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Key facts about Bahrain

Population: 1,323,535 (World Bank, 2011)
GDP (nominal): US$ 31.101 billion (2011 estimate)
GDP (per capita): US$23,132 (2011 estimate)
1 Bahraini Dinar = 2.65 US Dollars (December 2012)
Time zone: (UTC+3)
Calling code: 973

Bahrain is a semi-tropical archipelago in the Arabian Gulf, roughly 45km long by 15km wide, within sight of the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia.

The country is a constitutional hereditary monarchy, ruled by the Al Khalifa family. The capital is Manama, which has more than doubled in population in the last thirty years.

About 62% of the population is ethnically Bahraini. It’s a Muslim country, and the official language is Arabic, although most of the population speaks English, which is also the business language.

An attractive place to live and work

Although Bahrain is a Muslim country, it is considered to be one of the most liberal of all of the GCC States. You can enjoy a wide range of entertainment and leisure activities, including many water-based sports, excellent restaurants and nightlife. The shopping is second to none, with seven enormous shopping malls offering outlets for all of the major international designers, as well as stores from Spain, Germany, Australia, France, the US and elsewhere.

The climate is pleasant from October to May, but can be very hot at other times. However, most houses and offices are air-conditioned.

A wide range of accommodation is on offer, from inner-city luxury apartments to country villas. The cost varies; for example, an average fully-furnished three-bedroom villa with all amenities (including a shared pool and tennis courts) will be around US$2,000 a month. We can assist with arranging water, electricity and municipality rates, as well as the installation of phone lines and mobile phone accounts.

A good selection of both state and private hospitals is available. There’s also a wide range of first-class private schools, as well as nurseries. We’re happy to advise on any of these.