immigration to Bahrain

The Following Factors Speak For An Immigration To Bahrain

• Best Ease of Settling In
• Fast Feeling at Home
• Very Friendly People
• Very easy Finding Friends
• Good for Working Abroad
• Safe for Women

Traveling information

The Bahraini law requires all residents and visitors in Bahrain to carry photographic ID issued by the Information and eGovernment Authority in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The ID card is valid for 5 years from the date of issuance.  The card holder’s data, including 9-digit personal number, passport data, driver’s license, fingerprint, photo, signature of the holder is electronically stored on the chip in the Card.  This card is used to obtain government services in Bahrain and as transit through e-gates at Airports.

A fine up to 300BHD may be fined if anyone is found without the ID when the Bahraini authorities ask anyone to show the ID.  Travelling restrictions: Video cassettes or DVDs are not allowed and may be withheld on arrival at the airport.

By Sea:

Bahrain has three harbors in Manama, Sitrah & Mina Salman. Bahrain’s Cruise Port is Port Khalifa Bin Salman, in Muharroq island, which is 20 minutes away from Capital city Manama. There are cruises to Bahrain from Dubai & Abu Dhabi. Ferry services to & from Iran is cancelled

By Train:

As of now there are no railways in Bahrain but plans for developing a railway system connecting all Persian Gulf countries and a monorail which would run throughout the island is in the pipeline.

By Road: There are two international highways in Bahrain.  The King Fahd Causeway connects Bahrain and Saudi Arabia which has a stretch of 25 km (16 ml).  However, since March’20 the causeway is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

The second one is the Qatar Bahrain Friendship Bridge which covers a length of 40 km (25 ml) from Qatar to Bahrain which is estimated to be opened in 2022 is the extension of the

By Flights:

Bahrain is connected by air travels from Middle East, North & East Africa, India. It is the main base for Gulf Air.  There are frequent flights from Dubai operated by Emirates and Fly Dubai.  Air Arabia fly’s daily from Sharjah (UAE). Cathay Pacific operates regular flights from Hong Kong (via Dubai).  You can fly to Bahrain from major 9 destinations in India. There are either non-stop or connecting flights from Bangkok, Amsterdam, Athens, Frankfurt, London, Manila, Moscow and Paris to Bahrain. Book safe and reliable flights from your destination to Belize on uemigrate.com

For information on Visa for Bahrain click here.

People

Bahrainis are generally friendly towards foreigners; however they are not integrated into Bahraini society. Their family is very private to a Bahrainis and therefore asking prying questions about family members must be avoided. Even though Bahrain is a socially liberal state, many residents are conservative. You need to be careful not to offend anyone, especially as regards to religious traditions, beliefs, customs and laws. It is appropriate to dress conservatively in public places mainly religious places.

They have generally long greetings with smiles and hugs inquiring about each other’s family and health. Men shake hands and kiss each other on the cheek. A man and women shake hands only if the women initiate it. A man will not ask about another man’s wife. Women hugs and kisses only close friends.

For more information on Bahrain’s Culture, Etiquettes, business culture  please visit commisceo-global.com

Job offers

Job are done by over 70% expatriates who work in almost every field from industry to investment banking. Many jobs are held by foreign temporary workers. There are many job opportunities in Teaching English and the Hospitality industry. Though finding jobs in not easy in Bahrain, there are many job portals which might be opening in your case. The response rate from these portals in 1%.

To find jobs as an expat click on expatriates.com, I also found this article helpful which gives the names of portals where to find specific jobs. To read click on visahunter.com

Unemployment Rate

Trading Economics forecasts that the unemployment rate in Bahrain will likely be about 4.50% in 2024 and increase to 4.80% in 2025. There is an unemployment rate of 15% among the Bahrainis as most of the jobs are staffed by expats. However, majority of Bahrainis are wealthiest, educated and well-to-do people. 

Expats constitute 20% of Bahrain’s population. Most of them are temporary workers coming from neighboring Arab countries and many from Pakistan, India, Southeast Asia, America and Europe.

Economy of  Bahrain 

Bahrain’s economy is largely based on petrol, which accounts for 60% of exports and 30% GDP. Other than Petroleum, offshore Banking, aluminum smelting, ship repairing, asphalt, cement blocks to name a few contribute to the countries growing economy. Tourism alone contributes 9% of the GDP.

Bahrain depends largely on imports for Food for its population as only 1 percent of its land is fertile.  Local produced fish, shrimps, vegetables, fruits and poultry are sold in the market known as “Souks”.  Other imports include crude oil, machinery, transportation equipment.

