Bahrain           Introduction        

Background:         Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Possessing minimal oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining, and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir is pushing economic and political reforms, and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In 2001, the International Court of Justice awarded the Hawar Islands, long disputed with Qatar, to Bahrain.

Bahrain           Geography          

Location:         Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:        26 00 N, 50 33 E

Map references:         Middle East

Area: total:  620 sq km

land:  620 sq km

water:  0 sq km

Area - comparative:        3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:         0 km

Coastline:         161 km