Living and Working in Bahrain

Why live in Bahrain?
Bahrain is one of the most cosmopolitan and Westernised countries in the Middle East. While Islam is the main religion, Bahrainis are known for their tolerance. One of the key differences in Bahrain is the restriction of alcohol. Generally, only hotels have licenses to sell alcohol, so you are likely to find that the majority of bars, restaurants and clubs aimed at Westerners will be attached to hotels.

The month of Ramadan is a feature of life in the Middle East. During this month, eating, drinking and smoking are not permitted in public, from sunrise to sunset. This is strictly adhered to and even as a non-Muslim it is unacceptable to partake in any of the above.

While drinking might be frowned upon, shopaholics are more than welcome in Bahrain; it’s a retail paradise with breathtaking malls and department stores, selling everything from Blu-ray players to designer clothes, all tax free.

If you’re more of an outdoors person, you’ll have no trouble finding a local willing to share their love of fishing, horse riding, golf or water sports with you. Desert driving is also popular - what could be more exciting than taking a 4-wheel drive over the sand dunes?

Budding socialites will be at home among the thriving expat community; relax around the pool at one of the social clubs or sample the cuisine at restaurants serving Arabic, European, American and Asian cuisine.

Link for more information: http://www.bahrain.com

Pay & Benefits
Bahrain’s prosperity is not dependent on its oil reserves, becoming known for its financial institutions as early as the 1970s. It now has a well established base of leading, international companies and financial institutions, attracted by the buoyant economic situation.

Having made major investments in education and social welfare, Bahrain aims to become as self sufficient as possible in terms of its work force. For a candidate to be employed from overseas they must have experience and skills that cannot be found locally. For those candidates with skills in demand, a move to Bahrain could be life changing; remuneration and benefits packages are among the best in the world.

Taxes
A major incentive to move to Bahrain is its status as a free economic zone. You don’t pay income tax here.

Visas
To obtain a driving licence, bank account or health insurance you need a Residence Visa. Your employer will act as your sponsor during your stay and it will be their responsibility to organise your Residence Visa.

Bank Accounts
Several of the world’s leading banks and their subsidiaries have branches in Bahrain. A number of foreign banks, including the British Bank of the Middle East, Citibank and Standard Chartered, have a major presence here. Setting up an account is easy, as is transferring money home. You’ll be given a cash card to withdraw money from ATM machines and credit cards are widely accepted.

Travel
Bahrain International airport is located on Al Muharraq, an island on the northern tip of the mainland. Gulf Air, British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa and KLM regularly fly in and out of Bahrain.

You'll need to acquire an International Driving Permit before entering the country. Many people purchase cars for the duration of their stay as cars and petrol are so cheap.

Bahrain has a decent bus service linking most of the major towns with Manama and Muharraq. Taxis are metered, but for longer trips expect to negotiate an hourly rate.

Cost of Living
Like most Gulf countries, Bahrain is not the cheapest. It's possible to get a decent meal for under a dinar, and car rental at BD 10-20/day is reasonable.