Landenrapport
Ongoing low oil prices and social unrest have slowed economic growth, severely affected public finances, and weakened external balances. Solid austerity measures are necessary, but require sufficient public support to avoid more social unrest.
Landenrapport
The oil price decline negatively affects economic growth and puts pressure on the fiscal position of Bahrain. Meanhile, Saudi Arabia is still (implicitly) backing the Sunni Al-Khalifa regime, both financially and militarily, in an effort to keep Iran at bay.
Landenrapport
Economic growth in Bahrain is estimated to slow to around 3% in 2014. Government finances are strained due high social spending and large energy subsidies.
Landenrapport
The largest country risks for Bahrain lie in the political and social spheres. We expect the social unrest originated in the Arab spring to continue, but not on the scale seen in 2011. Economic growth is forecast at 3.5-4% in 2013.
Landenrapport
The largest country risks for Bahrain lie in the political and social spheres. We expect the social unrest originated in the Arab spring uprising last year to continue as the grievances of the Shi’a community are not likely to be met.
Landenrapport
Bahrain is a rich, small, liberal and free-trade island economy, which houses an important regional financial center and some major oil and aluminum processing plants. This combined with its strategic position between Saudi Arabia’s oil fields and nuclear Iran caused the US navy to select this kingdom as its most important base in the Persian Gulf