- Country name
- conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
local short form: Al Bahrayn
former: Dilmun, Tylos, Awal, Mishmahig, Bahrayn, State of Bahrain
etymology: the name means "the two seas" in Arabic and refers to the water bodies on each side of the archipelago - Government type
- constitutional monarchy
- Capital
- name: Manama
geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: name derives from the Arabic word al-manama, meaning "place of rest" or "place of dreams" - Administrative divisions
- 4 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Asimah (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern)
- Legal system
- mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law
- Constitution
- history: previous 1973; latest adopted 14 February 2002, entry into force 14 February 2002
amendment process: proposed by the king or by at least 15 members of either chamber of the National Assembly followed by submission to an Assembly committee for review and, if approved, submitted to the government for restatement as drafts; passage requires a two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both chambers and validation by the king; constitutional articles on the state religion (Islam), state language (Arabic), and the monarchy and "inherited rule" cannot be amended - International law organization participation
- has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
- Citizenship
- citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Bahrain
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 25 years; 15 years for Arab nationals - Suffrage
- 20 years of age; universal
- Executive branch
- chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (since 11 November 2020)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch - Legislative branch
- legislature name: National Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Watani)
legislative structure: bicameral - Legislative branch - lower chamber
- chamber name: Council of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab)
number of seats: 40 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 11/12/2022 to 11/19/2022
percentage of women in chamber: 20%
expected date of next election: November 2026 - Legislative branch - upper chamber
- chamber name: Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura)
number of seats: 40 (all appointed)
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 11/27/2022
percentage of women in chamber: 25%
expected date of next election: November 2026 - Judicial branch
- highest court(s): Court of Cassation (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointments by royal decree for a specified tenure
subordinate courts: Civil High Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; High Sharia Court of Appeal; Senior Sharia Court; Administrative Courts of Appeal; military courts - Political parties
- note: political parties are prohibited, but political societies were legalized under a July 2005 law
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulla bin Rashed AL KHALIFA (since 21 July 2017)
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111
FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
email address and website: ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.orghttps://www.mofa.gov.bh/Default.aspx?language=en-US&tabid=7702
consulate(s) general: New York - Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Stephanie HALLETT (since 19 December 2025); Chargé d’Affaires Elizabeth A. LITCHFIELD
embassy: Building 979, Road 3119, Block 331, Zinj District, P.O. Box 26431, Manama
mailing address: 6210 Manama Place, Washington DC 20521-6210
telephone: [973] 17-242700
FAX: [973] 17-272594
email address and website: ManamaConsular@state.govhttps://bh.usembassy.gov/ - International organization participation
- ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
- Independence
- 15 August 1971 (from the UK)
- National holiday
- National Day, 16 December (1971)
- Flag
- description: red, with a white serrated band of five white points on the left sidemeaning: red is the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states; the five points represent the five pillars of Islamhistory: until 2002, the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag
- National symbol(s)
- a white serrated band with five white points on top of a red field
- National color(s)
- red, white
- National anthem(s)
- title: "Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)
lyrics/music: unknown
history: adopted 1971; Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, but they were changed in 2002 after Bahrain became a kingdom - National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Dilmun Burial Mounds; Qal'at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbor and Capital of Dilmun; Bahrain Pearling Path