General Information » Economy » International Relations

Bahrain has excellent relations with its neighbours and the rest of the world. Since the settlement of the long-running battle with Qatar over ownership of the Hawar Islands, Bahrain has not been involved in any international disputes and while it generally supports pan-Arabic initiatives, it takes a neutral stance on global affairs. It is a member of the GCC along with Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Internationally, the kingdom is a member of, among other organisations, the United Nations, the IMF, the WTO, Interpol and the G-77. It has recently signed a Free Trade Agreement with the United States; the only country in the region to do so. All regional countries and most major international ones have embassies or consulates in Bahrain. All of these are located in Manama, primarily in or near the Diplomatic Area in the city centre. Bahrain is regarded internationally as one of the most stable and best-governed countries in the region.