Capital: Manama
Administrative divisions: 12 districts (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa'wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Mintaqat Juzur Hawar, Sitrah

Independence: 15 August 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 December (1961)

Constitution: 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973

Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law
Suffrage: none

Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent HAMAD bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (son of the Amir, born 28 January 1950)
head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970)
cabinet: Cabinet

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992

Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court

Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active
Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GATT, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohammad ABD al-GHAFFAR
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 342-0741 or 342-0742
consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David S. ROBINS
embassy: Road No. 3119 (next to Alahli Sports Club), Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: FPO AE 09834-5100; P.O. Box 26431, Manama
telephone: [973] 273-300
FAX: (973) 272-594

Flag: red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side

NOTE: The information regarding Bahrain on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Bahrain Government 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Bahrain Government 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.