Bahrain

Bahrain's economy is heavily dependent on oil and gas. It has a dynamic capitalist economy in which the level of government control over investment and foreign trade is gradually decreasing. The capital of the country, Manama, is the center for many large financial structures. Bahrain's banking and financial services sector, especially Islamic Banking, has benefited from a regional boom driven by oil demand.

The unemployment rate in Bahrain is one of the lowest in the region as of 2020. The reduction of the labor force becomes the reason for the arrival of foreign workers.

Despite the low rainfall and poor soils, agriculture has historically been an important sector of Bahrain's economy. Today, agriculture accounts for only about 0.28% of Bahrain's GDP, or about $23.6 million. Agriculture employs 1% of the working-age population of the country. Only 4% of the territory is suitable for agriculture. Date palm, citrus fruits, grapes, peach, pistachios, vegetables, grains (wheat, corn and barley) are grown in the oases.

The main industry is oil and gas, which provides production of about 25% of the country's GDP, 60% of the state budget and 60% of foreign exchange earnings from foreign trade operations. In 2015, the country produced 18.462 million barrels of oil. However, in early April 2018, the Bahraini authorities announced the discovery of the world's largest shale oil field with a total volume of 80 billion barrels. In addition to oil, Bahrain has huge reserves of natural gas.

Among other industries, aluminum (working on Australian alumina) and shipbuilding industries have been widely developed.

The ship repair industry of the country is represented by an Arab Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Company. Bahrain has the world's largest dry dock, which is capable of receiving supertankers with a displacement of 500 thousand tons.

Pearl fishing is underway, which is currently virtually left to itself.

Total energy reserves are estimated at 0.149 billion tons (in coal equivalent). Installed capacity — net of power plants — 6977 MW, including: thermal power plants burning organic fuel — 99.9%, renewable energy sources — 0.1%.

Bahrain is the largest international financial center. The banking sector occupies the 2nd place in the country's economy, providing about 20% of the kingdom's GDP. The central place in the structure of the financial and credit system is occupied by the Central Bank of Bahrain. Bahrain is the leading center of Islamic banking in the Middle East.