History of Bahrain in Timeline

Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in West Asia located in the Persian Gulf. It consists of a small archipelago of 50 natural and 33 artificial islands, with Bahrain Island comprising the majority of its landmass. Situated between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, it is connected to the latter by the King Fahd Causeway. As of May 14, 2023, the population is 1,501,635, consisting of Bahraini nationals and a large expatriate community. Bahrain covers an area of 760 square kilometers, making it the third-smallest nation in Asia. Its capital and largest city is Manama.

1903: Hermann Burchardt Visits Bahrain

In 1903, German explorer Hermann Burchardt visited Bahrain and photographed historical sites, including the old Qaṣr es-Sheikh.

1911: Bahraini Merchants Demand Restrictions on British Influence

In 1911, a group of Bahraini merchants demanded restrictions on the British influence in the country, leading to the arrest and exile of the group's leaders to India.

1919: Opening of Al-Hidaya Al-Khalifia School for boys

In 1919, the Al-Hidaya Al-Khalifia School for boys opened in Muharraq, marking the beginning of a modern government school system in Bahrain.

1919: Establishment of First Modern School

In 1919, the country's first modern school was established in Bahrain.

1923: British Introduce Administrative Reforms

In 1923, the British introduced administrative reforms, replacing Sheikh Issa bin Ali with his son, which led to some clerical opponents and families being exiled to Saudi Arabia.

1926: Opening of second government school for boys

In 1926, the Education Committee opened the second government school for boys in Manama.

1927: Iran Demands Sovereignty Over Bahrain

In 1927, Rezā Shāh of Iran demanded sovereignty over Bahrain, leading Belgrave to take measures to limit Iranian influence.

1928: Opening of first government school for girls

In 1928, the first government school for girls was opened in Muharraq.

1929: Bridge connected Manama to Muharraq

To the east, a bridge connected Manama to Muharraq since 1929.

1932: Oil Discovered in Bahrain

In 1932, the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), a subsidiary of the Standard Oil Company of California (Socal), discovered oil in Bahrain.

1932: Construction of the Bahrain International Airport

Transits between the two islands peaked after the construction of the Bahrain International Airport in 1932.

1937: Abolition of Slavery

In 1937, slavery was abolished in Bahrain.

September 1939: Bahrain Joins World War II

Bahrain participated in the Second World War on the Allied side, joining on 10 September 1939.

October 1940: Italian Bombers Attack Bahrain

On 19 October 1940, four Italian SM.82s bombers attacked Bahrain alongside Dhahran oilfields in Saudi Arabia, targeting Allied-operated oil refineries, which forced the Allies to upgrade Bahrain's defenses.

1941: A new causeway was built in 1941 which replaced the old wooden bridge

In 1941, a new causeway was built which replaced the old wooden bridge.

1948: Jewish Community Evacuates Bahrain

In 1948, following rising hostilities and looting, most members of Bahrain's Jewish community abandoned their properties and evacuated to Bombay, later settling in Israel and the United Kingdom.

1948: US Naval Presence Established

Since 1948, a US naval presence has existed in Bahrain.

1957: End of Charles Belgrave's De Facto Rule

In 1957, Charles Belgrave's de facto rule as an advisor to the ruler ended, after having brought reforms like establishing the country's first modern school in 1919 and abolishing slavery in 1937.

1957: Opening of Salmaniya Medical Complex

In 1957, the first public hospital, and also tertiary hospital, to open in Bahrain was the Salmaniya Medical Complex, in the Salmaniya district of Manama.

1960: Universal healthcare system dating back

Bahrain has a universal health care system, dating back to 1960.

1965: Month-Long Uprising at Bahrain Petroleum Company

In 1965, a month-long uprising broke out after hundreds of workers at the Bahrain Petroleum Company were laid off.

August 1971: Bahrain Declares Independence and Signs Treaty with UK

On 15 August 1971, Bahrain declared independence and signed a new treaty of friendship with the United Kingdom after the Shah of Iran accepted a United Nations referendum.

1971: Bahrain Declares Independence

In 1971, Bahrain declared its independence from the United Kingdom following successive treaties.

1973: First Parliamentary Elections

In 1973, Bahrain conducted its first parliamentary elections.

1975: Start of the State Security Law Era

The period between 1975 and 1999, known as the "State Security Law Era", began, marked by human rights violations.

