Bahrain

The main opposition group al-Wefaq has split: the larger of its two factions is likely to participate in parliamentary elections for the first time in 2006, but the smaller faction,... 2006-01-09

The main Shi’a party al-Wefaq has split, and its more hardline faction has formed a new party, al-Haq. The immediate trigger for the split was the disagreement over the new political... 2006-01-09

BMI View: Our forecasts of 5.6% growth in 2006 assumes a modest 1.6% growth in oil outpt, which contributes to real growth. In nominal terms, however, this real expansion is more... 2005-11-09

The government plans to drop its longstanding trade boycott of Israel, which could set a precedent for other Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries to follow. However, there is... 2005-11-02

The elected chamber of parliament is challenging government plans to end a longstanding trade boycott of Israel. The Arab League decided in 1945 to boycott Jewish-produced goods from... 2005-11-02

Our forecasts assume that Bahrain will continue to receive a grant of 150,000b/d of oil from the Saudi-administered Abu Sa'afa offshore field, but that the higher grant level of 200,000b/d... 2005-10-18

The country's largest opposition group, the Shi'a-based al-Wefaq society, faces a split over whether to comply with the new political societies law. The key issue for al-Wefaq is... 2005-10-05

Bahrain's 2004 real GDP growth came in lower than the 2005 figure, and below our prediction, primarily because Saudi Arabia cancelled a major oil grant to the Kingdom last year. This... 2005-10-03

We have revised our oil price forecasts up to US$48.5/bbl in 2005 and US$45/bbl in 2006 (average OPEC basket prices). Our forecasts for Bahrain's oil export revenues, trade and current... 2005-08-12

A new law on political societies is likely to squeeze some popular opposition movements out of the political arena. We are concerned that this could ultimately result in more chaotic... 2005-08-03