Bahrainona

History and geography have played a pivotal role in making Bahrain one of the most centrally located and easily accessible countries in the world. Its

 nearness to Central and South-East Asia as well as to the countries of Europe and North Africa have helped in strengthening business ties, and enabled it to be a major hub for airlines, shipping and various businesses.

This centrality that Bahrain enjoys is not just a recent phenomenon but has been a key element of its past right from the time the country was home to the ancient Dilmun civilisation to recent years when many more countries capitalised on the country's geographical advantages.

The ruins of the Dilmun civilisation can be found in the Saar, Barbar and A'ali districts of Bahrain where forts, settlements, temples and burial mounds provide a visual link to the way these ancient people lived. Even after the disappearance of this civilisation, the island still remained a powerful force and attracted Greeks, Portuguese, Persians, Omanis and the British at different points in its history.

However, it was with the arrival of the Khalifa dynasty that Bahrain embarked on the path of modernisation. In 1932, Bahrain became the first country in the Arabian Gulf where oil was discovered, and this discovery helped in the economic transformation of the entire region. Bahrain was also the first country to begin diversifying its industry and soon the country became the financial hub of the Middle East, home to the world's largest aluminium smelter and an attractive tourism destination. Bahrain is one of the founding members of the Gulf Co¬operation Council, and is also a member of the Arab League.