The Kingdom of Bahrain is a small island country set in the Persian Gulf.  Located just east of Saudi Arabia and north west of Qatar, there are a million reasons to visit.  Start with experiencing the thrill of a V8 Supercar race and then take in the rich culture amid an Arabian backdrop.  Known as the “Kingdom of the Two Seas”, Bahrain offers visitors a unique look into a fascinating culture.

The Race

Enjoy racing?  Then Bahrain is the ideal country to visit.  As one of the first Arabian countries to host the Gulf Air Grand Prix, Bahrainians have demonstrated their love of racing.  They have also embraced the Australian V8 Supercar sport.  Bahrain is home to The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) and has hosted the Desert 400, a marquee event of the V8 Supercar racing season.

The History

There is no doubt that the rich history of this small island nation has a tremendous impact on its culture today.  The influence of the Assyrians, Babylonians and Persian can be seen as can the impact of the Portuguese.  Especially important to the history is the introduction of Islam and the rise in power of the Bami Utbah of whom the current ruler is a family member.  After all, King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah has made sweeping changes, including giving women the right to vote.

Culture

Perhaps as a result of King Al Khalifah´s progressive leanings, Bahrain has managed to embrace their rich culture within a modern infrastructure.  In fact, Bahrain is often referred to as the “Middle East Lite” for this very reason.  Evidence of this includes a middle class whose success is not dependent on oil.  Even things like books are wide spread here.  In 2005, there were 132 books published for 700,000 people.  That might not seem like much until it is compared to the seven books published for one million in the rest of the Arab world.

Religion

The official religion of Bahrain is Islam and this is reflected in the 81.2 percent Muslim population.  However, unlike many other Islamic countries, Bahrain is fairly tolerant of other religions.  In fact, 9 percent of the population is Christian and 9.8 percent are Hindu or other religions.  It is very possible to walk down the streets of Bahrain and see a Buddhist temple or a Christian church.

Population

Religious tolerance and a prosperous middle class may explain the diverse backgrounds of people who make Bahrain their home.  Of course, the majority are ethnically Arab, but there is a considerable population that has originated from southeast Asia.  The largest foreign community is made up of 290,000 Indians.  As a result, while Arabic is the official language, English has become widely spoken.  This makes it easy for an English speaking visitor to find a friendly face willing to help direct them.

So consider Bahrain the next time vacation plans need to be made.  See a thrilling race and experience the culture steeped in a rich Arabian history.  The tolerant religious freedom and the diverse population will make most visitors feel right at home.  Plus, Bahrain is filled with friendly people who not only speak Arabic but English as well.  It would be impossible to visit Bahrain and not treasure the experience.