1976: Legalization of homosexuality

In 1976, Bahrain legalized homosexuality.

1979: Islamic Revolution in Iran

In 1979, the Islamic Revolution took place in Iran

1981: Failed Coup

In 1981, Bahrain experienced a failed coup, which it blamed on Iran.

1981: Failed Coup Attempt by Shia Population

In 1981, following the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, the Bahraini Shia population orchestrated a failed coup attempt under the auspices of the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain.

1981: Establishment of Batelco

The telecommunications sector in Bahrain officially started in 1981 with the establishment of Bahrain's first telecommunications company, Batelco. In 1981, there were more than 45,000 telephones in use in the country.

December 1986: King Fahd Causeway completed

The King Fahd Causeway, measuring 24 km (15 mi), linking Bahrain with the Saudi Arabian mainland via the island of Umm an-Nasan, was completed in December 1986 and financed by Saudi Arabia.

1986: Start date of the University of Bahrain

In 1986 the University of Bahrain was established.

1990: Forest Cover in Bahrain

In 1990, forest cover in Bahrain was 220 hectares.

December 1994: Civil Unrest Following Clash at International Marathon

In December 1994, civil unrest erupted after a group of youths threw stones at female runners for running bare-legged during an international marathon.

1994: Popular Uprising Begins

A popular uprising began in 1994 in which leftists, liberals, and Islamists joined forces.

1995: Bahrain connected to the internet

Bahrain has been connected to the internet since 1995 with the country's domain suffix being '.bh'.

1999: Batelco had more than 100,000 mobile contracts

By 1999, Batelco had more than 100,000 mobile contracts.

1999: Succession of Emir Hamad Al Khalifa

In 1999, Emir (later King) Hamad Al Khalifa succeeded his father, Isa Al Khalifa, introducing reforms that improved human rights.

1999: Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Becomes Emir

In 1999, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa became the Emir of Bahrain.

2000: End of Popular Uprising

In 2000, the popular uprising that had began in 1994 ended.

2000: Number of Bahraini internet users

The number of Bahraini internet users has risen from 40,000 in 2000 to 250,000 in 2008.

February 2001: Referendum Supports National Action Charter

In February 2001, a referendum massively supported the National Action Charter.

October 2001: Bahrain Participates in Military Action Against Taliban

In October 2001, following the September 11 attacks, Bahrain participated in military action against the Taliban by deploying a frigate in the Arabian Sea for rescue and humanitarian operations.

2001: Religious Demographics

According to the 2001 census, 81.2% of Bahrain's population was Muslim, 10% were Christian, and 9.8% practised Hinduism or other religions.

2001: Bahrain's merchant fleet in 2001

In 2001, Bahrain had a merchant fleet of eight ships of 1,000 GT or over, totaling 270,784 GT.

2001: Paving the way for international universities

In 2001, the National Action Charter paved the way for the formation of international universities such as the Ahlia University in Manama and University College of Bahrain in Saar.

2001: Bahrain designated a major non-NATO ally

In 2001, the United States designated Bahrain a major non-NATO ally.

February 2002: Bahrain Changes Name to Kingdom of Bahrain

As part of the adoption of the National Action Charter on 14 February 2002, Bahrain changed its formal name from the State of Bahrain to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

2002: Parliamentary Elections

In 2002, Bahrain held parliamentary elections, which were boycotted by the opposition party, Al Wefaq.

2002: Bahrain Declared a Semi-Constitutional Monarchy

In 2002, Bahrain was declared a semi-constitutional monarchy, and Article 2 of the newly adopted constitution made sharia a principal source for legislation.

2002: Bahrain implemented its telecommunications law

In 2002, under pressure from international bodies, Bahrain implemented its telecommunications law which included the establishment of an independent Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).

2002: Women acquire voting rights

In 2002, women in Bahrain acquired the right to vote and stand in national elections, marking a significant step in women's political participation.

2002: Roadways in 2002

There were 3,164 km (1,966 mi) of roadways in 2002, of which 2,433 km (1,512 mi) were paved.

2003: Ban on Capture of Marine Animals

In 2003, Bahrain banned the capture of sea cows, marine turtles, and dolphins within its territorial waters.

April 2004: Inaugural Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

On 4 April 2004, Bahrain hosted the inaugural Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, marking the first Formula One race in an Arab country.

2004: Bahrain signs Free Trade Agreement with the US

In 2004, Bahrain signed the Bahrain–US Free Trade Agreement, which will reduce certain trade barriers between the two nations.

