Islam is the state religion and more than 85 percent of the population are Muslims. There are also Christians, Jews, Bahai, Hindu and Parsee minorities. There are no restrictions on import or export of currency. Visitors to Bahrain require entry visas, except those holding passports from the United Kingdom and the GCC states. Many businesses close early on Thursday.
Postal services are speedy and reliable.
Bahrain International Airport and the port of Mina Sulman are to international standards and well serviced. Bahrain is one of the few countries in the region where nationals are in the majority. Demographically Bahrain's population is young, with almost half under twenty. Illiteracy, which used to be a problem, has virtually disappeared among young people and a very high proportion of Bahrainis speak English which is taught as a compulsory second language in schools. Due to its centralised location within the Gulf region and its excellent port and airport services, Bahrain has become both an attractive local tourist resort and also an important business centre.