Bahrain: The Middle East's Party Capital

Located in the Persian Gulf, off the coast of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the Kingdom of Bahrain is the smallest and most surprising country in the Middle East. Here, homosexuality is legal, alcohol flows freely, other religions practiced and women live freely. Little wonder the island has become the party capital of the Middle East, particularly for young Saudis… Bahrain was built thanks to its gas and oil resources but today the reserves are running out and the country must reinvent itself. It plans to do this by attracting investors from all over the world. Here there is no corporate tax, no income tax and no VAT. Bahrain is in the middle of a real estate frenzy, constructing artifi cial islands and ultra modern skyscrapers. It sees itself as the new, more liberated Dubai. But behind this facade of tolerance lies a darker reality. The predominantly Shi’ite population is ruled with an iron fist by the Sunni minority, headed by the Al Khalifa royal family. All Shi’ite political opposition is severely repressed and their leaders imprisoned. Director: Jérôme Dion