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Life in Bahrain

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands covering a total area of 741 square kilometres in the Arabian Gulf, located east of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and northwest of Qatar.

The island of Bahrain is renowned by the welcoming hearts of its population, a rich cultural and historical heritage, its economic diversity and endless opportunities. Lifestyle options are many and varied, and the country is known as one of the most forward-thinking and liberal in the Middle East. It is also known as the natural gateway to the Gulf due to its strategic location, with a particularly favourable access to Saudi Arabia, receiving almost 5 million visitors to its shores each year.

Bahrain, known for the friendliness and kindness of its community has been ranked as the 1st destination in MENA for personal happiness and 7th best destination globally for expats to work, live, and raise a family in 2019 by the InterNations Expat Survey. In the 2019 Expat Explorer survey from HSBC, Bahrain ranked at 5th in the world for Quality of Life and 1st for expatriates being able to reach their potential goals. With a government who actively support the development of youth and education, and who are investing in making the Kingdom an educational hub, it is the perfect location in the region for your University studies.

Bahrainis join the workforce with both an exceptional array of skills and extremely high levels of motivation, achieving the 2019 World Bank’s highest scores in MENA for human capital development. The World Bank has also recognized Bahrain’s initiatives in creating an enabling and innovative ecosystem, which allows businesses to thrive, achieving the distinction of the 4th most improved economy in 2019.

Financially, Bahrain is a great choice students on a budget, as compared to its GCC neighbors. The 2019 InterNations Expat Survey shows Bahrain as 1st in MENA for cost of living and 2nd for personal finance, job security and job satisfaction. Great short-term accommodation can be found near the AUBH Campus at reasonable pricing, and dining is something everyone on the island enjoys on a range of budgets.

Whether you are a thrill-seeker, nature-lover or foodie, you will not be disappointed by the island’s leisure scene, which is encouraged by young locals with an entrepreneurial streak, offering many home-grown brands and outlets. Outdoor spaces have seen a boom in the last few years, with many parks, man-made beaches and walking tracks popping up around the island to encouraging active lifestyles.