Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands. Modern causeways connect the four main islands, and all are connected to Saudi Arabia by the 25km causeway which opened in November 1986.

Bahrain is an Arabic word meaning “Two Seas”, and refers to two facts, one that the islands contain two sources of water, sweetwater springs and salty water in the surrounding seas, or to the south and north waters of the gulf, separating it from the Arabian coast and Iran, respectively.

The island was once known as Dilmun, and was home to an ancient civilisation that played a central trading role between the peoples of the Indus Valley (now Indus) to the south and Mesopotamia (now Iraq) to the north. Dilumn’s capital was a major port whose remains are visible today and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bahrain Fort (Qal’at al Bahrain).

The Kingdom also features in one of the world’s oldest and most enduring pieces of literature, the Epic of Gilgamesh, where the island was home to the source of eternal youth. The tale is believed to refer to the pearls from the shallow gulf waters around Bahrain, which were one of Bahrain’s biggest exports for generations.

To learn more about the history of The Kingdom of Bahrain, pay a visit to Bahrain National Museum and take a tour of the Bahrain Pearling Trail.

Key Facts

Capital City: Manama

Climate: Hot summers, pleasant winters. July and August are Bahrain’s hottest months of the year, while January and February are the country’s wettest months.

Total Land Area: 765 square kilometers

Bahrain Time Difference: GMT +3 (winter) / GMT +2 (summer)

Governorates: Bahrain is divided into five governorates

•         Capital
•         Central
•         Muharraq
•         Northern
•         Southern

Government: The government of The Kingdom of Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy, with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa as the head of state.

Total Population: 1.7 million

Official Language: The official language is Arabic. English is very widely spoken and is the principal language of commerce.

Country Dialing Code: +973

Airport: Bahrain International Airport

Religion: Islam

Currency:  Bahraini Dinar (BHD), which is pegged to the US Dollar

•         1 Bahraini Dinar (BHD) = 2.65 US Dollars ($US)

Finding A Home

Choosing the right property for you:

When deciding on a new home, your considerations may include; the location, how much rent you can afford to pay, and the type of property you’d prefer. What requirements are most important to you.
You should consider the following factors before contacting a leasing agent. The more information you can give your agent, the easier it is for them to source the right properties for you to view.
The number of bedrooms you require. If you have children, do they need a bedroom each? Do you need a guest bedroom? Do you need an extra bedroom that can be used as a home office/study?
Do you have your own furniture, or do you want to rent fully furnished?
Do you require a pet-friendly property?

Location:
If you have children, choosing the best school for you should be at the top of your list of priorities before finding a place to live.
If you spend a lot of time in the office, living close to work will reduce your commute, leaving you more time to spend with family and on social activities.
If you are commuting to Saudi Arabia on a daily basis, then consider the areas with easy access to the causeway.
See our information pages:  Accommodation Overview and Schools for further information to help you with these decisions.

Furnished vs Semi Furnished:
The majority of villas are leased on a semi-furnished basis i.e. fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, oven, dishwasher (depending on the property), air conditioning, built in wardrobes and curtains. There are a few options for fully furnished villas.
The majority of apartments are leased on a fully furnished basis. The extent of the furnishing depends on the landlord and can vary from just the basic furnishings: beds, sofas, dining table etc., to a fully equipped property with bedding, towels, accessories and kitchen items (cutlery, crockery, pots/pans etc).
Discuss the options with your chosen agent, and let them know your requirements.

Tax and Utilities – Inclusive v Exclusive:
The majority of fully furnished properties are leased on an inclusive basis – including the Municipality tax (7.5% of the monthly rent), electricity/water (there will be a cap for EWA, ask your agent to negotiate that this is calculated on an annual basis rather than monthly), internet (generally a basic package), and satellite TV.
Semi furnished properties are generally leased on an exclusive basis – excludes the Municipality tax (10% of the monthly rent) and utilities.

Tenancy Agreements; Terms and Conditions:  The minimum term is one year, with an option to renew.
Diplomatic clause. In case you are required to leave the island permanently, you may give one month written notice at any time, along with supporting documents.
The lease term usually starts within a maximum of 3-4 weeks of signing the agreement.
The tenant is required to pay 1-2 months in advance, and after that payments are made monthly or quarterly in advance.
Some landlords will request a one month security deposit against damages.
Notice period is one month written notice after the end of the term.
Rent Increase – The landlord can only increase the rent by 5% every two years.

Agency Fees:
In Bahrain, the landlord pays the agent fees. We recommend choosing one agent to work with. All agents have access to the same available properties.

Moving In:
If the tenant is responsible for the Municipality tax and electricity/water (where the lease is exclusive), you will need to take your lease agreement, Bahrain CPR card and bank details to the Ministry of Electricity and Water (EWA) to transfer the account into your name, prior to the lease start date.
If you are leasing a fully furnished property, make sure you receive a complete inventory of all items that will be included. On moving in, check the inventory, and keep one copy for your records.

Maintenance and Repairs:
You will be provided with a contact number for maintenance and repairs. Please refer to your lease agreement for more details of what your Landlord is responsible for maintaining.