2004: Launch of "King Hamad Schools of Future" project

In 2004, King Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa introduced the "King Hamad Schools of Future" project, which uses Information Communication Technology to support K–12 education in Bahrain.

2004: Nada Haffadh appointed Minister of Health

In 2004, Nada Haffadh became Bahrain's first female cabinet minister when she was appointed as Minister of Health.

2004: Zain starts operations

In 2004, Zain (a rebranded version of MTC Vodafone) started operations in Bahrain.

2004: Free Trade Agreement with United States

In 2004, following the political liberalization of the country, Bahrain negotiated a free trade agreement with the United States.

2004: Medical university in the country

In 2004, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) set up a constituent medical university in the country.

2005: Bahrain scientific output

In 2005, Bahrain scientific output was 93 articles.

2005: Qal'at al-Bahrain Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 2005, Qal'at al-Bahrain, a fort and archaeological complex, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2005: Bahrain Grand Prix

In 2005, the Bahrain Grand Prix was held.

2005: Establishment of the Royal University for Women

In 2005, the Royal University for Women (RUW) was established as the first purpose-built, international university in Bahrain dedicated solely to educating women.

2005: Government calls off Shia Family Law

In 2005, the government of Bahrain called off the Shia branch of the "Family law" after over 100,000 Shia people protested against it.

2005: Bahrain hosts the annual Spring of Culture festival

Since 2005, Bahrain hosts an annual festival in March, titled Spring of Culture, which features internationally renowned musicians and artists performing in concerts.

January 2006: Bahrain has fastest-growing economy in Arab world

According to a January 2006 report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, Bahrain has the fastest-growing economy in the Arab world.

June 2006: Parliamentary Session on International Convention

In June 2006, during a parliamentary session, Sheikh Adel Mouwda of Asalah voiced objections to ratifying the United Nations' International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, claiming it was tailored by Bahrain's enemies.

2006: Bahrain hosts opening Grand Prix

Bahrain hosted the opening Grand Prix of the 2006 season on 12 March, won by Fernando Alonso of Renault.

2006: Al Wefaq wins a majority in parliamentary elections

In 2006, Al Wefaq won a majority in the parliamentary elections.

2006: Inaugural Australian V8 Supercar event

In 2006, Bahrain hosted its inaugural Australian V8 Supercar event, the "Desert 400".

2006: Lateefa Al Gaood becomes first female MP

In 2006, Lateefa Al Gaood became the first female Member of Parliament (MP) in Bahrain, after winning by default.

2006: Bahrain elected to head United Nations General Assembly

In 2006, when Bahrain was elected to head the United Nations General Assembly, it appointed lawyer and women's rights activist Haya bint Rashid Al Khalifa as President of the United Nations General Assembly.

2007: Decline in Human Rights Conditions

By 2007, human rights conditions in Bahrain started to decline, with reports of torture resurfacing.

2007: Bahrain institutes unemployment benefits

In 2007, Bahrain became the first Arab country to institute unemployment benefits as part of a series of labour reforms instigated under Minister of Labour, Majeed Al Alawi.

2007: Bahrain population crossed one million mark

In 2007, Bahrain's population crossed the one million mark, reaching 1.05 million.

August 2008: Increase in Number of Islands

By August 2008, extensive land reclamation projects in Bahrain had increased the number of islands and island groups to 84.

October 2008: Bahrain introduces 'Vision 2030'

In October 2008, the Bahraini government introduced a long-term economic vision for Bahrain known as 'Vision 2030' which aims to transform Bahrain into a diversified and sustainable economy.

November 2008: Agreement to establish a Regional Centre for Information and Communication Technology

In November 2008, an agreement was signed to establish a Regional Centre for Information and Communication Technology in Manama under UNESCO's auspices.

2008: Remaining Jewish Population in Bahrain

As of 2008, 37 Jews remained in Bahrain.

2008: Scientific collaborations begin

Between 2008 and 2014, Bahraini scientists collaborated with their peers from Saudi Arabia (137 articles), Egypt (101), the United Kingdom (93), the United States (89) and Tunisia (75).

2008: Bahrain named world's fastest-growing financial centre

In 2008, Bahrain was named the world's fastest-growing financial centre by the City of London's Global Financial Centres Index.

