Happy birthday Bahrain! The kingdom on Thursday is celebrating its Golden Jubilee and the UAE’s leaders have already sent their congratulations.
The President, Sheikh Khalifa, sent a message of goodwill to the King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, also sent messages to King Hamad and to Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain.
Bahrain is a place with a rich history. Archaeologists believe the island may have been the heart of the Dilmun Empire, which dominated the Arabian Gulf at least 4,000 years ago.
But the modern kingdom declared sovereignty on August 15, 1971. This month’s celebration marks the accession of King Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa on December 16, 1961, and under whose reign the country became independent.
