M ina Sulman as one of the major ports in the Middle East opened in 1980, which now has the only container terminal in the Middle East entirely operated by the local workforce. Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example, during and following the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude.
Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects.
Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.