2008: Houda Nonoo appointed ambassador to the United States

In 2008, Houda Nonoo was appointed as Bahrain's ambassador to the United States, making her the first Jewish ambassador of any Arab country.

2008: Investment in Education in Qatar

In 2008, Qatar's investment in education was 2.4% of GDP.

2008: Indian nationals in Bahrain

In 2008, approximately 290,000 Indian nationals lived in Bahrain.

2008: Publication of Bahraini Economic Vision 2030

In 2008, the Bahraini Economic Vision 2030 was published, outlining the goal of transforming Bahrain's economy from one based on oil wealth to a globally competitive one.

2008: Jobless figure was at 4%

In 2008, the jobless figure was at 4%, with women overrepresented at 85% of the total.

2008: Passengers transiting through the causeway in 2008

In 2008, there were 17,743,495 passengers transiting through the causeway.

2008: Field Marshal Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa appointed Commander-in-Chief

Since 2008, Field Marshal Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa has served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF).

2008: Number of Bahraini internet users

The number of Bahraini internet users has risen to 250,000 in 2008, or 33 per cent of the population.

2009: Investment in research and development

In 2009, Bahrain's investment in research and development reportedly amounted to 0.04% of GDP.

2009: Investment in Education in Sudan

In 2009, Sudan's investment in education was 2.2% of GDP.

2009: Internet Access Statistics

In 2009, approximately half of Bahrainis (53%) had access to the internet.

2009: Establishment of the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International, and Energy Studies

In 2009, the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International, and Energy Studies was founded to focus on strategic security and energy issues, aiming to influence policymaking.

2010: Non-Muslim Bahraini Residents

In 2010 census, non-Muslim Bahraini residents numbered 367,683, most of whom are Christians.

2010: Al Wefaq wins a majority in parliamentary elections

In 2010, Al Wefaq won a majority in the parliamentary elections.

2010: Bahrain's population growth

In 2010, Bahrain's population grew to 1.2 million, with 568,399 Bahraini and 666,172 non-nationals and a population density of 1,646 people per km.

2010: VIVA provides mobile services

In 2010, VIVA (owned by STC Group) became the third company to provide mobile services in Bahrain.

2010: Composition of the Cabinet

In 2010, approximately half of Bahrain's cabinet positions were held by members of the Al Khalifa family.

2010: V8 Supercars return for the last time

In 2010, the V8 Supercars returned to the Sakhir circuit as the second event of the series, but the series has not returned since.

2010: Religious Demographics

The 2010 census records that the Muslim proportion had fallen to 70.2% (the 2010 census did not differentiate between the non-Muslim religions).

2011: Bahrain has freest economy in Middle East

Based on the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom, published by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal, Bahrain has the freest economy in the Middle East and is twelfth-freest overall in the world.

2011: Ali Al Shargawi named literary icon

In 2011, Ali Al Shargawi, a decorated longtime poet, was described by Al Shorfa as the literary icon of Bahrain.

2011: Arab Spring Inspired Protests in Bahrain

In 2011, Bahrain experienced protests inspired by the regional Arab Spring. The ruling Al Khalifa family has faced criticism for human rights violations.

2011: Bahrain participates in Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen

In 2011, Bahrain participated in the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen against the Shia Houthis and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

2011: Criticism for crackdown on Arab Spring uprising

In 2011, Bahrain was criticized for its crackdown on the Arab Spring uprising. A government-appointed commission confirmed reports of grave human rights violations, including systematic torture.

2011: Human Rights Watch report

In 2011, Human Rights Watch described Bahrain's human rights situation as "dismal".

2011: Pro-democracy protests

In 2011, Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa were leading figures in the pro-democracy protests.

2011: By-election and Arab Spring Uprising

In 2011, a by-election was held to replace 18 members of Al Wefaq who resigned in protest against government crackdown during the Arab Spring uprising.

2011: Bloggers detained during protests

In 2011, bloggers and other netizens were among those detained during protests in Bahrain.

2011: Bahrain GDP growth rate decreases

In 2011, due to the combination of the Great Recession and the 2011 Bahraini uprising, its GDP growth rate decreased to 1.3%, which was the lowest growth rate since 1994.

2011: Journalists targeted during anti-government protests

In 2011, journalists in Bahrain were targeted by officials during anti-government protests. Three editors from Al-Wasat were sacked and later fined for publishing "false" news, and several foreign correspondents were expelled.

