Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 157,000 people. Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population. After periods of Portuguese and Persian control and invasions from the ruling dynasties of Saudi Arabia and Oman, Bahrain established itself as an independent nation during the 19th century period of British hegemony.
Bahrain International Airport is the international airport of Bahrain, located in Muharraq, an island about 7 km (4.3 mi) northeast of the capital Manama. It serves as the hub for the national carrier Gulf Air. The airport is currently undergoing a $1.1 billion expansion that will boost the airport's passenger capacity to 14 million per year by 2019.
Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, or Al-Wefaq for short, is a Bahraini political party. Although from 2006 to 2011 it was by far the single largest party in the Bahraini legislature, with 18 representatives in the 40-member Bahraini parliament, it was often outvoted by coalition blocs of opposition Sunni parties and independent MPs reflecting gerrymandering of electoral districts. On 27 February 2011, the 18 Al-Wefaq members of parliament submitted letters of resignation to protest regime violence against pro-reform Bahraini protestors.
Sheikh Mohammed Khalid Ibrahim is a Bahraini Islamist politician and a member of the Al-Menbar Islamic Society in Bahrain. He was an MP in the lower house of the Bahraini parliament, having been elected in the 2002 Bahrain parliamentary elections representing a constituency from the Northern Governorate. Khalid is a known outspoken critic of the Bahraini government over conservative issues such as the selling of alcohol.
The Bahraini Premier League is the main football competition in Bahrain. The first season was held in 1957. The winners of the domestic championship qualify for the AFC Cup. The championship is currently contested by 10 clubs.
Al-Muharraq Sports Club is a Bahraini football club based in Muharraq. It is one of the oldest sports club in the Arabian Peninsula Region. Al-Muharraq Sports Club has won the Bahraini Football Premier League 34 times. Al-Muharraq Sports Club also takes part in other sports than football like Basketball and Volleyball. Historically, Al-Muharraq Sports Club football team resembles most of Bahrain national football team. Muharruq is the one of the biggest clubs in Bahrain football history if not the biggest. Muharruq Also Won the crown prince cup 5 times Making them the most team winning it. Muharruq won the Bahrain King Cup 32 times the second most team who have won it is Al Ahli they won it 8 times.
Al-Ahli Club of Manama is a Bahraini sports club based in the capital city of Manama. They used to play in the top division in Bahraini football but were relegated to the second division after finishing ninth in the 2011–12 First Division league. The club also fields players in other sports such as basketball, handball, and volleyball. Their home stadium is Al Ahli Stadium, although like all other teams in Bahrain they mainly play on Bahrain National Stadium.
Al Muharraq Stadium is a multi-use stadium situated in Arad, Bahrain. It is used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Muharraq Club. The stadium holds 10,000 people.
Women candidates of the 2006 Bahrain election, which took place on the November 25, 2006 were reported to have received numerous threats from Islamic salafist and other factions to prevent them taking part. In all, eighteen female candidates of various political stances and views took part after recent changes to the political system in 2001 allowed women to not only become candidates, but also gave them the right to vote.
The Al Bander report refers to a political conspiracy by government officials in Bahrain to foment sectarian strife and marginalize the majority Shia community in the country. The conspiracy was led and financed by Ahmed bin Ateyatalla Al Khalifa, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and head of the Civil Informatics Organization and member of the Al Khalifa royal family. The allegations were revealed in September 2006, in a 240-page document produced by the Gulf Centre for Democratic Development, and authored by Dr Salah Al Bandar, an adviser to the Cabinet Affairs Ministry. Following the distribution of the report, Bahraini police forcibly deported Dr Al Bandar to the United Kingdom, where he holds citizenship.
There are four Governorates in Bahrain; the Capital, Northern, Southern and Muharraq. There had previously been five until September 2014, when the Central Governorate was abolished.
A variety of sports in Bahrain are popular and widespread. Association football is the most popular sport in the country. Other traditionally-popular sports include basketball, volleyball and handball. Sports such as horse racing, mixed martial arts and rugby union have gained popularity over the past few decades.
Halat Bu Maher is a neighbourhood of Muharraq, Bahrain. It used to be a separate island, but after coastal expansion and dredging, the island has merged with Muharraq Island, and the former settlement has become a neighbourhood of Muharraq city. The neighbourhood is sometimes abbreviated to simply "Al Hala". The neighborhood lies on the southern tip of Muharraq city.
The sport of football in the country of Bahrain is run by the Bahrain Football Association, and is by far, the most popular sport in the country.
The 2011–12 Bahrain First Division League is the 55th edition of top level football in Bahrain. Al-Muharraq are the defending champions. The season started on 1 December after numerous postponements to the original fixture list and finished on 4 June with the relegation/promotion playoff match.
The Bahrain Pearling Trail or Bahrain Pearling Pathway is a serial cultural heritage site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012. It consists of three oyster beds in the Bahrain northern waters, a segment of the coast and the seafront Bu Mahir fortress in the southern tip of Muharraq Island, and 17 buildings in Muharraq historical town connected by a 3.5 km visitor pathway. The Site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on June 30, 2012, and is Bahrain's second World Heritage Site after the Bahrain Fort. Though the Site was inscribed under the label: "Pearling, testimony of an island economy" by the Bahrain Ministry of Culture, the international media has consistently referred to it as the "Bahrain pearling trail".
General elections were held in Bahrain on 22 November 2014, with a second round on 29 November in constituencies where no candidate received at least 50% of the vote. The elections were boycotted by the Shiite Islamist opposition. The government announced the voter turnout as 52.6%, although the opposition claimed it was only 30%.
General elections were held in Bahrain on 24 November 2018, with a second round in some constituencies on 1 December. Considered to be sham elections, they followed a crackdown on dissent that included prohibiting members of dissolved opposition groups from running.
