this is Bahrain hello and welcome to open Tiara today we'll be exploring the fascinating Kingdom of Bahrain did you know Bahrain was once home to the ancient dilman civilization and later a key trading Hub of the Persian Gulf also over 85% of the population lives in cities stay tuned to uncover more intriguing facts about this gulf island nation the Kingdom of Bahrain is a small island nation in the Persian Gulf that has been an important trade Hub and political power center for centuries Bahrain was originally the site of ancient dilmun one of the great early civilizations of the Middle East which thrived from around 3,000 BC to 500 BC as an important trading center the dilman civilization was very prosperous and had extensive trade contacts linking Mesopotamia with the Indus Valley later Bahrain came under the influence of powerful neighboring Empires including the Assyrians Babylonians Greeks and Persians by the 3rd Century BC Bahrain was absorbed into the Patheon Empire and then came under sassin control from the 3rd to 7th Century ad its location made it a key node in trade networks at the time Islam reached Bahrain at around 629 ad and it adopted the new religion relatively early compared to other Persian Gulf States as Islam spread Bahrain was ruled by the umayyad caliphate from modern-day Syria and later by Abbasid calips based in Baghdad from the mid-5th century onward the Portuguese dominated areas of the gulf including Bahrain and challenged traditional Arab control of trade Roots this stimulated bahrain's Pearl diving industry by the 1700s Bahrain had become the gulf's preeminent trade Hub boasting over 1,000 ships trading across multiple empires in the late 18th century Bahrain was captured by tribes from Central Arabia allowing the AL Khalifa family to seize the throne they established a hereditary Dynasty that still rules Bahrain today under their rule Bahrain signed early trade agreements with Britain and became a protectorate the discovery of oil in 1932 transformed bahrain's economy and politics reforms after Independence in 1971 brought modernization however tensions between the Sunni monarchy and the majority Shia population have caused instability at times currently Bahrain remains an important financial and Trade Center in the Gulf Bahrain is a small archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and 33 surrounding islands situated off the coast of Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf its total land area is about 765 Square km making it one of the smallest countries in the Arab world Bahrain Island accounts for over 80% of the country's land mass Bahrain has over 20 km of Coastline carved with Coastal Flats ridges sandy beaches and Bays the interior consists of low desert Plains Rising gently to a low Central escarpment reaching the country's highest point at Mountain of smoke Rising 134 M about 85% of bahrain's population lives in urban areas concentrated in the north of Bahrain Island which is more hospitable than the the central or Southern regions Manama is the capital and largest city other major Urban centers include alarak alifa al- minaka Al garia and sitra bahrain's total population is roughly 1.4 million ethnically about half of bahrain's population are bahala the indigenous Shia Muslims of bahin another quarter of the population are Arab sunnis mainly descended from the original tribes that invaded and conquered the islands in the late 18th century there are also some people of Persian descent foreign expat workers make up a sizable portion of the population as well religiously Bahrain is predominantly Muslim with roughly 70% following Shia Islam and around 29% adhering to Sunni Islam the Sunni minority are still influential politically and economically under the rule of the Sunni Al Khalifa monarchy there are also small Christian and Hindu minorities comprising less than 1% the official language of Bahrain is Arabic spoken by 95% of Bahrain as their mother tongue however English is widely used as a bridge language especially in business and trade Bahrain has undergone an economic transformation from a historical Reliance on agriculture and pearl diving to an economy now centered around banking financial services and oil though Bahrain is not a major Global oil and gas producer the energy sector still accounts for roughly 75% of government revenues and over a third of GDP however oil res reserves are declining which has pushed Bahrain to diversify its economy Bahrain has firmly established itself as a regional Financial Hub with a thriving banking sector accounting for over 18% of GDP the country hosts over 400 financial institutions and international firms due to its economic stability business-friendly policies and openness to foreign ownership additional well-developed sectors include Transportation construction manufacturing tourism and ICT Bahrain is rising as a strategic Regional Logistics Hub and gateway to the gulf with its Khalifa Port Mega project moving forward Bahrain does face challenges related to unemployment and reducing dependencies on oil revenues but the Kingdom's investments in infrastructure backed by close ties with other other Gulf economies look set to support sustained economic growth and diversity into the future Bahrain offers visitors a unique blend of historical sites cultural attractions natural scenery and modern entertainment the Bahrain National Museum provides an outstanding overview of the nation's history showcasing artifacts from ancient dilman and the Pearl diving era the impressive Alat gr mosque features the largest fiberglass dome in the world and dazzling Islamic architecture outside the city tourists can explore attractions like the Tree of Life a lone mosquite tree standing in the desert that has mystified scientists by its unlikely survival the Hawa islands are home to vibrant coral reefs diverse bird life and ancient settlements situated off bahrain's southern coast the famous amwaj Islands developed from bahrain's land reclamation projects now contain upscale residences hotels beaches and Leisure facilities attracting visitors in the capital Manama the goldplated monument at the bab Al Bahrain forms an iconic landmark and the historic Old City offers handicraft textile and food shops in traditional Market sus modern high-rises shopping malls and the financial Harbor also showcase bahrain's current wealth and ambition with a thriving cultural scene Formula 1 racing and natural scenery Bahrain provides appealing tourism experiences melding history with contemporary Gulf opulence and Leisure the cuisine of Bahrain is Rich and flavorful blending Arabic influences with flavors from across the Middle East and Asia it reflects the small island nation's history as a trading Hub Central to Bahraini Cuisine are dishes featuring Seafood from the surrounding Waters of the Persian Gulf meat from camel and lamb and spices such as saffron and cardamom some key ingredients used include whole wheat flour pearl onions dates buttermilk and fresh local fish meal often begin with a wide variety of hot and cold Mesi appetizers hummus stuffed grape leaves and mixed salads a popular breakfast dish is balalit a sweet saffron infused vermicelli served with egg and cinnamon main courses Encompass both meat and seafood popular meat dishes are marinated roast lamb and stuffed camel Delicacies on the coast The Catch of the Day is grilled or baked and paired with basmati rice or spiced Gulf prawns and fish are carried in a rich gravy called macbo there is a weekend tradition of mass baking using underground ovens producing fresh tanor bread best served hot from the oven and dipped in spiced olive oil sweets hold strong cultural importance in Bahrain and local desserts like halwa jelly use rose water and cardamom While others are filled with dates pistachios or walnuts meals are commonly served in a tala a large platter on which various bowls of food are artistically arranged for sharing the cuisine also has strong influences from other culinary Traditions including Indian Persian lentine African and Southeast Asian Foods adapted with a unique Bahraini twist with this blend of cultures and flavors dining in Bahrain offers an exciting mange of Cuisine to discover if you enjoyed this video on Bahrain you'll love this next one