Bahrain, a cultural hub in the Middle East

Middle East, The, April, 2009 by Rhona Wells

BAHRAIN IS AN Arabic word meaning 'two seas', referring to the island's two sources of water--sweet springs and salty sea water. The island was initially famous for its ancient pearl industry: the first record of pearl diving in history was of it taking place in Bahrain, when the ancient Mesopotamian demigod Gilgamesh visited the island in 3750BC.

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Although the pearl-collection industry collapsed with the advent of the cultured pearl and the discovery of oil, many of its characteristic features and practices survive. Pearling, and its close cultural relationship with the sea, shaped the economic and cultural identity of Bahrain's island society. The discovery of oil in the 1930s enabled the creation of an attractive and modern infrastructure, an elegant skyline, luxury hotels, a bustling international airport, excellent roads and telecommunications, and a thriving port. With minimal oil reserves, Bahrain has been forced to work at maintaining a diverse economy, a goal it has achieved with considerable success.

Currently, Bahrain is probably best known for its prestigious flagship attraction, the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), known as the home of motor sports in the Middle East and the annual Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. In addition to hosting the V8 Supercars Desert 400 and the Formula One event, BIC is also home to the only HUMMER Driving Academy outside the United States.

There are currently plans afoot to spend more than $100m in a bid to position Manama as the culture capital of the Gulf and attract more tourists from the Middle East region and beyond, according to Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, the kingdom's Minister of Culture and Information.

Among other initiatives, Sheika Mai has plans to promote the Bahrain National Theatre as a vehicle for educating local people and overseas visitors about Bahrain's traditions, culture and heritage. "People in Bahrain must be encouraged to take pride in their cultural wealth as it is they who can be our best ambassadors for tourism," she said.

Several cultural projects are also under way, fuelling the country's bid to become a UNESCO Arab Capital of Culture. These include a showcase tour of Bahrain's pearling heritage, the restoration of the kingdom's ancient burial mounds and a historic mosque, and a project to restore a selection of dilapidated residential houses to their traditional former glory.

On a smaller scale, Elham, a local arts group, reflects the global reality of contemporary societies in the Gulf region. Elham, Arabic for 'muse', is a grassroots arts organisation that fills a cultural void by providing a platform for new and emerging creative talent. It has helped to showcase local writers such as All Al Saeed, who launched his third book, Sad Man Dancing, in February. Ali is the author of the award-winning novel QuixotiQ, published in 2004, and Moments, the best-selling, critically acclaimed collection of short stories.

The Bahrain Fort Museum, which houses some of the most important discoveries from the archaeological excavations initiated in 1954 by the Danish mission, partners Elham to host their monthly cultural gatherings of poetry readings, music recitals and photographic exhibitions. Elham has also linked up with Al Dar Islands, a man-made island which offers beautiful beaches and all manner of water related activities, in a bid to create a better awareness of the field trips available. One of Elham's main aims is to promote Bahrain's creative diversity, as well as capitalising on its traditional roots, and the company is expected to play an important support role when Bahrain hosts the UNESCO World Heritage Committee annual meeting in 2011.