Bahrain, a small island country in the Persian Gulf known for its modern infrastructure, thriving financial sector, and rich cultural heritage, requires a nuanced understanding of its administrative, linguistic, and economic abbreviations. Here, we will list Bahrain’s abbreviations, encompassing ISO codes, airport identifiers, and entity acronyms.
ISO 3-Letter Code: BHR
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns unique three-letter codes to countries worldwide. Bahrain’s ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 country code is “BHR.” This code is used in international contexts such as trade, finance, and telecommunications to uniquely identify Bahrain.
ISO 2-Letter Code: BH
In addition to the three-letter code, Bahrain is assigned a two-letter ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code, which is “BH.” This code is commonly used in situations where brevity is essential, such as airline ticketing, postal services, and online forms.
Top-Level Domain: .bh
The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) designates top-level domains (TLDs) for each country. Bahrain’s country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) is “.bh.” Websites registered under this domain extension are typically associated with entities based in Bahrain or those with significant interests in the country.
Currency: Bahraini Dinar (BHD)
The Bahraini dinar (BHD) serves as the official currency of Bahrain. Symbolized by “BD” or “BHD,” it is subdivided into 1000 fils. The Bahraini dinar is one of the highest-valued currencies in the world and is widely used for various transactions within Bahrain.
Language Code: Arabic (ar)
Arabic is the official language of Bahrain, spoken by the majority of the population. In the context of language codes, Arabic is represented by the ISO 639-1 language code “ar.” This code is utilized in linguistic studies, translation services, and software localization to identify the Arabic language.
Major Airports
- Bahrain International Airport (BAH): Located on Muharraq Island, Bahrain International Airport is the primary international gateway to Bahrain. It serves as the hub for the national carrier, Gulf Air, and handles a significant portion of the country’s air traffic.
- Sheikh Isa Air Base (OBBS): Located near the town of Isa, Sheikh Isa Air Base serves as a dual-use military and civilian airport in Bahrain. It supports military operations and limited civilian flights.
- Ras Al Rumman Airport (OBRS): Situated on Bahrain Island, Ras Al Rumman Airport primarily serves as a military airfield for the Bahrain Defence Force. It supports military operations and training exercises.
- Al Bateen Executive Airport (AUH): Located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital of Abu Dhabi, Al Bateen Executive Airport is a private aviation facility that caters to business jets and executive aircraft. While not in Bahrain, it serves high-end travelers from the region, including Bahrain.
- Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC): Situated in Dubai, UAE, Al Maktoum International Airport is one of the world’s largest airports in terms of land area. While not in Bahrain, it serves as a major air hub for the region, including connecting flights to and from Bahrain.
- Dubai International Airport (DXB): Located in Dubai, UAE, Dubai International Airport is one of the busiest airports globally. While not in Bahrain, it serves as a major transit point for travelers flying to and from Bahrain.
- Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH): Situated in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Abu Dhabi International Airport is the main airport serving the UAE capital. While not in Bahrain, it serves as another major transit point for travelers connecting to and from Bahrain.
- King Fahd International Airport (DMM): Located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, King Fahd International Airport is one of the largest airports in the world in terms of area. While not in Bahrain, it serves as a major gateway for travelers flying to and from Bahrain, particularly from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
- King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED): Situated in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the Middle East. While not in Bahrain, it serves as a significant transit point for travelers connecting to and from Bahrain, particularly those traveling for Hajj or Umrah.
- King Khalid International Airport (RUH): Located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, King Khalid International Airport is the main airport serving the Saudi capital. While not in Bahrain, it serves as another major transit point for travelers connecting to and from Bahrain.
Acronyms for Major Entities
- BAPCO: Bahrain Petroleum Company – BAPCO is the national oil company of Bahrain, responsible for oil exploration, production, refining, and distribution.
- BHB: Bahrain Bourse – BHB is the stock exchange of Bahrain, where securities such as stocks and bonds are bought and sold.
- CBB: Central Bank of Bahrain – CBB is Bahrain’s central bank, responsible for monetary policy, currency issuance, and financial regulation.
- BIA: Bahrain International Airport – BIA refers to Bahrain International Airport, the primary international gateway to Bahrain.
- GDN: Gulf Daily News – GDN is Bahrain’s English-language daily newspaper, providing news and information on local, regional, and international events.