Location Overview

Adliya, Mahooz and Surrounding Areas

• Villa compounds
• Low rise apartment buildings
• Licensed restaurants and bars
• Local amenities: salons, coffee shops, banks, car rental, tailors
• British Club of Bahrain
• Nadeen School
• Various nursery schools
• Easy access to Manama and Saudi causeway

Amwaj Islands, Dilmunia and Marassi

• High rise apartment buildings with excellent facilities
• Luxury villas
• Sea Views
• Beach/water access
• Local amenities: coffee shops, salons, cold stores
• Licensed restaurants and bars
• Carrefour hypermarket
• Alosra supermarket
• The International School of Choueifat
• Easy access to Manama

Juffair

• High rise apartment buildings with excellent facilities
• Villa compounds
• US Naval base
• Local amenities: salons, coffee shops, banks, car rental, tailors
• Licensed restaurants and bars
• Oasis Mall, Juffair Mall
• Carrefour and Lulu hypermarkets
• Cinema
• Bahrain School
• Easy access to Manama and Saudi causeway

Hamala and Surrounding Areas

• Villa compounds
• Luxury individual villas
• Hamala Hills shopping complex
• Al Jazira supermarket
• Local amenities; salons, coffee shops, cold stores
• The British School of Bahrain
• Victoria Dance School
• Several nursery schools
• Easy access to the Saudi causeway

Reef Island

• High-end apartment buildings with excellent facilities
• Sea and city views
• Local amenities: restaurants, coffee shops, cold store
• Reef Island resort
• Easy access to Malls in Seef District
• Easy access to Manama and Saudi causeway

Riffa Views

• Gated community offering luxury villas
• Riffa Views International School
• Bahrain Royal Golf Club
• Alosra supermarket
• Local amenities; coffee shops and restaurants
• Easy access to Manama

Saar and Surrounding Areas

• Villa compounds
• Luxury individual villas
• Low rise apartment buildings
• Alosra supermarket
• Local amenities; tailors, salons, coffee shops, cold stores
• Bahrain Rugby Club
• The Dilmun Club
• Christopher’s School
• Atrium Mall – including cinema complex and Lulu hypermarket
• Easy access to the Saudi causeway
• Various nursery schools
• American Mission Hospital

Seef District and Sanabis

• High-end apartment buildings with excellent facilities
• Sea and city views
• Seef Mall, A’ali Mall, City Centre Mall, Bahrain Mall
• Carrefour and Lulu hypermarkets
• Local amenities: salons, cold stores, coffee shops
• Easy access to Manama and the Saudi causeway

Find A School

Below is a list of some recommended expat schools with curriculum and contact details so you can start deciding which school suits your requirements.

British School of Bahrain Location: Hamala
Curriculum: British and Arabic
Grades or Year Groups: KG1 to Year 13
Contact number: +973 17610920
Website: https://britishschoolbahrain.com/

St. Christopher’s School
Location: Saar and Isa Town
Curriculum: British, Arabic, IB
Grades or Year Groups: KG1 to Year 13
Contact number: +97317605050
Website: https://www.st-chris.net/

Nadeen International School
Location: Mahooz
Curriculum: British
Grades or Year Groups: KG1 to Year 6
Contact number: +973 17728886
Website: https://www.nadeenschool.com/

British Preparatory School
Location: Saar
Curriculum: British
Grades or Year Groups: Pre School to Year 1
Contact number: +973 17792010
Website: https://www.britishprepbahrain.com/

The International School of Choueifat
Location: Amwaj Islands
Curriculum: SABIS
Grades or Year Groups: KG1 t Grade 12
Contact number: +973 16033333
Website: https://iscmanama.sabis.net/

Bahrain Indian School
Location: Muqabah
Curriculum: CBSE
Grades or Year Groups: KG1 to Grade 8
Contact number:  +973 17598000
Website: http://bhavansbahrain.com/

Children’s House Montessori Nursery School
Location: Janabiyah
Curriculum:  Montessori
Grades or Year Groups: Age 3 – 6 Years
Contact number:  +973 17699844
Website: https://www.thechildrenshousebahrain.com

Little Gems Pre- School Location: Barbar
Curriculum: UK EYFS
Grades or Year Groups: Pre Nursery to Nursery
Contact number: +973 17694356
Website: http://www.little-gems-preschool.com/

Riffa Views International School
Location:  Riffa
Curriculum:  IB
Grades or Year Groups: Nursery to Grade 12
Contact number:  +973 16565000
Website: https://www.rvis.edu.bh/

The Multinational School
Location:  Adliya
Curriculum:  IGCSE
Grades or Year Groups: Nursery to Year 13
Contact number:  +973 17711444
Website: http://mns-bahrain.com/

Modern Knowledge School
Location: Juffair
Curriculum:  American, Arabic and IB
Grades or Year Groups: KG1 to Grade 12
Contact number:  +973 17727712
Website: https://www.mks.edu.bh/

Capital School Bahrain
Location:  Manama
Curriculum:  Arabic, British, IGCSE
Grades or Year Groups: FS1 to Year 7
Contact number:  +973 17008880
Website: https://www.capitalschoolbahrain.com/

Budaiya Pre School
Location: Budaiya
Curriculum: British, UKEFYS
Grades or Year Groups: Pre School to Reception
Contact number: +973 17791491
Website: http://www.budaiyapreschool.com

AMA International School
Location: Budaiya
Curriculum:  American
Grades or Year Groups:  Pre School to Grade 12
Contact number:  +973 17598440
Website: http://www.amais.edu.bh