Kingdom of Bahrain

Bahrain is a constitutional kingdom in the heart of the Arabian Gulf, west of the Asian continent, distinguished by a long history and a rich civilisation of more than five thousand years. The system of government in Bahrain is a hereditary constitutional monarchy, founded on democracy, the rule of law and the separation of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, within an advanced parliamentary experience, independent judicial and human rights institutions, an active civil society, and advanced press and media freedoms, in a framework of respect for human dignity.

Despite its limited natural resources, Bahrain has been able, through the best use of its human resources and its strategic geographic location, to achieve a substantial economic, developmental and urban leap, and pioneering achievements in entrenching human rights, human and social development, and strengthening peaceful coexistence among all religions, sects, civilisations and cultures.

The Kingdom of Bahrain marks its National Day and the accession of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on 16 and 17 December each year, in national celebrations that review the developmental and civilisational achievements made since independence in 1971, the entrenchment of its unity and its Arab identity as an independent sovereign state, its accession that year to the United Nations and the League of Arab States, and its part in founding the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf in 1981.

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa assumed the reins of government in 1999 and undertook reform initiatives under which Bahrain was declared a constitutional kingdom within a state of law and institutions, achieving gains in economic and social development in accordance with the constitution and Economic Vision 2030.