proper noun

• A country in western Asia that consists of a group of islands in the Persian Gulf; population 1,400,000 (estimated 2015); capital, Manama; official language, Arabic.

  Ruled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and the Persians in the 17th century, Bahrain became a British protectorate in 1861 and gained independence in 1971. Its economy is dependent on the refining and export of oil