Bahrain

Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 small islands floating in the Persian Gulf and holds the title of the tiniest country in the Middle East. The majority of the action is on the island of Manama, where a modern throbbing city butts up against an ancient souk and old protective forts built in the sand. Bahrain holds rich Middle Eastern dining and shopping experiences, island beaches, desert tours and a mysterious 400-year-old tree that grows alone in the sand in the middle of nowhere. 

QUICK STATS (Source: CIA – The World Factbook)
Location: Archipelago in the Persian Gulf east of Saudi Arabia and north of Qatar
Capital: Manama
Border Countries: Saudi Arabia
Population: 1,215,000 (July 2011 estimate)
Ethnic Groups: Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)
Religious Groups: Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)

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