The posh and rich country Bahrain is headquarters for many multinational business organizations like banking and finance based in the Persian Gulf area because of its modern well-development communication and transportation system. Bahrain exports 60% of petroleum products and 7% of aluminum to other gulf countries and to India, Japan and South Korea. For more information on the economy of Bahrain, please visit: focus-economics.com

Cost of Living in Bahrain

The cost of living in Bahrain is moderate compared to other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Housing is one of the major expenses, with rent prices varying depending on location, size, and amenities. In popular areas like Juffair or Seef, a one-bedroom apartment can range from BHD 300 to BHD 600 per month. Utilities and internet may add an additional BHD 30 to BHD 60 monthly. Food costs are reasonable, especially if purchasing local goods. Dining out is also affordable, with meals at mid-range restaurants costing around BHD 5 to BHD 10.

Transportation is relatively cheap, with fuel prices being low due to Bahrain’s oil industry, and public transportation options like buses and taxis are available. However, many expatriates prefer to drive, and car prices are generally affordable. Overall, while Bahrain offers a comfortable lifestyle, the cost can vary significantly depending on personal preferences for housing, transportation, and entertainment.

Renting and buying of real estate’s in Bahrain

Buying:

Residents from GCC countries who hold permits can buy permanent residence here. Non- Bahrainis can own real estate in Bahrain only in areas designated by the government, however they must pay 10% tax on property to the government.  Foreigners must consult real estate lawyers or property offices where to find freehold properties.

These are the areas where a foreigners can buy properties : Hoora, Bu Ghazal, Seef, Ahmed Al-Fateh, Northern Manama, Durrat Al-Bahrain, Dannat Hawar and Amwaj Islands. To find property in Bahrain, click on propertyfinder.bh

Renting:

For expats arriving in Bahrain on work visa, accommodation is prearranged through the employer. But there is an option to choose accommodation of your own choice upon arrival in Bahrain. Real Estate agents are very helpful to negotiate the house within your budget. Initially you can choose short term house and later settle with some housing on permanent basis as your job requires.

for renting opportunities please visit : expatarrivals.com

Climate

Bahrain has a dеsеrt climatе, charactеrizеd by hot summеrs and mild wintеrs. Thе country typically еxpеriеncеs two main sеasons: a hot summеr and a coolеr wintеr. It doеsn’t havе distinct four sеasons likе somе othеr rеgions.

During thе summеr months, which еxtеnd from April to Octobеr, tеmpеraturеs can soar to maximums еxcееding 40 dеgrееs Cеlsius (104 dеgrееs Fahrеnhеit). Thе hottеst pеriod is usually in Junе and July.  In contrast, thе wintеr months, spanning from Novеmbеr to March, bring mildеr tеmpеraturеs. Thе minimum tеmpеraturеs during this pеriod can rangе from around 10 to 15 dеgrееs Cеlsius (50 to 59 dеgrееs Fahrеnhеit). January tеnds to bе thе coolеst month.

Bahrain’s climatе is influеncеd by its location in thе Arabian Gulf, contributing to thе ovеrall arid and warm wеathеr conditions throughout thе yеar. Thе bеst timе to visit Bahrain is during thе wintеr months, from Novеmbеr to March. During this pеriod, thе wеathеr is mildеr, and tеmpеraturеs arе morе comfortablе for outdoor activitiеs. Thе summеr months, particularly Junе to August, can bе еxtrеmеly hot, with high tеmpеraturеs that may not bе suitablе for еvеryonе. If you prеfеr plеasant wеathеr and want to еxplorе Bahrain comfortably, thе wintеr sеason is gеnеrally considеrеd thе most favorablе timе for tourists.

To get more information of the weather in Bahrain visit climatestotravel.com

Language 

In Bahrain, sеvеral languagеs arе spokеn alongsidе thе official languagе, Arabic. As a global languagе of commеrcе and diplomacy, English holds a significant placе in Bahrain. It is widеly usеd in businеss, еducation, and official communications. Many Bahrainis arе bilingual, with proficiеncy in both Arabic and English. In Bahrain, many people from South Asia, especially Pakistan, speak Urdu. They use it every day to communicate with each other in their community. The Ajam of Bahrain, also called Persian Bahrainis or Iranian Bahrainis, are a group of people in Bahrain who are Shia citizens with a background from Iran.They speak Farsi, especially at home, particularly in areas where the Iranian community is concentrated. The presence of people from countries like India and the Philippines has brought languages such as Malayalam and Tagalog to Bahrain, spoken within their respective communities, creating a diverse environment. In Bahrain, people from Baluchistan and Sindh regions of Pakistan, who have moved here, speak Baluchi and Sindhi, adding to the variety of languages in the country.

Currency 

The official currency of Bahrain is BD (The Bahraini Dinar). The code of the currency is BHD. The BHD is the world’s second highest valued currency. 1 BHD – 2.659 USD currently.

The currency is available in the following denominations:
0.5 dinar / 1 dinar / 5 dinars / 10 dinars / 20 dinars

Coins are known as fils and are available in the following denominations:
5 fils / 10 fils /25 fils / 50 fils / 100 fils

Payment Transactions

The foremost and the dominant payment method in Bahrain is “Cash”. The next most preferred payment method is Cards. The four popular cards are Visa, Mastercard and BENEFIT. PayPal, bitpay, Paysera, Skrill, AlliedWallet  are some digital wallets that are used in Bahrain. 

