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Country Name

Conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain

Conventional short form: Bahrain

Local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn

Local short form: Al Bahrayn

Former: Dilmun, State of Bahrain

Administrative Divisions

5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor

Independence

15 August 1971 (from the UK)

National Holiday

National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection

Constitution

Adopted 14 February 2002

Legal System

mixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law

International Law Organization Participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal; note - Bahraini Cabinet in May 2011 endorsed a draft law lowering eligibility to 18 years

Executive Branch

Chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969)

Head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al-Khalifa (since 1971); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa, Jawad bin Salim al-ARAIDH

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch

Elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

Legislative Branch

Bicameral legislature consists of the Consultative Council (40 members appointed by the King) and the Council of Representatives or Chamber of Deputies (40 seats; members directly elected to serve four-year terms) elections: Council of Representatives - last held in two rounds on 23 and 30 October 2010 (next election to be held in 2014) election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - Wifaq (Shia) 18, Asala (Sunni Salafi) 3, Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 2, independents 17

Judicial Branch

High Civil Appeals Court

Political Parties and Leaders

Political parties prohibited but political societies were legalized per a July 2005 law

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders

Shia activists; Sunni Islamist legislators other: several small leftist and other groups are active

Flag Description

Red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam note: until 2002 the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag

National Anthem

: undefined

Lyrics:

Note: adopted 1971; although Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, they were changed in 2002 following the transformation of Bahrain from an emirate to a kingdom

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Government Type

Constitutional monarchy

Capital

Name
Manama
Geographic Coordinates
26 14 N, 50 34 E
Time Difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Chief Of Mission
Ambassador Huda Azra Ibrahim NUNU
Chancery
3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone
[1] (202) 342-1111
FAX
[1] (202) 362-2192
Consulate(s) General
New York

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Chief Of Mission
Ambassador Thomas C. KRAJESKI
Embassy
Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama
Mailing Address
PSC 451, Box 660, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail
Telephone
[973] 1724-2700
FAX
[973] 1727-0547

International Organization Participation

ABEDA
AFESD
AMF
CICA
FAO
G-77
GCC
IAEA
IBRD
ICAO
ICC
ICRM
IDB
IFC
IFRCS
IHO
ILO
IMF
IMO
IMSO
Interpol
IOC
IOM (observer)
IPU

ISO
ITSO
ITU
ITUC
LAS
MIGA
NAM
OAPEC
OIC
OPCW
PCA
UN
UNCTAD
UNESCO
UNIDO
UNWTO
UPU
WCO
WFTU
WHO
WIPO
WMO
WTO

Bahrain