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Bahrain: Countries
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Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy under the constitution that came into force in 2002. The executive branch consists of the king, who is head of state, and an appointed prime minister and cabinet. The national legislature is the National Assembly, consisting of an appointed 40-member Consultative Council and an elected 40-member Chamber of Deputies. Members serve for a four-year term. Administratively, the country is divided into five municipalities.
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The official religion of Bahrain is Islam, which the majority of the population practices. However, due to an influx of immigrants and guest workers from non-Muslim countries, such as India, Philippines and Sri Lanka [35], the overall percentage of Muslims in the country has declined in recent years. According to the 2001 census, 80% of Bahrain's population was Muslim, 10% were Christian, and 10% practiced other religions.
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Bahrain ... has well-developed utilities and road networks. There are three major desalination plants and all tap water is desalinated. The whole country has direct access to electricity. The road network, under constant upgrade, connects all of the areas on the main island.
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Bahrain has a very progressive banking sector and the country is considered the banking center of the Middle East. Bahrain has embarked on a series of progressive economic and political reforms in recent years making them a model for economic development in the region.
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Bahrain is primarily a flat and arid desert land. The main island consists of a low desert plain that rises to a low central ridge where Bahrain’s highest point, Jabal ad Dukhan (134 m/440 ft), is located. The smaller islands, which include Al Muḩarraq, Umm an Na‘sān, Sitrah, Jiddah, and the Ḩawār Islands, are generally low-lying, some only a few feet above sea level. Parts of Manama are being expanded through land reclamation. Bahrain lacks rivers, lakes, and other permanent bodies of water. The country gets its water for drinking and irrigation from underground aquifers.
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In Q306, leading Bahrain telecoms service provider Batelco reduced rates of its ‘Internet Dedicated Access’ business by up to 40% for some packages, providing a boost to information society development in the Kingdom. A recent survey by the Arab Advisors Group revealed that Bahrain already has second highest penetration levels for Internet and telephony of all Arab countries, behind Qatar. Batelco's threeto- five year BHD21mn ‘Broadband Bahrain’ programme, providing national high-speed access to individuals and corporate users, may result in an increased uptake of broadband services, especially if it delivers on its promise of providing ‘affordable internet access’. However, the effects of the programme are unlikely to be felt in the short term and could expect to be felt post 2008. For overall Internet adoption, it is likely that steady upward growth will continue in the near term, with penetration reaching 30% by 2009.
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