2011: Bahraini uprising

In 2011, most of the protestors in the Bahraini uprising were Shia.

2011: Bahrain Grand Prix cancelled

In 2011, the Bahrain Grand Prix was cancelled due to ongoing anti-government protests.

2011: Number of students in government schools

In 2011, there were a total of 126,981 students studying in government schools in Bahrain.

2011: Shia Protests Inspired by Arab Spring

In early 2011, inspired by the regional Arab Spring, Bahrain's Shia population started large protests against its Sunni rulers.

2011: Bahraini Uprising and Bloody Crackdown

The 2011 Bahraini uprising, inspired by the Arab Spring, ended in a bloody crackdown against the mainly Shiite demonstrators who had demanded an elected government.

2011: Number of female MPs rises to four

The number of female MPs in Bahrain rose to four after the 2011 by-elections.

March 2012: Workshops on ICTs and education

In March 2012, the Regional Centre for Information and Communication Technology hosted two high-level workshops on ICTs and education.

April 2012: Reports of continued human rights violations

Reports by human rights organizations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch issued in April 2012 stated that human rights violations related to the Arab Spring crackdown were still happening.

June 2012: Bahrain has 961,000 internet users

By June 2012, Bahrain had 961,000 internet users. However, rigorous filtering targets political, human rights, religious material and content deemed obscene.

2012: Bahrain's diplomatic network in 2012

As of 2012, Bahrain maintained a network of 25 embassies, three consulates and four permanent missions to the Arab League, United Nations and European Union respectively.

2012: Bahrain Grand Prix held amid controversy

In 2012, the Bahrain Grand Prix took place despite concerns over safety and ongoing protests, leading to controversy.

2012: Bahrain Pearling Trail Designated a World Heritage Site

In 2012, the Bahrain Pearling Trail, consisting of three oyster beds, was designated as a World Heritage Site, inscribed as "Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy".

2012: Revoking of Nationality

In 2012, the Bahraini government revoked the nationality of four of its citizens, turning them into stateless people.

2012: Government investment in education

In 2012, the government of Bahrain devoted 2.6% of GDP to education, which was one of the lowest ratios in the Arab world.

2012: Manama named Arab Capital of Culture

Manama was named the Arab Capital of Culture for 2012 by the Arab League. The 2012 festival featured concerts starring Andrea Bocelli, Julio Iglesias and other musicians.

August 2013: The TRA has licensed 22 Internet Service Providers

As of August 2013, the TRA has licensed 22 Internet Service Providers.

2013: Bahrain leads the Arab world in internet penetration

In 2013, Bahrain topped the Arab world for internet penetration, with 90% of the population having access.

2013: Investment in research and development

In 2013, Bahrain's investment in research and development reportedly amounted to 0.04% of GDP.

2013: Data Availability

In 2013, data for research only cover the higher education sector.

2013: Launch of the Bahrain Science Centre

In 2013, the Bahrain Science Centre was launched as an interactive educational facility aimed at 6- to 18-year-olds, with exhibitions covering topics like junior engineering, human health, the five senses, Earth sciences, and biodiversity.

2013: Global average of articles per million inhabitants

In 2013, the global average of articles published was 176 per million inhabitants.

2013: Researchers in the higher education sector

In 2013, the number of researchers in Bahrain's higher education sector was equivalent to 50 per million inhabitants.

2013: Manama named Capital of Arab Tourism

Manama was named the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2013 by the Arab League.

March 2014: Casualties from Clashes Reported

As of March 2014, more than 80 civilians and 13 policemen have been killed in almost daily clashes between protesters and security forces in Bahrain.

April 2014: Launch of Bahrain's National Space Science Agency

In April 2014, Bahrain launched its National Space Science Agency, which has been working to ratify international space-related agreements and plans to establish infrastructure for space and Earth observation.

October 2014: Freedom House labels Bahrain as 'Not Free'

As of October 2014, Bahrain was ruled by an "authoritarian regime" and was rated as "Not Free" by Freedom House.

2014: Scientific collaborations end

Between 2008 and 2014, Bahraini scientists collaborated with their peers from Saudi Arabia (137 articles), Egypt (101), the United Kingdom (93), the United States (89) and Tunisia (75).

2014: Female university graduates in science and engineering

In 2014, Bahrain was one of 11 Arab states with a majority of female university graduates in science and engineering, with women accounting for 66% of graduates in natural sciences, 28% in engineering, and 77% in health and welfare.

