Ruler Of Bahrain
United Arab Emirates (11/04)
Administratively, the UAE is a loose federation of seven emirates, each with its own ruler. The pace at which local government in each emirate evolves from traditional to modern is set primarily by the ruler. Under the provisional constitution of 1971, each emirate reserves considerable powers, including control over mineral rights (notably oil) and revenues. In this milieu, federal powers have developed slowly. The constitution established the positions of President (Chief of State) and Vice President, each serving 5-year terms; a Council of Ministers , led by a Prime Minister (head of government); a supreme council of rulers; and a 40-member National Assembly, a consultative body whose members are appointed by the emirate rulers. ... [Read More]
Background Notes Archive - Near East and North Africa
U.S. Department of StateBackground Notes: Qatar, November 1997Released by the Bureau of Near Eastern AffairsOfficial Name: State of QatarPROFILEGeographyArea: 11,437 sq. km. (4,427 sq. mi.); about the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. Cities: Capital--Doha 313,600 (1992). Other Cities--Umm Said, Al-Khor, Dukhan, Ruwais.Terrain: Mostly desert, flat, barren.Climate: Hot and dry, sultry in summer.PeopleNationality: Noun and adjective--Qatari(s).Population: 550,000 (est.) 80% foreign workers.Population Growth Rate (1996 est): 2.39%.Ethnic Groups: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%.Religion: Islam (state religion, claimed by virtually all of the indigenous population).Languages: Arabic (official); English (widely spoken).Literacy: 79.4%--total population, 79.2%--male, 79.9%--female.Education: Compulsory--ages 6-16. Attendance--98%.Health: Infant Mortality Rate--20.4 deaths/1,000 live births. Life Expectancy At Birth--73.03 y ... [Read More]
Qatar (11/04)
The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program provides Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings, and Public Announcements. Consular Information Sheets exist for all countries and include information on entry requirements, currency regulations, health conditions, areas of instability, crime and security, political disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. posts in the country. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Public Announcements are issued as a means to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions overseas that pose significant risks to the security of American travelers. Free copies of this information are available by calling the Bureau of Consular Affairs at 202-647-5225 or via the fax-on-demand system: 202-647-3000. Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings also are available on the Consular Affairs Int ... [Read More]
Background Notes Archive - Near East and North Africa
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE BACKGROUND NOTES: UNITED ARAB EMIRATESJuly 1991Official Name: United Arab EmiratesPROFILEPeopleNationality: Noun and adjective--UAE, Emirian, or Emiri. Population (1990 est.): 1.8 million. Annual growth rate: 2.8%. Ethnic groups: Arab, Pakistani, Indian, Iranian, Filipino (15-20% of residents are UAE citizens). Religions: Muslim (90%), Hindu, Christian. Languages: Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Urdu, Persian. Education: Years compulsory--ages 6-12. Literacy (UAE citizens)--about 60%. Life expectancy: About 63 yrs. Work force (1990) 650,000 (90% foreign): Agriculture--6%. Industry and commerce--65%. Services--16%. Government--13%.GeographyArea: 82,880 sq. km. (30,000 sq. mi.); about the size of Maine. Cities (1990 est.): Capital--Abu Dhabi (pop. over 500,000); Dubai (pop. over 400,000). Terrain: Largely desert with some agricultural areas. Climate: Hot, humid, low annual rainfall.GovernmentType: Federation of emirates. Independe ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
One customarily greets the clergy or member of the royal family with the title of Shaikh (for a man) or Shaikha (for a woman). For instance, Mohammed bin Rashid al-Khalifa would be addressed as Shaikh Mohammed or Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Khalifa. Nicknames, formal and informal are common. Abu means “father of” when it is used before the given name of the oldest son. For example Abu Mohammed is the father of Mohammed. Bin and ibn both mean “son of.” So, bin Khuldoon is the son of Khuldoon. Informal nicknames used among friends are often adapted forms of a person’s given name: Aboud for Abdulla, Hamoud for Mohammed, Fatoum for Fatima, Abbasi for Abbas, Salmano for Salman, and so on. ... [Read More]
Background Notes Archive - Near East and North Africa