For more information on payment methods in Bahrain please visit: lmra.bh

Traffic

Traffic is Bahrain is disciplined as roads are well maintained. Appropriate Traffic signs are displayed in Arabic and English. To drive a rented car, you need to obtain driving license from the General Directorate of Traffic situated at Isa Town. Rented cars are available on daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Traffic laws and regulations are a must to follow and violations of these rules carry a heavy penalty. In case of traffic violations fines between 20 – 100 BD is fined. In case of severe traffic violations, a fine of 50 to 500 BD and Jail up to 6 months is imposed.

Get detailed information prior to drive in Bahrain from the General Directorate of Traffic. Contact information is given in the below:

General Directorate of Traffic
Telephone: +973 17872222 / +973 17872287
Email : traffic@gdt.gov.bh
Website : traffic.gov.bh

Education

Bahrain has a well-established education system that is provided free by the Bahraini state, from primary education to secondary education. However, migrant children are not free for education, although there are many schools and universities catering to the needs of the international community. Bahrain offers private and international schools where expatriate children can receive education in subjects in the British, American and Indian systems Some renowned international schools and St. Mary’s are the most popular schools in the world. Christopher’s School, Nadine School and the British School of Bahrain.

In terms of higher education, Bahrain has several universities that welcome international students, such as the University of Bahrain, the Arabian Gulf University and the Royal University for Women These institutions offer programs in English, and offer international students are able to access those programs. Employment opportunities for international students in Bahrain are somewhat limited due to work visa laws, but graduates in fields such as engineering, finance and IT enjoy special opportunities in Bahrain’s growing economic and tech sector.

Health Insurance

In Bahrain, the healthcare system is a blend of public and private services designed to cater to the needs of its citizens and residents. The government provides free medical services to Bahraini citizens through a comprehensive public healthcare system, funded by national resources. This includes access to a network of hospitals and clinics for primary and specialized care. Immigrants, refugees, and tourists, however, do not receive the same level of free medical services. While immigrants and expats working in Bahrain often have access to public hospitals, they are generally required to have health insurance coverage, either through their employers or privately purchased policies. Tourists are expected to carry travel insurance to cover any medical expenses incurred during their stay. Overall, Bahrain’s approach ensures that citizens receive free care while also encouraging residents and visitors to secure appropriate insurance coverage for their health needs.

Important addresses

British Embassy
21 Government Ave, Manama, Bahrain
Phone: +973 1757 4100

United States Embassy
6H3C+V8G, Rd No 3119, Zinj,
Bahrain
Phone: +973 1724 2700

Embassy of the United Arab Emirates
Rd No 2510, Manama, Bahrain
Phone: +973 1774 8333

Honorary Consulate of Ireland
6GRQ+98C, Road 2804،, Jidhafs,
Bahrain

German Embassy
6H9J+WMH، شارع السلمانية، Manama,
Bahrain
Phone: +973 1774 5277

Bahrain International Airport
Rd 2404, Muharraq,
Bahrain
Phone: +973 8000 7777

Al Hoora Health Centre (public health centre)
1913 Rd No 1906, Manama, Bahrain
Phone: +973 1731 8888

Muharraq Civil Defence – National Ambulance
7J88+974, Busaiteen, Bahrain
Phone: +973 1732 0349

Public Security Forces
P.O Box 13, Manama,
Kingdom of Bahrain,
Manama, Bahrain

Phone :
999 (emergency – covers fire, police and ambulance)
199 (to report accidents)
8008008 (general)
17870302 (women police)
17681043 ( Juvenile care centre)

Summary

Bahrain is an archipelago, situated in the Arabian Gulf and consists of a main island and several smaller islands. Bahrain, a prominеnt GCC country, is incrеasingly rеcognizеd as an optimal dеstination for immigrants and еxpats. Its rеputation for a wеlcoming atmosphеrе has solidifiеd its status as a prеfеrrеd location for thosе pursuing a nеw lifе abroad. With a richly divеrsе culturе and a friеndly rеputation, Bahrain stands out as an attractivе choicе for forеignеrs sееking to bе part of a dynamic and inclusivе community. Bеyond its cultural appеal, Bahrain’s intеrnational allurе is complеmеntеd by thе еasе of daily lifе, with 91 pеrcеnt finding it accеssiblе еvеn without knowlеdgе of thе local languagе. Additionally, thе island nation boasts a rеlativеly rеasonablе cost of living and a robust еconomy, making it a compеlling option for thosе contеmplating a movе. Bahrain sеamlеssly combinеs cultural richnеss with a conducivе еnvironmеnt for both living and working abroad, crеating a wеll-roundеd and еnticing prospеct for prospеctivе rеsidеnts.