2014: Publication of scientific articles

In 2014, Bahraini scientists published 155 articles in internationally catalogued journals, according to Thomson Reuters' Web of Science (Science Citation Index Expanded).

2014: Arrest of Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa

In 2014, Mohammed Ramadhan and Husain Moosa were arrested and accused of killing a police officer.

2014: Statistics about the University of Bahrain

In 2014, the University of Bahrain had over 20,000 students, 65% of whom were women, and around 900 faculty members, 40% of whom were women, and spent US$11 million per year on research.

2014: Manama named Capital of Asian Tourism

Manama was named the Capital of Asian Tourism for 2014.

2015: Amnesty International Report on Bahrain

Amnesty International's 2015 report on Bahrain highlighted continued suppression of dissent, restricted freedom of expression, unjust imprisonment, and torture of citizens.

2015: Public Ownership of Forest Area

In 2015, 100% of the forest area in Bahrain was reported to be under public ownership.

July 2016: European Parliament Condemns Human Rights Abuses

On July 7, 2016, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning human rights abuses by Bahraini authorities.

2016: Bahrain's biocapacity per person

In 2016, Bahrain had 0.52 global hectares of biocapacity per person within its territory, much less than the world average of 1.6 global hectares per person.

2016: Bahrain used 8.6 global hectares of biocapacity per person

In 2016, Bahrain used 8.6 global hectares of biocapacity per person, which means they use 16.5 times as much biocapacity as Bahrain contains, resulting in a biocapacity deficit.

2016: Severing of Diplomatic Ties with Iran

In 2016, Bahrain, along with Saudi Arabia, severed diplomatic relations with Iran following the storming of the Saudi embassy in Tehran.

2016: Manama named Gulf Capital of Tourism

Manama was named the Gulf Capital of Tourism for 2016 by The Gulf Cooperation Council.

August 2017: Rex Tillerson Speaks Against Discrimination of Shias

In August 2017, United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke against the discrimination of Shias in Bahrain.

September 2017: US Approves Arms Sales to Bahrain

In September 2017, the U.S. State Department approved arms sales packages worth more than $3.8 billion to Bahrain including F-16 jets, upgrades, missiles and patrol boats.

2017: Influx in global athletes visiting Bahrain

In 2017, Bahrain experienced a surge in global athletes visiting the nation for Mixed Martial Arts training, and Bahrain will host the Amateur World Championships in association with International Mixed Martial Arts Federation becoming the first Asian and Arab country to host the amateur MMA championship.

2017: Bahrain Victorius Participates in Tour de France

In 2017, The government of Bahrain sponsored a UCI WorldTeam cycling team, Bahrain Victorius, which participated in the Tour de France.

January 2018: Bahraini Government Expels Citizens

On 31 January 2018, Amnesty International reported that the Bahraini government expelled four of its citizens after having revoked their nationality in 2012, turning them into stateless people.

February 2018: Jailing of Nabeel Rajab

On 21 February 2018, human rights activist Nabeel Rajab was sentenced to a further five years in jail for tweets and documentation of human rights violations.

April 2018: Opening of HMS Jufair

In April 2018, the permanent British Royal Navy base at Mina Salman, HMS Jufair, was officially opened.

2018: Cricket introduced in Bahrain

In 2018, cricket was introduced in Bahrain under the initiative of KHK Sports and Exelon, and the Bahrain Premier League 2018, comprising six franchise squads competing in the T20 format, was established.

2018: Religious freedom report in Bahrain

In 2018, the US Department of State's report on religious freedom in Bahrain estimated that Shias constituted approximately 55% of Bahrain's citizen population.

January 2019: Bahrain announced the summer opening of an underwater theme park

In January 2019, Bahrain News Agency announced the summer 2019 opening of an underwater theme park covering about 100,000 square meters with a sunken Boeing 747 as the site's centrepiece.

January 2019: Kingdom of Bahrain introduced the Value Added Tax

The Kingdom of Bahrain introduced the Value Added Tax with effect from 1 January 2019. This is a multipoint tax on the sale of goods and services in Kingdom of Bahrain and the maximum rate of VAT was 5%.

October 2019: The Avenues shopping mall opened

In October 2019, The Avenues, a waterfront facing shopping mall, opened in Bahrain.

2019: Bahrain received over eleven million visitors

As a tourist destination, Bahrain received over eleven million visitors in 2019, mostly from the surrounding Arab states.

