Among the non-Bahraini population many people speak Urdu, the official language of Pakistan and Farsi, the official language of Iran. LanguagesĪrabic is the official language of Bahrain and is spoken by around half of the population. As a Muslim country, alcohol is not widely available in Bahrain and is mainly found in hotels catering to foreign visitors. The end of Ramadan is celebrated by festival of Eis el-Fitr where Bahrainis eat dishes consisting of meat and fish with grains and vegetables, sweet pastries and sago.Ĭoffee is by far the most popular drink in Bahrain, followed by tea, soft drinks and fruit juices and smoothies. In accordance with Muslim beliefs, meat is halal and pork is strictly avoided, although visitors will find pork products in cordoned off sections in some supermarkets. Flat breads, hummus and tabbouleh (a type of salad made with bulgur, tomatoes, lemon and garlic) are also Bahraini staples. Traditional Bahraini dishes include machboos, (a dish of rice and meat) and ouzi (grilled lamb served with rice, eggs, onions, spices and mixed nuts). Food and Drinkīahraini cuisine comprises a medley of flavours influenced by its non-national population from Iran, Lebanon, India and Saudi Arabia as well as the recent incorporation of many western cuisines. Bahrain also has a number of important archaeological sites which are open to tourists, such as The A’ali Burial Mounds thought to be the largest prehistoric cemetery in the world. The Bahrain F1 Grand Prix held at the Bahrain International Circuit is also religiously followed by residents. Football is the most popular sport along with horse-racing and the more traditional sports of gazelle and hare hunting, usually reserved for wealthier Bahrainis. Popular pastimes include shopping -either at the country’s large air-conditioned malls or in the colourful souks (markets) – or soaking up the sun on one of Bahrain’s beautiful beaches. Popular activitiesīahrain is a small country with a wide range of things to do. Bahrainis are known to be friendly and welcoming towards expats and have a relaxed attitude towards other cultures. However, Bahrain is regarded as relatively liberal and cosmopolitan compared with its near neighbours of Iran and Saudi Arabia, indeed its culture has been described as ‘Middle East lite’ with less restrictions on women’s rights and tolerance of other religions. Islamic rules govern the country’s cultural, economic and political life and those from western nations may initially find Bahrain highly conservative. Cultureīahrain’s culture shares many similarities with those of its Arab neighbours in the Gulf region. However, oil production has never reached the same heights as that of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain’s economy has had to diversify into other areas such as banking, finance and tourism. Bahrain was one of the first Middle East nations to discover oil in the area and build a refinery. The cultural, religious and political divide between the ruling Sunni minority and the majority Shia population has led to long-running tension in the region, which has erupted in violent protests in recent years. It is estimated that over half of the country’s residents are non-Bahraini, mainly coming from other Arab nations and Southern Asia.īahrain is a Muslim country which has been ruled by the Khalifa family since 1783, with a bi-cameral legislature made up of a Chamber of Deputies elected by the people and a Shura Council appointed by the King. Following over a hundred years as a British Protectorate country, Bahrain officially claimed independence in 1971. The capital Manama lies on Bahrain Island, the most densely populated area, with over two thirds of Bahrain’s 1.3 million people residing there. Bahrain is made up of an archipelago of 33 islands which are mostly desert. The Kingdom of Bahrain is a Middle East island country situated in the Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with Iran lying 124 nautical miles to the north.
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