OFFICIAL NAME KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN     THE KING HIS MAJESTY - KING HAMAD BIN ISA BIN SALMAN AL - KHALIFA     PRIME MINISTER H.H. SHAIKH KHALIFA BIN SALMAN AL - KHALIFA       CROWN PRINCE H.H. SHAIKH SALMAN BIN HAMAD AL - KHALIFA       RULING SYSTEM   CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY   CAPITAL MANAMA   AREA TOTAL AREA IS 711.9 KM²   POSITION LIES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARABIAN GULF AND CLOSE TO THE EASTERN COST OF SAUDIA ARABIA   POPULATION THE 2001 CENSUS, TOTAL POPULATION IS 650604   CLIMATE BAHRAIN CLIMATE IS HOT IN SUMMER, PLEASANT IN WINTER, NICEST WEATHER FROM NOVEMBER TO APRIL, AND THE COOLIST MONTHS DECEMBER TO MARCH, AVERAGE RAIN FALL IS 77mm, HOTTIST MONTHS JULY TO SEPTEMBER WITH AVERAGE TEMP 36º AND HIGH HUMIDTY.   TIME LOCAL TIME IS +3 GMT   LANGUAGE ARABIC IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE THOUGH ENGLISH IS WIDLEY SPOKEN.   RELEGION ISLAM IS THE KINGDOMS RELEGION AND THE MAJORITY OF POPULATION ARE MUSLIMS THOUGH THERE ARE PLACES OF WORSHIP FOR OTHER RELEGIONS.   CURRENCY BAHRAINI DINAR IS THE OFFICAL CURRENCY AND 1 DINAR CONSIST OF 1000 FILS, THE DINAR IS PEGED TO THE US DOLLAR @ 0.378   BANK NOTES THERE ARE FIVE BANK NOTES IN CIRCULATION AND THEY ARE: 20, 10, 5, 1 AND ½ DINAR.   COINES THERE ARE SIX COINS IN CIRCULATION AND THEY ARE: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500 FILS.   WORKING HOURS GOV: 07.00 TO 14.15 SUN TO WED AND 07.00 TO 14.00 ON THU. EST: EITHER 08.00 TO 13.00 THEN 15.00 TO 17.30 OR 08.00 TO 15.30 SAT  TO THU SHOPS: 08.00 TO 12.30 THEN 15.30 TO 19.30 SAT TO THU MALLS: 10.00 TO 22.00 DAILY. BANKS: 07.30 TO 12.00 SUN TO THU, THOUGH SOME BANK BRANCHES OPEN ON SATURDAYS.   WEEKENDS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY IS THE OFFICIAL WEEKEND FOR GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES AND SCHOOLS. PRIVATE SCHOOLS: HAVE DIFFERENT WEEKENDS. BANKS: FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.   ELECTRICITY BAHRAIN USES THE BRITISH 3 PIN PLUGS WITH ALL OF BAHRAIN POWER USES 220v – 240v (50 CYCLES) EXCEPT FOR AWALI THEY USE 120v (60 CYCLES)   WATER TAP WATER IS DESALINATED AND CLEAN  THOUGH BOTTLED WATER IS WIDLEY AVAILABLE.   HEALTH BAHRAIN OFFERS ADVANCED MEDICAL SERVICES AND CARE FREE FOR ALL CITIZENS AND A NOMINAL FEE FOR RESIDENTS. THERE ARE MANY PRIVATE CLINICS AND HOSPITALS AND THEY HAVE REASONABLE CHARGES. PHARMACIES ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH OUT THE KINGDOM AND MOST OPEN 24 HOURS.   VISAS ALL REQUIRE VISA EXCEPT FOR GCC CITIZENS. THERE IS A 72 HOURS VISA AND A 7-DAY VISA AVAILABLE AT THE AIRPORT AND KING FAHAD CAUSWAY. BAHRAIN EMBASSIES AND CONSULATS ARE IN MANY CONTRIES. YOU CAN ALSO APPLY ON-LINE HERE BUT PLEASE CHECK FIRST BEFORE YOU DEPART.