The world's oldest pearl-diving traditions; the first country in the region to discover oil, pearl markets, an ancient capital, the Pearl Route, burial mounds, skyscrapers, and Formula 1.
01.01 New Year
May 01.05, Labor Day
June 16.12, National Day
September 01.09, Ashura Day (lunar calendar)
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (lunar calendar)
December 25.12, Christmas
999, single emergency number
999 police
997, fire department
998, emergency medical care
– Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa, King
– Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Prime Minister
– Kamal Abu-Bakr, writer
– Criticism of the emir and Islam in public places is a criminal offense
– drinking alcohol outside hotels
- photographing women without permission
- entering mosques in inappropriate clothing
- public gatherings without permission
– Men and women greet each other with a handshake only if the woman extends her hand.
– It is obligatory to take off shoes in mosques and religious places.
– It is important to avoid public displays of affection.
– In houses, guests are seated in a place of honor
– It is customary to bargain at bazaars.
First (in the world)
– The world's first government ban on sea turtle fishing in the Persian Gulf
– The world's first island Arab monarchical parliament (National Council, 1973)
– The world's first Arab center for digital registration of pearls (Manama Pearl Route)
– The world's first museum dedicated to the history of oil production in the Arab world (Bahrain Petroleum Museum)
– The world's first Arab government project to restore mangrove forests with the participation of schoolchildren
Records (the "most" in the world)
– The smallest Arab country by area
– The highest population density among the Persian Gulf countries
– The highest proportion of fresh water produced by desalination
– The highest concentration of archaeological sites from the Dilmun period
– The highest proportion of women in the banking sector among GCC countries
Records (one of the most) in the world
- One of the most ancient centers of pearl trading
– One of the highest levels of digitalization of public services in the Arab world
– One of the most popular cultural tourism routes in the Persian Gulf
– One of the most stable Islamic banking markets
– One of the highest levels of urbanization among small countries
– One of the most famous motorsport centers in the Middle East (Formula 1 Grand Prix)
Anti-records (the "most" in the world)
– The highest share of food imports among the Persian Gulf countries
– The highest density of automobile traffic per capita in the region
– Highest vulnerability to sea level rise among GCC countries
Anti-records ("one of the most" in the world)
– One of the highest levels of dependence on oil in the export structure
– One of the highest levels of soil salinity in coastal zones
– One of the lowest levels of natural fresh water sources
– One of the highest levels of seasonal unemployment among young people
– Small island states have some of the highest levels of vulnerability to climate risks
– greeting / مرحبا / marhaban
– gratitude / شكرا / shukran
– please / من فضلك / min fadlik
– excuse me / عفوا / afwan
– Where is the bus…? / أين الحافلة؟ / ayna al-hafila
– How much is the ticket? / بكم التذكرة؟ / bikam al-tathkira
– pharmacy / صيدلية / saydaliya
– I need a doctor / أحتاج إلى طبيب / ahtaj ila tabib
– I need help / أحتاج إلى مساعدة / ahtaj ila musa'ada
– call the police / اتصل بالشرطة / ittasel bil-shurta
– call an ambulance / اتصل بالإسعاف / ittasel bil-is'af
– very tasty! / لذيذ جدا! / ladhidh jiddan
– bill, please / الحساب، من فضلك / al-hisab, min fadlik
– toast / في صحتك! (To your health!) / fi sihhatik
– joke / الجو حار مثل الجحيم! (It's hot as hell!) / al-jaw har mithl al-jahim
First (in the world)
– The world's first government ban on sea turtle fishing in the Persian Gulf
– The world's first island Arab monarchical parliament (National Council, 1973)
– The world's first Arab center for digital registration of pearls (Manama Pearl Route)
– The world's first museum dedicated to the history of oil production in the Arab world (Bahrain Petroleum Museum)
– The world's first Arab government project to restore mangrove forests with the participation of schoolchildren
Records (the "most" in the world)
– The smallest Arab country by area
– The highest population density among the Persian Gulf countries
– The highest proportion of fresh water produced by desalination
– The highest concentration of archaeological sites from the Dilmun period
– The highest proportion of women in the banking sector among GCC countries
Records (one of the most) in the world
- One of the most ancient centers of pearl trading
– One of the highest levels of digitalization of public services in the Arab world
– One of the most popular cultural tourism routes in the Persian Gulf
– One of the most stable Islamic banking markets
– One of the highest levels of urbanization among small countries
– One of the most famous motorsport centers in the Middle East (Formula 1 Grand Prix)
Anti-records (the "most" in the world)
– The highest share of food imports among the Persian Gulf countries
– The highest density of automobile traffic per capita in the region
– Highest vulnerability to sea level rise among GCC countries
Anti-records ("one of the most" in the world)
– One of the highest levels of dependence on oil in the export structure
– One of the highest levels of soil salinity in coastal zones
– One of the lowest levels of natural fresh water sources
– One of the highest levels of seasonal unemployment among young people
– Small island states have some of the highest levels of vulnerability to climate risks
It is customary to discuss:
– Traditions of hospitality
– Kitchen and coffee
– Arts and crafts
– Sports (football)
– Maritime culture
It is not accepted to discuss:
– Politics and power
– Religious differences
- Social problems
– Women's rights
– visit the mosques of Manama
– stroll through the bazaars
– go boating
– relax on the beaches of the Persian Gulf
The world's oldest pearl-diving traditions; the first country in the region to discover oil, pearl markets, an ancient capital, the Pearl Route, burial mounds, skyscrapers, and Formula 1.
