 | Bahrain today Bahrain has progressed into a cosmopolitan society of religions and communities. With the discovery of oil in 1932 rapid modernization occurred in Bahrain. Bahrain has the fastest growing and also the freest economy in all of the Middle East because of its oil and tourism. In March 1999, King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah became head of state and introduced parliamentary elections, granted women the right to vote, and released all political prisoners. This was seen as a "historic period of human rights".The country officially became a kingdom in 2002. |
 | Bahrain back then Bahrain’s rich history dates back from the early Dilmun period through the Islamic era. Archaeological evidence dating to 3000 B.C. shows that the Sumerians settled in the main island. In about 2000 B.C. it was known as Dilmun and served as a trading post on the course between the Indus valley and Mesopotamia (now Iraq). In 400 C.E. Bahrain was annexed by the Sassanian Empire. Bahrain was called by different names such as Awal, before Islam. In 629 C.E, Muslims conquered the region and ruled until the sixteenth century. In 1521, the Portuguese took control, using Bahrain as a military garris |
 | Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel This five-star hotel is indisputably Bahrain's most luxurious and lavish hotel, with its own private |  | Moevenpick Hotel Bahrain This hotel is comfortably situated 10 kilometers from the city of Manama. Multilingual staff is on-h |
 | Days Hotel Manama This hotel boasts a coffee shop, a complimentary buffet breakfast, four restaurants and bars situate |  | The Phoenicia Tower Hotel Located in central Manama, Bahrain, this hotel features a hair salon, a Moroccan restaurant, a coffe |
 | Sheraton Bahrain Hotel Centrally located in the heart of Manama with lavish guest rooms, restaurants and recreational facil |  | The Best Western Juffair Hotel Sited in Manama amidst facilities for sailing, jet skiing, scuba diving and the Riffa Golf course ne |
 | Gold Souq The Gold Souq specializes in fine jewelry. It is located in the Manama Souq and was the first gold c |  | Seef Mall The mall houses over 300 stores, including 2 food and beverage courts. Family attractions of the See |
 | Al-Hilal Bookshops There are many branches mostly located in the best hotels, modern shopping centres and in the souq.< |  | Bahrain City Centre The first entertainment, shopping and leisure resort in Bahrain. It is also the biggest shopping cen |
 | Yatama Souq This market was founded by orphans in 1987.The Prime minister ordered the expansion of this souq tha |  | Gold City A good place to start for Bahrain’s famed natural pearls is Gold City, a complex of jewellery shop |
 | Jewellery Arabia This 5-day event is held in early November at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre. Stunning |  | Prophet Abraham's birth day Also thought to have been on 7th February and celebrated in memory of his coming to this world. |
 | Ashura This festival is celebrated by the Shiite inhabitants of Bahrain, observed in memory of the martyrdo |  | Eid al-Watani Bahrain commemorates its National Day on the 16th of December, with parades, speeches, processions a |
 | Bahrain Grand Prix Held annually since 2004, when the first ever Formula One Grand Prix in the entire Middle East was h |  | Chinese Trade Fair This is a 4 day event that is held at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre. Chinese traders c |
 | Blue Elephant Thai buffet brunch with seafood and free flowing bubbly and herbal drinks Theme: Thai cuisin |  | Café Lilou This sophisticated balconied restaurant, with its velvet upholstery, wrought-iron banisters and poli |
 | Le Mediterranee/Nirvana Le Mediterranee serves a succulent international buffet brunch where children under 12 years pay hal |  | Le Bistro This restaurant is renowned for its international night buffet, its quirkily themed buffets, excitin |
 | Lantern's Restaurant Continental and Indian Buffet brunch (drinks not included) Theme: Continental Prices: BD 4  Mezzaluna | The atmospheric and modish Mezzaluna combines the spirit of Bahrain with that of the Mediterranean. |
 | Fast Facts -Location Bahrain is an island in the Persian Gulf. Saudi Arabia lies to the west and is connected to Bahrain by the King Fahd Causeway. To the southeast is Qatar. -Area 711.9 sq km -Dialing code +973 -Area Code - -Emergency numbers Fire: 997 Police: 999 Ambulance: 998 -Population 708,573 -Languages Arabic is the official language, though, English is widely used especially in the business world. Persian is also spoken as is Hindi. -Time zone 3 hours prior to GMT Currency Bahraini Dinar -Average January temperatures 17 ºCelsius -Average July temperatures 34 ºCelsius Annual Rainfall: 75 mm .....iv- Exchange Rates 1 EURO = 0.517777 BHD 1 BHD = 1.93133 EUR 1 POUND = 0.571326 BHD 1 BHD = 1.75031 GBP 1 DOLLAR = 0.376969 BHD 1 BHD = 2.65274 USD |
