Culture

Bahrain is sometimes described as the "Middle East lite": that is, a country that mixes thoroughly modern infrastructure with a definite Persian Gulf identity, but unlike other countries in the region its prosperity is not solely a reflection of the size of its oil wealth, but also related to the creation of an indigenous middle class. This unique socioeconomic development in the Persian Gulf has meant that Bahrain is generally more liberal than its neighbours. While Islam is the main religion, Bahrainis have been known for their tolerance, and alongside mosques can be found churches, a Hindu temple, a Sikh Gurudwara and a Jewish synagogue.

The population is more than four-fifths Muslim and includes both the Sunni and Shia sects, with the latter in the majority. Arabic is the official language of Bahrain, but English is widely used. Persian is also common, although it is mostly spoken in the home.

Traditional Dress

The typical Bahraini woman dresses conservatively, usually the Abaya, a long loose-fitting black gown, is worn. However, there is no formal dress code in Bahrain, and foreigners as well as local women are seen wearing modern outfits as well.

Bahraini men usually wear the Thobe (sometimes called Dishdasha), which is a loose, long-sleeved, ankle-length garment. Summer Thobes are white and made of cotton, whilst winter Thobes can be darker and made of wool. On some occasions, Bahrainis wear a Bisht, which is a cloak made of wool, over the thobe. Unlike the thobe, the Bisht is soft, and it is usually black, brown, or grey.

Men also wear traditional headdress, made up of three components: the Keffiyeh, Ghutra and Agal. The Keffiyeh is a white knitted skull cap worn under the Ghutra, which is a square scarf, made of cotton or silk, folded in a triangle. In Bahrain, the Ghutra is usually red and white checked or all white. There is no significance placed on which kind the man wears. The Agal is a thick, double, black cord that is worn on the top of the Ghutra to hold it in place.

Handicrafts

Traditional handicraft industries enjoy state and popular support. The Bahrain National Museum in Manama contains local artefacts dating from antiquity, such as ivory figurines, pottery, copper articles, and gold rings, many of which reflect various cultural influences from outside Bahrain. There is also a small but flourishing avant-garde art community.

Music

The music of Bahrain follows the traditional Arabic mode. It is elaborate and repetitive. It is played on the oud (an ancestor of the lute) and the Rebaba (a one-stringed instrument). Khaleeji is a style of Persian Gulf-area folk music played in Bahrain, with polyrhythms. The style is strongly influenced by the music of Africa. Fidjeri is a musical repertoire performed traditionally by male pearl divers of Bahrain. It involves singing, clapping, drums and dances with earthen water jars.

Bahrain also has a folk dance tradition. The Ardha is a men's sword dance, which is accompanied by traditional drummers and a poet, who sings the lyrics.

Sports

In spite of its rapid economic development, Bahrain remains, in many respects, essentially Arab in its culture. Football (soccer) is the most popular modern sport, while traditional pastimes such as falconry, horse riding, and gazelle and hare hunting are still practiced by wealthier Bahrainis. Horse and camel racing are popular public entertainments.

Bahrain is the home of Formula One racing in the Middle East. It began hosting the Gulf Air Grand Prix on 4 April 2004, the first for an Arab country.

Tourism

Bahrain is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Middle East with over two million tourists a year. Most of the visitors are from Arab Gulf states but there is an increasing number of tourists from outside the region thanks to a growing awareness of the Kingdom's rich heritage and its higher profile with regards to the Bahrain Formula One Race Track.

Many new tourist attraction resorts are being planned in Bahrain such as the Al Areen Resort, Dannat Hawar, Durrat Al Bahrain, Amwaj Islands, Lulu Island, Riffa Views, iceberg tower and Bahrain Bay which will be home to the Kingdom's first Four Seasons Hotel.