Ethnic, cultural and religious groups of Bahrain

Bahrain is a nation in the Persian Gulf, in a strategical position in relation to the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Iraq and Oman.

Shias

Baharna

Main article: Baharna

The Baharna are putatively regarded as of the original pre-Islamic inhabitants of Bahrain, however this is disputed between scholars.

The Baharna are closely related to the Shia of Qatif, and even speak a similar dialect. Baharna live in Manama, almost all the villages of the main island of Bahrain, several villages in the island of Muharraq in the north and in the island of Sitra to the east. They speak similar dialects, with slight variations between villages, although the villages of Sitra have dialects which differ considerably from those of the main island.

Palm tree farming and fishing were the traditional economic activities of the Baharna.

There are also Shia Arabs concentrated in several neighborhoods in Muharraq city. They originally came from Al-Hasa, they are "Hasawis". They are distinct from the Baharna from villages outside the city proper. As a result of their proximity to surrounding Sunni Arabs and Africans, they speak the Sunni dialect.

Ajam

Main article: Ajam (Bahrain)

The Shia Persians of Bahrain are a significant and influential ethnic minority whose ancestors arrived in Bahrain in the early 20th century as laborers, artisans and merchants. There are large communities in Muharraq and Manama. Persians maintain a distinct culture and language, but have long since assimilated into Bahraini culture; they tend to identify themselves more as Persian Bahrainis or Bahrainis than Iranians. Almost all are bilingual in Arabic and Persian, with school, work and daily affairs conducted in Arabic and Persian usually relegated to the family domain. Almost all have possessed Bahraini citizenship since birth; in most cases their parents, and in some cases their grandparents, are also holders of Bahraini citizenship.

Sunnis

The native Sunni population has been historically compartmentalized into the three groups listed below, all of whom which now are now a minority due to the massive influx of foreigners Bahrain saw in the early 21st century. Sunni Bahrainis are mostly concentrated in areas such as Busaiteen, Budaiya, Jasra, Zallaq, Askar, Jaw, al-Dur, West Eker, and Um al-Hassam amongst others.

Arabs

Sunni Arabs are mostly descendants of tribes from central Arabia. Sunni Arabs are the most influential ethnic group in Bahrain, they hold most government positions and the Bahraini monarchy are Sunni Arabs. Sunni Arabs have traditionally lived in areas such as Zallaq, Muharraq, Riffa and Hawar islands.

Afro-Arabs

Most Bahrainis of African descent originate from East Africa and have traditionally lived in Muharraq Island and Riffa.

Huwala

Main article: Huwala

The Huwala are the descendants of Sunni Iranians who migrated to the Arab states of the Persian Gulf during the 19th century. Many of them originally lived in Awadhiya (a neighborhood in Godaibiya) and Hoora, both which are now nearly exclusively only populated by foreigners of Filipino, Indian and Bengali origins, however they later resettled in Muharraq Island and Riffa.

South Asians

The immigration of South Asians to Bahrain started in the late quarter of the 19th century and today Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and Indians combined form the largest expatriate groups in Bahrain.

Indians

Indians form 31% of Bahrain's total population and the majority of the public sector. Most of them are either Hindus or Christians, with a sizable Sikh and Muslim minority. There are multiple schools that were established in the country in the 20th century that offer the CBSE curriculum, the oldest of which is The Indian School which was first established in 1950.

Pakistanis

Pakistanis roughly compose about 7% of Bahrain's population with a population of 80,160. A 2011 estimate states that 10,000 of them serve in security forces. The vast majority of Pakistanis in Bahrain are Muslim.

Bangladeshis

Bangladesh recognized and established diplomatic ties with Bahrain in 1974, although Bangladeshi expatriates started arriving decades before that. Today, there are about 125,000 Bangladeshis living in Bahrain.