Slavery in Bahrain

Bahrain Pearling License 1942. In the 1940s, the laborers of the Pearl industry was dominated by slaves.
Pearl diving in Bahrain, March 1911. At the time, the laborers of the Pearl industry was dominated by slaves.
Pearl diving in Bahrain, March 1911. At the time, the laborers of the Pearl industry was dominated by slaves.

Open slavery existed in Bahrain until the 1930s. Slavery was formally abolished in Bahrain in 1937. Slavery ended earlier in Bahrain than in any other Gulf state, with the exception of Iran and Iraq. Many members of the Afro-Arabian minority are descendants of the former slaves. Slavery of people from Africa and East Asia was succeeded by the modern Kafala system of poor workers from the same region were slaves had previously been imported.