Bahrain
Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is the smallest (and only island) country in the Middle East. Even though he is one of the smallest, he is also one of the most developed countries in the Middle East. Bahrain is one of the only Middle Eastern countries that does not rely on oil as the staple thing is produced. Instead, its main source of income is the banking industry, because he is considered to be a tax haven. Bahrain is plagued with internal conflict because the ruling family are 
Sunni Muslims and the majority of his population are 
Shia Muslims.
History
As part of the adoption of the National Action Charter on 14 February 2002, Bahrain changed his formal name from the State (dawla) of Bahrain to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Following the political liberalisation of the country, Bahrain negotiated a free trade agreement with the 
United States in 2004. In 2005, 
Qal'at al-Bahrain, a fort and archaeological complex was inscribed as a 
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In early 2011, inspired by the Arab Spring, Bahrain's Shia majority began large protests against their Sunni rulers. Initially, the government allowed demonstrations but later requested help from 
Saudi Arabia and 
Gulf Cooperation Council countries, declaring a state of emergency. A crackdown followed, leading to thousands of arrests and allegations of torture. Daily clashes between protesters and security forces resulted in numerous deaths. By March 2014, more than 80 civilians and 13 police officers had died, with some fatalities linked to tear gas used by the government. The protests, which garnered limited coverage from Gulf media, were also said to involve alleged 
Iranian support for Bahraini militants.
The Saudi-led Intervention of Bahrain issued swift suppression of widespread government protests through military assistance from Saudi Arabia and the 
United Arab Emirates. The 2011 Bahraini uprising, inspired by the Arab Spring, ended in a bloody crackdown against the mainly Shiite demonstrators who had demanded an elected government, threatening the Sunni monarchy's grip on power.
