Time in Bahrain (Asia)
What is the Current Local Time in Bahrain Now
The Analog Clock seen above shows the current local time in Bahrain which is
in the continent of Asia. Bahrain
is in the group of Arabian countries and thus the Bahrain Standard Time is
infact called the AST or Arabian Standard Time. The time zone of Bahrain is
UTC+3:00 hours or the local time in Bahamas is always 3:00 hours ahead of the
Universal Coordinated Time or UTC originally called as the Greenwich Mean Time
or GMT. GMT is now a days considered as just another time zone. At this time
Bahrain does not use DST or Daylight Saving Time and therefore the clock will
show the current local time throughout the year with any changes.
About Bahrain at this Time
At this time Bahrain is located in the Arabian Peninsula. At this time the
Capital of Bahrain is Manama which is located in coordinates 26o 13' N,
50o 35' E. Bahrain is consisting of about 30 islands. Officially the
Kingdom of Bahrain is actually an Island country. Bahrain is located near the
West shores of the Persian Gulf in the Middle East. The largest land mass is
Bahrain Island. At this time Bahrain is the third smallest nation in Asia after
Maldives and Singapore.
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Bahrain - History of Independence
Till the 19th century the Bahrain peral fisheries were considered as the best
in the world. Bahrain is the site where the Dilmun Civilisation flourished in
the early time. Bahrain was occupied by the Portuguese in 1521 who got expelled
by the Shah Abbas of the Safavid Dynasty under the Persian empire in 1602 and in
1783 the Bani Utbah clan caputred Bahrain and was since ruled by the Al Khalifa
royal family. The British Bahrain came in the late 1800s with a treaty with
Britain as a Protectorate of the United Kingdom. On 14 Aug 1971 Bahrain declared
independence from the United Kingdom. Originally a state, till 2001, Barhain was
declared a Kingdom in the year 2002.
Area and Population at this Time in Bahrain
The total area of Bahrain at this time is 765 square kilometers standing at
173rd position in the world areawise, Bahrain at this time has hardly
any area covered by water. The population of Bahrain at this time in 2016 is
estimated at 1,378,000 people making it stand at 155th position in the world
population wise. In 2010 the population was estabilished by Census as 1,234,571
giving a population density of 1,626 people per square kilometers which is very
high and that makes Bahrain stand at 155th position in the world in population
density wise. The Bahrain calling Code is +973, ISO 316 Code is BH and Internet
TLD is .bh at this time.
Ethnic Groups at this Time in Bahrain
Over a short time Bahrain has developed a diverse set of ethnic groups. Out
of the 1.3 million people residing at this time in Bahrain about 51% Arabs
and only 46% Bahraini people out of which 45.5% are South Asian, 1.6% are
African, 1% European and 1.2% people are from the rest parts of the world.
GDP and Currency at this time in Bahrain
At this time in Bahrain, the GDP(PPP) estimated in 2015 is US Dollar 36,393
billion thus bringing Bahamas at this time to the 96th position in the world
with a per capita standing at 31st position with US Dollar 29,789. The
GDP(Nominal) estimated in 2015 is US Dollar 29,598 billion making Bahamas stand
at 98th position in the world with a per capita of US Dollar 24,228. At this
time in Bahrain the currency in use is Bahraini Dinar or BHD. But thanks to
tourism industry, US Dollars are accepted widely.
Climate at this Time in Bahrain
At this time in Bahrain, the climate in summers are very hot because the seas
surrounding Bahrain are very shallow making the sea and get heated up quickly in
the summers evaporating sea water making Bahrain very humid. Summer temperatures
could reach up to 50o C or 122o F under some conditions.
There is hardly any rainfall in Bahrain which also is irregular in nature.
Rainfall happens mostly in Winters with a recorded maximum rainfall of just 7.2
cm or 2.8 inches in a year. At this time Bahrain gets winds directed towards it
from the Zagros Mountains across the persian Gulf in Iran. These Northwesterly
winds are locally called Shamal wind that causes dust storms from the Saudi
Arabia and Iraq to be transported to Bahrain reducing visibility in the months
of Jun and July. The average high temperature in a year may be 30o C
or 86 deg F and the average yearly low temperature is just about 23 deg C or
73.4 deg F.
