Bahrain flag

Bahrain

History

The Al Khalifa took Bahrain from Persian control and have ruled since.
Declared independence marked a key step in Bahrain's path toward modern sovereignty.
Bahrain became independent from United Kingdom, marking a key step in modern statehood.
The Kingdom of Bahrain emerged, giving the area a defined monarchical state structure.
Asia thumbnailPart ofAsiaMore countries, cities and routes.
CapitalManama
Population1.6M
Area765 km2
CurrencyBahraini dinar

Short facts

RegionWestern Asia / Middle East / Arabian Gulf
LanguageArabic
Time zoneAST (UTC+3)
Drives onRight

Worth seeing

  • Bahrain Fort: UNESCO-listed ancient Dilmun civilization fortress with 4,000 years of history.
  • Formula 1 Grand Prix: Bahrain hosts the season-opening F1 night race at Sakhir Circuit.
  • Manama Souq: Labyrinthine gold, spice, and pearl market in the old quarter.

Find a city in Bahrain

Showing all cities

Manama thumbnailManamaCity

Planning questions

What is Bahrain known for?Bahrain Fort, Formula 1 Grand Prix, Manama Souq.
What is the capital?Manama.
Which language is useful?Arabic.
When is the national day?16 December.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Bahrain National Day thumbnailBahrain National Day16 December 2026 — Across Bahrain — Bahrain

Use Manama as the first planning anchor for Bahrain, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Kebab thumbnailKebabSignature dishTea thumbnailTeaLocal drink

Known for

Bahrain FortFormula 1 Grand PrixManama SouqManamaKebabTea
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