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World
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World
01.01 New Year
May 01.05, Labor Day
June 16.12, National Day
September 01.09, Ashura Day (lunar calendar)
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (lunar calendar)
December 25.12, Christmas
999, single emergency number
999 police
997, fire department
998, emergency medical care
– Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa, King
– Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Prime Minister
– Kamal Abu-Bakr, writer
– Criticism of the emir and Islam in public places is a criminal offense
– drinking alcohol outside hotels
- photographing women without permission
- entering mosques in inappropriate clothing
- public gatherings without permission
– Men and women greet each other with a handshake only if the woman extends her hand.
– It is obligatory to take off shoes in mosques and religious places.
– It is important to avoid public displays of affection.
– In houses, guests are seated in a place of honor
– It is customary to bargain at bazaars.
– greeting / مرحبا / marhaban
– gratitude / شكرا / shukran
– please / من فضلك / min fadlik
– excuse me / عفوا / afwan
– Where is the bus…? / أين الحافلة؟ / ayna al-hafila
– How much is the ticket? / بكم التذكرة؟ / bikam al-tathkira
– pharmacy / صيدلية / saydaliya
– I need a doctor / أحتاج إلى طبيب / ahtaj ila tabib
– I need help / أحتاج إلى مساعدة / ahtaj ila musa'ada
– call the police / اتصل بالشرطة / ittasel bil-shurta
– call an ambulance / اتصل بالإسعاف / ittasel bil-is'af
– very tasty! / لذيذ جدا! / ladhidh jiddan
– bill, please / الحساب، من فضلك / al-hisab, min fadlik
– toast / في صحتك! (To your health!) / fi sihhatik
– joke / الجو حار مثل الجحيم! (It's hot as hell!) / al-jaw har mithl al-jahim
First (in the world)
– The world's first government ban on sea turtle fishing in the Persian Gulf
– The world's first island Arab monarchical parliament (National Council, 1973)
– The world's first Arab center for digital registration of pearls (Manama Pearl Route)
– The world's first museum dedicated to the history of oil production in the Arab world (Bahrain Petroleum Museum)
– The world's first Arab government project to restore mangrove forests with the participation of schoolchildren
Records (the "most" in the world)
– The smallest Arab country by area
– The highest population density among the Persian Gulf countries
– The highest proportion of fresh water produced by desalination
– The highest concentration of archaeological sites from the Dilmun period
– The highest proportion of women in the banking sector among GCC countries
Records (one of the most) in the world
- One of the most ancient centers of pearl trading
– One of the highest levels of digitalization of public services in the Arab world
– One of the most popular cultural tourism routes in the Persian Gulf
– One of the most stable Islamic banking markets
– One of the highest levels of urbanization among small countries
– One of the most famous motorsport centers in the Middle East (Formula 1 Grand Prix)
Anti-records (the "most" in the world)
– The highest share of food imports among the Persian Gulf countries
– The highest density of automobile traffic per capita in the region
– Highest vulnerability to sea level rise among GCC countries
Anti-records ("one of the most" in the world)
– One of the highest levels of dependence on oil in the export structure
– One of the highest levels of soil salinity in coastal zones
– One of the lowest levels of natural fresh water sources
– One of the highest levels of seasonal unemployment among young people
– Small island states have some of the highest levels of vulnerability to climate risks
It is customary to discuss:
– Traditions of hospitality
– Kitchen and coffee
– Arts and crafts
– Sports (football)
– Maritime culture
It is not accepted to discuss:
– Politics and power
– Religious differences
- Social problems
– Women's rights
– visit the mosques of Manama
– stroll through the bazaars
– go boating
– relax on the beaches of the Persian Gulf