U.S. Department of StateBackground Notes: Bahrain, October 1996Bureau of Public AffairsOfficial Name: State of BahrainPROFILEGeographyArea: 693 sq. km. (268 sq. mi.); about four times the size of Washington, DC. Bahrain is an archipelago consisting of 33 islands, only six of them inhabited.Cities: Capital--Manama (pop. 145,000--1993 est.). Other city--Al Muharraq (81,000--1993 est.).Terrain: Low interior plateau and hill on main island.Climate: Hot and humid from May-September, temperate from October-April.PeopleNationality: Noun and adjective--Bahraini(s).Population (1996 est.): 586,000; 66% indigenous.Ethnic groups: Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%.Religions: Shi'a and Sunni Muslim.Languages: Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu.Education: Attendance--73%. Literacy (1990 est.)--77% (male 82%, female 69%).Work force (1987 est.): 197,000 (about 44% indigenous, 56% expatriate). Industry and commerce--74%. Services--19%. Agriculture--4%. Government--3% ... [Read More]
Bahrain
The elected worker representatives of the JLC's select the 11 members of the General Committee of Bahrain workers (GCBW), which was established by law in 1983, and which oversees and coordinates the work of the JLC's. The GCBW also hears complaints from citizen and foreign workers and helps them bring their complaints to the attention of the Ministry of Labor or the courts. Representatives to the GCBW are elected to 3-year terms, and have included workers from a variety of occupations, including Sunni and Shi'a Muslims, foreign workers, and one woman. Although the Government and company management are not represented on the GCBW, the Ministry of Labor closely monitors the body's activities and a Ministry representative attends and supervises GCBW general meetings. The Ministry approves the GCBW's rules and the distribution of the GCBW's funds. Some senior JLC and GCBW officials have been harassed. The JLC/GCBW system represents nearly 70 percent of the country's native industrial worke ... [Read More]
Background Notes: Bahrain
Background Notes: BahrainPA/PCSource: Office of Public Communication, Bureau of Public AffairsDate: Nov 28, 199111/28/91Category: Country DataRegion: MidEast/North AfricaCountry: BahrainSubject: Military Affairs, Cultural Exchange, Travel, History, International Organizations, Trade/Economics[TEXT]Official Name: State of BahrainPROFILEGeographyArea: 693 sq. km. (268 sq. mi.); about four times the size ofWashington, DC. Bahrain is an archipelago consisting of 33 islands,only 5 of them inhabited. Cities: Capital--Manama (pop. 122,000--1985 est.). Other city--Al Muharraq. ... [Read More]
Bahrain
The Government imposed some restrictions on the freedoms of speech and the press, and restricted freedoms of assembly and association. These restrictions increased during the first half of the year. The founding of the country's first independent newspaper in September marked an improvement for freedom of the press. The Government also imposed some limits on freedom of religion and freedom of movement. In July the Government registered the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, the country's second human rights NGO. Violence against women and discrimination based on sex, religion, and ethnicity remained problems. The promulgation in September of a law on unions, which gave workers for the first time the right to organize and bargain collectively, was a significant improvement in the rights of workers. This and other legislation also improved the legal status of foreign workers. Abuse of foreign workers occurred, including numerous instances of forced labor and some instances of trafficking. ... [Read More]
Bahrain (11/04)
The first Gulf state to discover oil, Bahrain has worked to diversify its economy over the past decade. Bahrain has stabilized its oil production at about 40,000 barrels per day (b/d), and reserves are expected to last 10-15 years. Revenues from oil and natural gas currently account for 16.5% of GDP and provide about 60% of government income. The Bahrain Oil Company refinery built in 1935, the first in the Gulf, has a capacity of about 250,000 b/d. Since 1980, 60% of the refinery has been owned by the Bahrain National Oil Company and 40% by the U.S. company Caltex. Saudi Arabia provides most of the crude for refinery operation via pipeline. Through an agreement with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain also receives a large portion of the net output and revenues from Saudi Arabia's Abu Saafa offshore oilfield. The Bahrain National Gas Company operates a gas liquefaction plant that utilizes gas piped directly from Bahrain's oilfields. Gas reserves should last about 50 years at present rates of c ... [Read More]
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