In 2006, the Kingdom of Bahrain was a small island nation located in the Persian Gulf. Despite being a relatively wealthy country, there were still significant challenges facing Bahraini citizens in 2006. Poverty and unemployment were higher than average, with many people living below the poverty line. Education had improved over the years, but access to higher education was still limited for many people. According to constructmaterials, infrastructure had been developed throughout Bahrain, with new roads, bridges and other public works projects being constructed; however, much of the rural areas remained underdeveloped or inaccessible due to poor infrastructure and lack of resources. Furthermore, security threats from organized crime groups were a pressing issue in 2006 and there were increasing concerns about human rights violations throughout the country. Additionally, Bahrain faced significant political tensions due to its complicated relationship with nearby countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, citizens of Bahrain were hopeful that their country could continue to make progress towards a better future for its citizens.

Yearbook 2006

Bahrain. According to CountryAAH, major public holidays in Bahrain include Independence Day (December 16) and New Year (January 1). Bahrain’s Shiite opposition, which boycotted the parliamentary elections in 2002, won over 40% of parliamentary seats in the two rounds of elections in November and December. Of the 206 female candidates, only Latifa al-Qouhoud managed to get one of Parliament’s 40 seats. Shiam Muslim Jamiyat al-Wifaq al-Watany al-Islamiyya won 17 seats, among them the party’s leader Ali Salman. Two Islamist Sunni parties retained their 13 seats, including an independent Salafist. The other ten seats were distributed between liberals and independent candidates believed to be close to the Sunnis or the Sunni government. Voter turnout was just over 70% compared to just over 50% in 2002. The boycott in 2002 was based on dissatisfaction with the legislative power being shared with a council, the Shura, appointed by the King. He appointed a new council in December. Among the 40 members, ten women were noticed.

In June, female diplomat Haya Rashid al-Khalifa succeeded Foreign Minister Jan Eliasson as chairman of the UN General Assembly. As a lawyer, she has worked for women’s rights.

A crowded tourist boat sank off the Bahrain coast on March 30, demanding 58 lives.

BAHRAIN

After the discovery of oil (1932) Bahrain saw its population increase considerably, which in 1959 was 143,213 residents (including 800 whites, mostly oil company engineers and technicians). The capital, Manāmah, which stretches for almost 2.5 km along the northern coast. and is home to an important refinery, it has 61,837.

The oil (1,596,000 tons in 1957) is extracted by the Bahrain Petroleum Company, formed mainly by Canadian capital, which is affiliated with the US companies Standard Oil of California and Texas oil Co. The Manāmah refinery is capable of refining about 10 million tons of crude oil per year, 85% coming (via submarine pipeline) from Saudi Arabia. The refined oil is then sent both to az-Zahrān (adh-Dhahrān), where the long trans-Arabian oil pipeline begins, and offshore, where there are deep sea beds, by means of an oil pipeline (5 km).

The territorial waters with Saudi Arabia were delimited by a direct agreement in March 1958. NE of Bahrain, connected by a viaduct, is the city of al-Muharraq (30,000 residents), The seat of a small island. of the most important airports in the Near East. It is manned by an English garrison, which also guards the British and US base of Khor Khaliya. From 1926 to 1956 the local sultan took great advantage of the advice of Sir Charles Dalrymple Belgrave.