Want to live and work in Bahrain?

Bahrain is considered the most affordable of the Gulf countries. A furnished one-bedroom apartment in Juffair, Seef or Adliya costs between BHD 350 and BHD 600 per month (approximately USD 930 to USD 1,600). In Amwaj or Reef Island, with sea views, it rises to BHD 700 to BHD 1,000. In Riffa, Saar and Hidd, with more space for families, it runs from BHD 400 to BHD 800.

Grocery shopping is reasonable, with chains like Lulu, Carrefour, Al Jazira and Megamart. South Asian, Arab world and Western products coexist on the shelves. Eating out is affordable, with a meal at a simple restaurant costing BHD 3 to 5 and dinner at a better establishment running BHD 12 to 25 per person. Petrol is subsidized and very cheap.

Fixed expenses for families include international school fees (between BHD 3,000 and BHD 8,000 per year per child) and private health insurance (mandatory by law and generally paid by the employer). Electricity is subsidized for residents (around BHD 30 to 60 per month) but can spike sharply in summer with constant air conditioning. There is no personal income tax, which significantly boosts purchasing power.

Basic education is free for Bahraini citizens, with separate schools for boys and girls at many levels. Expatriate children typically attend international schools (American, British, Indian, Pakistani, French, German, Japanese, Filipino), which are plentiful in Manama, with curricula from the home country or IB.

The University of Bahrain is the main public institution, with a campus in Sakhir. Other important options include Arabian Gulf University (Manama), Bahrain Polytechnic, Royal University for Women, AMA International University, RCSI Medical University Bahrain (a campus of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland), and Ahlia University.

Higher education is largely conducted in English across most university courses, reflecting the country's commercial heritage and its role as a regional financial hub. Students from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and the UAE come to Bahrain, and the country also attracts students from India and Pakistan.

Bahrain is considered safe by international standards. Violent crimes against foreigners are extremely rare, and police presence is constant in commercial and residential areas. Women walk comfortably in malls and busy streets, even at night.

During certain periods, political demonstrations (especially in predominantly Shia villages inland, such as Sitra, Sanabis, and Diraz) can generate localized tension with police. These incidents rarely affect central Manama, tourist areas, or expatriate neighborhoods, but it is important to stay alert to consular advisories.

The basic day-to-day precautions are the same as in any city: stay alert in nighttime parking lots, keep documents secure, and avoid posting political criticism of the government on social media (cybercrime laws are strict). Roads are of good quality, and the country's small size makes navigation easy.

Bahrain has a millennia-old commercial tradition, having been a stopping point on routes between Mesopotamia, India, and Persia. Pearl diving was the main economic activity until the early 20th century, when oil replaced it. The Pearling Path in Muharraq is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserving the traditional houses of merchants and divers.

The cuisine is typical of the Gulf, with Persian, Indian, and Arab influences. Dishes such as machboos (rice with lamb or chicken, the national dish), muhammar (sweet rice with dates), and fresh Gulf seafood are popular. Restaurants in Adliya serve international cuisine (Italian, Lebanese, Indian, Japanese). The culture of hookah (shisha) and Arabic coffee is part of social life.

The Bahrain Grand Prix Formula 1 race, held at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir since 2004, is the biggest sporting event of the year. Other tourist attractions include the Al Fateh Grand Mosque (one of the largest in the world), the Bahrain Fort (an archaeological site), the Tree of Life (a lone tree in the desert), and museums in Manama.

Bahrain is an archipelago of approximately 40 islands in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia and west of Qatar. The main island is home to Manama, Muharraq and Riffa, where about 95% of the population lives. The other islands are small, some private (Hawar, Jidda) or artificial (Amwaj, Reef Island, Diyar Al Muharraq), built through land reclamation over the past two decades for real estate development.

The terrain is flat and low-lying, with the highest point at Jabal ad-Dukhan (134 m) in the center of the main island, where the historic oil field is located. There are no permanent rivers, mountains or forests. The territory is classified as hot desert, with little spontaneous vegetation. The most famous tree is the Tree of Life, a lone centuries-old acacia in the middle of the desert.

The coastline is long because of the many islands, but much of it has been altered by reclamation. The natural shoreline has sandy beaches, remnant mangroves and recovering coral reefs. The present biomes are coastal hot desert, coastal mangroves (in Tubli Bay) and the shallow marine zones of the Gulf. Population density is very high for the country's size, peaking at nearly 2,350 people per km² in Manama.

The most commonly used path is a work visa with a sponsoring company (kafala), valid for 2 years and renewable. Recent reforms have made the system more flexible: the Flexi Permit, launched in 2017 (currently under review), allows some expatriate workers to operate without a specific sponsor. The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) regulates the foreign labor system.

The Golden Residency Visa, launched in 2022, is a local version of the program seen in other Gulf countries. It grants 10-year residency to investors (with a minimum investment in real estate or business), highly qualified professionals, retirees with proven income, and exceptional talents. It allows working, opening a business, and sponsoring family members.

There are also visas for qualified self-employed individuals, investors in small businesses, and the Family Visit Visa for family reunification. Bahraini citizenship is difficult for foreigners to obtain (generally requiring 25 years of residency), but long-term residency through the Golden Visa meets the needs of those who want to establish a base in the country without necessarily seeking a passport.