Tourism at this Time in Bahrain
At this time in Bahrain, tourism is a big industry that has drawn over eight
million visitors in the year 2008 and has since been growing. Most tourists come
from the nearby Arab states although a considerable increase in the number of
tourists has been witnessed from the outside world. This is particularly true
due to the existance of Bahrain International F1 Circuit where the first race
was held in 2004. The circuit had the Bahrain Grand Prix which is a Formula One
Championship race in Bahrain which is sponsored at that time by Gulf Air. The
other tourist attraction at this time in Bahrain is thanks to the growing
awareness of the Kindgoms 's heritage which combines modern Arab culture and the
archaeological legacy of the past 5000 years of Civilization. The island is home
to many forts including the Qalat Al Bahrain which has been listed by UNESCO as
a World Heritage Site. Then there is the Bahrain National Museum which has
artefacts from the country's history which dates back to 9000 years. There is Al
Khamis Mosque which the oldest mosque in the region, the Arad Fort in Muharraq,
Babar temple which is an ancient temple from the Dilmunite period of the
Bahrain. Amazingly a 400 year old Tree called the Tree of Life growin in the
Sakhir desert with no nearby water is a great tourist puller. Tourists can also
enjoy Bird watching in Hawar Islands, Scuba diving, Horse riding etc at this
time in Bahrain.
Bahrain Spring Culture
Starting from 2005, every year the country of Bahrain hosts a festeval in the
month of March called the Spring of Culture which has participation by renowned
musicians and artists performing in concerts. In fact, Manama, the capital of
Bharain was termed as the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2013 by the Arab League.
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Government at this Time in Bahrain
At this time in Bahrain has a Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
with a King, Crown Prince and a Prime Minister. The legislature is called the
National Assembly which has an Upper House called the Consultative Council and a
Lower House called the Council of Representatives. The King has the executive
powers to appoint the Prime Minister and his Ministers. The King also commands
the Army and even chairs the Higher Judicial Council. The also appoints the
Parliament Upper half and can also dissolve the elected lower half. The head of
the government is the Unelected Prime Minister. Thus Bahrain has a Bicameral
National Assembly which consists of Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura) with 40
seats and also has a 40 member Council of Representatves (Majlis Al-Nuwab). The
members of the Shura are appointed by the King and the Council of
Representatives 40 members are elected by abvolute majority vote in single
member constitutencies ot serve a 4 year term.
Powers of Government at this time in Bahrain
At this time in Bahrain the appointed council can exercise a de facto veto
over the elected members because the draft acts needs to be approved for passing
them as law. The King will ratify the approved act or may return it within six
months to the National Assembly which can now be passed into a law only if
approved by two thirds of both councils.
Military at this time in Bahrain
At this time in Bahrain, there is a Bahrain Defence Force or BDF with about
13000 personnel. The King is the supreme commander of the BDF and the Crown
Prince is the deputy supreme commander of the BDF. Most equipment are US made
like F16 fighter jets, F5, UH60 helicopters, M60A3 tanks USS Jack Williams and
Oliver Hazard Perry class Frigate etc., because Bahrain Government has close
relations with US having signed a cooperative agreement on Military. Amazingly,
at this time the Bahrain government has good diplomatic relationship with at
least 198 countries in the world and has at least 36 embassies world over at
this time.
Why is it Named Bahrain?
Bahrayn in Arabic is the dual form of bahr or Sea and thus al-Bahrayn means the two seas. At this time people consider the two seas as the sea to the west and the sea to the east of the Bahrain Island. In the areas of Sea north of Bahrain fresh water bubbles up in the middle of the salt water. But untill the late Middle Ages, The Bahrain was referred as the region of Eastern Arabia. For over a thousand years the Eastern coastal strip of Arabia was known as Bahrain. But when did people started calling the Archipalago of Awal as Bahrain is not known. Till 1950's the island country was called Bahrein and thereafter became Bahrain.