2019: Bahrain wins West Asian Football Federation cup and Arabian Gulf Cup

In 2019, Bahrain's national football team, under the management of Helio Sousa, won both the West Asian Football Federation cup and the Arabian Gulf Cup.

2019: Establishment of the American University of Bahrain

In 2019, the American University of Bahrain was established.

2019: Bahrain International Airport handled almost 100,000 flights and more than 9.5 million passengers

In 2019, the Bahrain International Airport (BAH) handled almost 100,000 flights and more than 9.5 million passengers.

April 2020: Committee Launched to Pay Private-Sector Employees

On 9 April 2020, Bahrain launched a committee to pay private-sector employees for a three-month period in order to ease the financial pain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

July 2020: Confessions Extracted by Torture and Upholding of Death Sentences

In July 2020, a government watchdog claimed that the confessions of two pro-democracy campaigners were extracted by torture. On 13 July 2020, the highest Court in Bahrain overruled the previous judgment and upheld the death sentences for both men.

August 2020: Bahrain buys minority stake in Paris F.C.

On 3 August 2020, the Kingdom of Bahrain acquired a minority stake in Paris F.C., a team playing in France's second tier, which led to criticism regarding the country's human rights record.

August 2020: Transfer of HMS Clyde to Bahrain

On August 7, 2020, at a ceremony in the UK, HMS Clyde was transferred to the Royal Bahrain Naval Force and renamed RBNS Al-Zubara.

2020: Establishment of Bilateral Relations with Israel

In 2020, Bahrain and Israel established bilateral relations under the Bahrain–Israel normalisation agreement.

2020: Forest Cover in Bahrain

In 2020, forest cover in Bahrain was around 1% of the total land area, equivalent to 700 hectares.

2020: Bahrain's public debt in 2020

In 2020, the country's public debt is $44.5 billion, or 130% of GDP.

2020: Human Rights situation in Bahrain in 2020

The Human Rights Watch World Report 2021 revealed that the situation of human rights did not improve in Bahrain in 2020.

January 2021: Bahrain opened its new airport terminal

On 28 January 2021, Bahrain opened its new airport terminal as part of its economic vision 2030. The new airport terminal is capable of handling 14 million passengers and is a big boost to the country's aviation sector.

January 2021: Human Rights Watch World Report 2021

The Human Rights Watch World Report 2021 published in January 2021, revealed that the situation of human rights did not improve in Bahrain in 2020, highlighting the repression against social media activities, death sentences upheld by the courts, and prosecution of critics for peaceful expression.

March 2021: Allegations of Abuse Against Detained Children

In March 2021, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) claimed that 13 children aged between 11 and 17 were beaten and threatened with rape and electric shocks after detaining them in protest-related cases.

2021: Freedom House report labels Bahrain as 'not free'

Freedom House continued to label Bahrain as "not free" in its 2021 report.

January 2022: VAT increased to 10%

With effect from 1 January 2022, the maximum rate of VAT increased to 10%.

2022: Total employment in Bahrain

As of Q4 2022, total employment in Bahrain stood at 746,145 workers, which included both Bahraini and Non-Bahraini workers and represented a full recovery of employment since the downturn caused by the COVID pandemic.

May 2023: Bahrain Population

As of May 2023, the population of Bahrain is 1,501,635, with 712,362 Bahraini nationals and 789,273 expatriates.

2023: V-Dem Democracy Indices

According to the V-Dem Democracy indices, in 2023, Bahrain is ranked as the 4th least electoral democratic country in the Middle East.

2023: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Per Capita

Despite being a relatively low-emitting country overall, Bahrain was the second highest greenhouse gas emitter per capita in 2023, at approximately 42 tonnes per person.

January 2024: Bahrain Receives Second Oliver Hazard Perry-class Frigate

On January 18, 2024, the Bahraini Navy received the former USS Robert G. Bradley, an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, which was renamed RBNS Khalid bin Ali.

April 2024: Widespread Flooding

In April 2024, Bahrain experienced widespread flooding after heavy rainfall affected the Gulf region.

June 2024: Bahrain Olympic Academy Receives Athena Honorary Distinction

On 10 June 2024, the Bahrain Olympic Academy received the Athena honorary distinction for its role in aiding and supporting advancement of sports in its region, the medal was presented by Isidoros Kouvelos.