Page 3 - Eloquence 2017

HRH Prince Khalifa Bin Salman His Majesty HRH Prince Salman Bin Hamad
Al Khalifa King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa Al Khalifa
The Prime Miniuster Kingdom of Bahrain Crown Prince & Deputy Supreme
Commander of Bahrain Defense Force
Kingdom of Bahrain
KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Bahrain has been one of the Gulf’s most im- In particular, our country has become the re-
portant commercial crossroads for over 4,000 gion’s leading financial center since the 1980s.
years. Since then manufacturing, logistics, communi-
cations, professional services and real estate
The word Bahrain means ‘two seas’ in Arabic, have also become important sectors. Through-
indicating how the country’s geographic position out this period, we have taken great care to
as a collection of islands has been important build up the skills and talents of the Bahraini
throughout its history. people.

As the land of the ancient Dilmun civilization, In 2002, Bahrain became a constitutional mon-
Bahrain has long been a trading Centre linking archy, and a democratically elected parliament
east and west. The country has benefited from was established. This marked the beginning of
its position at the center of the Gulf’s trade a period of on-going reform. The country also
routes and rich pearl diving industry. has an established legal framework and re-
spected regulatory system.
By the mid-19th century, the country was the
Gulf’s pre-eminent trade hub, emerging as a Manama is the capital of Bahrain and also its
modern state. Merchants from countries across largest city. Manama enjoys a distinct reputa-
the Gulf and beyond established themselves on tion as a tourism and cultural hub regionally and
the islands. internationally, as shown by its selection as the
Capital of Arab Culture in 2012, and Capital of
Bahrain was the first Gulf state to discover oil, Arab Tourism in 2013, and Capital of Asian
in 1932, and in the past 40 years has led the Tourism in 2014.
regional transition to a modern economy. Sub-
sequently, as the first Gulf state to move away
from dependence on oil, we have become the
region’s most diversified economy.

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