The monarchy (emirate) of Bahrain consists of a group of islands in the Persian Gulf between the peninsula of Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Area: 694 sq km (268 sq mi). Pop. (1996 est.): 598,000. Cap.: Manama. Monetary unit: Bahrain dinar, with (Oct. 11, 1996) an official rate of 0.38 dinar to U.S. $1 (0.59 dinar = £ 1 sterling). Emir in 1996, Isa ibn Sulman al-Khalifah; prime minister, Khalifah ibn Sulman al-Khalifah.
Antigovernment violence and civil unrest by Shi’ite Muslims continued to ravage Bahrain in 1996. The Shi’ites were seeking restoration of the legislature, dissolved in 1975, and jobs for their unemployed. Shi’ites comprised about 70% of Bahrain’s population, while the ruling al-Khalifah family belonged to the Sunnite sect.
Relations between Bahrain and the neighbouring country of Qatar were strained because of a dispute over ownership of the Hawar Islands, presumed to have gas reserves. Although the dispute was taken to the International Court of Justice, Bahrain indicated that it might refuse a solution by the court. Instead, it favoured mediation by friendly Gulf countries, primarily Saudi Arabia.
This article updates Bahrain, history of.