gulf security, energy markets, and expatriate and business connections. Canada and Bahrain maintain diplomatic relations.

Key details

Bahrain became independent from British protection in 1971. The ruling Al Khalifa family has governed since 1783. The population is about 1.6 million (2024), with expatriates outnumbering Bahraini nationals. Arabic is the official language, and Islam is the official religion.

In short

  • Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy in the Persian Gulf, independent since 1971.
  • Its economy has moved beyond oil into finance, services, and tourism.
  • The population is about 1.6 million, with a majority of expatriates.
  • Canada and Bahrain have diplomatic and business ties.
Canadian angle

Canada and Bahrain maintain diplomatic relations, and Bahrain is relevant to Canadian readers through Gulf security, energy markets, and expatriate and business connections.

Quick questions

What is Bahrain?
Bahrain is an island country and constitutional monarchy in the Persian Gulf, officially called the Kingdom of Bahrain.
What is the capital of Bahrain?
The capital and largest city is Manama.
How large is Bahrain?
Its area is about 760 square kilometres, making it one of Asia’s smallest countries.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain
    Supports: Basic geography, area, population, capital, islands, and location relative to Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/Bahrain
    Supports: Overview of Bahrain’s geography, economy, capital, and island nature.
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/summary/Bahrain
    Supports: Population estimate, official language, religion, currency, and government form.
  4. CIA World Factbook — https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/archives/2023/countries/bahrain/summaries
    Supports: Historical notes on Al Khalifa rule and independence in 1971.
  5. Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade — https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/bahrain/bahrain-country-brief
    Supports: Population, location, maritime border, ruling family, and current head of state.
  6. United Nations — https://www.un.org/esa/earthsummit/barin-cp.htm
    Supports: Geographic position, island count, and location of Manama.