Bahrain Culture is....?

Question

Can you tell me something about the culture of Bahrain?

Answer 1

I traveled to Bahrain a year ago. Before going loads of people told me how open the culture was and how westernized. I was totally blown away by how differently I perceived it...I've traveled a fair bit--visited 30 countries and lived in 3 different ones, so it wasn't just shock at being away from home.
In Bahrain, unless I was in McDonald's or somewhere like that we (my husband and I) were seated in a seperate part of the dining room, behind a wall. Usually there was only one table for people like us--a mixed party of man/woman and the woman being unveiled. When we were in the streets I did not want to be away from my husband. Once I stepped out of a shop because it was so hot and instantly everyone in the street (it was only men) were staring. There were a lot of places we went where I was the only woman present. We rented a car also and once when we were driving we took a wrong turn. Immediatly the driver behind us raced ahead of our car and cut us off. He demanded to know where we were going (we had been about to drive into a small village). When we told him where we wanted to go he ordered us to turn around and go the other way. The entire trip was a very bizarre experience for me. I enjoyed it and I would go back there or to another Middle Eastern country again, but I have to wonder what people were experiencing there when they talk about how westernized the country is. I do like to get off the beaten path of the tourist circuit, so that might be part of it. It's interesting but also unsettling.

Answer 2

CULTURE
In spite of its recent rapid economic development, Bahrain remains, in most respects, essentially Arab in its culture and lifestyle. The state radio and television stations broadcast mainly in Arabic; television transmissions are also received from Saudi Arabia. The traditional sports of falconry, gazelle and hare coursing, and horse and camel racing are still practiced by wealthier Bahrainis.

Bahrain may have been under mainland Arab domination when Shapur II annexed it, together with eastern Arabia, into the Persian Sasanian empire in the 4th century AD. By the time of the Muslim conquest, in the 7th century, Bahrain was being governed for Persia by a Christian Arab; Syrian Christian records suggest Bahrain had its own Nestorian bishop. The 'Abbasids took Bahrain in the 8th century, and it remained under Arab control until 1521, when Portugal seized it. In 1602, after 80 years of unrest, the Persians took Bahrain and held it against assaults by the Portuguese and the Omanis. In 1783 Ahmad ibn Al Khalifah ousted the Persians, and his family has ruled Bahrain ever since.

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Answer 3

Bahrain is one of the more liberal of the Muslim nations -- they have general elections in which women are not only allowed to vote, they have recently (as of a few years ago) begun to allow women to run for public office. Although it rankles some of the more fundamentalist folks, occasionally you'll even see unmarried women without a veil.

They do still have a royal family that basically heads the country, though much of the day-to-day functions are performed by elected officials. Much of their national income is in the form of refining -- although their oil reserves were pretty much tapped out years ago, they have the infrastructure in place to refine the oil of surrounding nations for much cheaper than those countries could do themselves. They also process aluminum from surrounding nations for industrial manufacturing, and there is a decent tourist trade as well.

Islam doesn't exactly dominate the culture of Bahrain in the same way it does in more fundamentalist nations like Iran (it's not the sole basis of the law, for instance), but it is a major source of the social mores and attitudes. Since there isn't a mosque on every street corner, they have speakers mounted all over the place so when the imams do their call to prayer five times a day, everyone can still hear it.

That being said, they are somewhat more Westernized than their neighbors, too -- there actually are nightclubs in Bahrain, with a pretty equal mix of locals and foreigners in attendance. There is a strong representation of Indian culture there, too, since folks from India and Pakistan were among some of the original settlers to the islands along with people from the Arabian peninsula.

Answer 4

I was stationed there in the coast guard. What a blast! Nothing closes, you party till 2 when the nightclub closes and then go to the "coffee shops" until 6 or 7 in the morning. Oh, by the way coffee is the last thing you order here, consider it the afterparty party. They have the Mcdonalds and the burger kings. They have the huge department stores like the wal marts and the mall there is huge, yet extremely overpriced. Not to mention they host the opening race in the F1 series in May every year. Its great.

Adding to this. Just to reply, not argue, with the next experienced couple. There are areas that are strictly reserved for traditional muslims. Most of these small communities are identified by the black flags that hang overhead. .. from buildings, windows, and sometimes across street intersections. I have been in similar situations and the best way to handle them is to simply "play dum", you made a mistake and though I was given some pretty bad looks, I made it out just fine.

Answer 5

1- Bahrain is located in western Asia, comprising 33 islands on the western side of the Persian Gulf.


2-The highest point in Bahrain is at Jabal ad Dukhan (122 m).


3- 698,585 people live in Bahrain.


4- The type of government of Bahrain is constitutional hereditary monarchy.


5- Islamic country with free opening culture.


6- Shiite and sunni are there.




Thats all of what i think of at the moment.


goodluck

Answer 6

I live in bahrain. its a quite open minded country ! of course not like Dubai (UAE) but not as bad as iran and saudi arabia (i've lived in Iran too!) U can find almost everything here.. of course all bahraini's are muslims, but they accept other cultures very easily .. being muslims doesnt mean they all cover up ! NO !! they dress modern, mainly the older women cover up .. there is loadzzzzzz of expats, from every nationality ..

Answer 7

All the gulf countries are nearly the same
in the traditions etc...

for Bahrain

Traditional Bahraini culture reflects its Islamic, mercantile, and Arab Bedouin roots. Graceful dhows, Arab boats used for fishing and diving for pearls, exhibit a high degree of craftsmanship, as do traditional jewelry and the elegant residences of rulers and merchants. Traditional performing arts include ceremonial dances accompanied by drums, readings of the Qur’an (Koran, or Islamic scripture), and storytelling. Bahraini poets carry on established traditions while also exploring new themes. Soccer, horse racing, and cricket are among the most popular sports. Celebrations of birth and marriage continue to be important ceremonial occasions. The Bahrain National Museum, which opened in 1988 in Manama, features exhibits of crafts, historical documents, and archaeological artifacts. Arabic Literature; Islamic Art and Architecture.

In many ways Bahraini society is relatively open and liberal, reflecting its long history as a trading nation. Merchants, including the ruling clan, have long been the dominant class, establishing a business-oriented culture that values accumulation of wealth. Among university graduates women outnumber men, and women play an increasingly important role in business and professional life

At the same time, Bahraini society continues to be shaped by conservative Islamic values, especially the Shia population in the rural areas. The family is the principal social unit, and most women remain in the home. In urban areas many women do not wear the traditional Islamic veil and some Bahrainis wear Western clothing. Traditional dress predominates in rural areas. For men, traditional dress includes a loose cotton garment called a thob, which can be covered with a woolen robe called a bisht in cool weather. Women traditionally wear a concealing cloak called an abaya.

In Manama many restaurants serve Western-style food, but at home most Bahrainis eat traditional fare, including lamb, fish (especially hamour, a kind of grouper), rice, and dates. Coffee, a favorite beverage, plays an important social and ceremonial role. The modern forms of entertainment found in Manama, such as motion pictures, cater primarily to foreigners

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