living in Bahrain
In an article in Foreign Direct Investment magazine, Manama the capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain has been rated as one of the top 20 Expat cities in the world. According to FDI Bahrain prides itself on its status as the “most free” economy in the Middle East – as judged by the heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal – and this liberal attitude rubs off on its lifestyle and cultural offerings for residents and business travelers. In the following sections, we will go through different aspect related to Bahrain that might be useful for you during your stay.
History
Evidence unearthed by archeologists indicates Bahrain was first inhabited at least 50,000 years ago, and possibly even as long ago as 100,000 years. Some of the flint tools found on the island suggest agriculture may have been practiced as early as 8000 BC.
Geography
Bahrain, which means “two seas,” is an archipelago in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia. The islands for the most part are level expanses of sand and rock. A causeway connects Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.
Economy
According to the 2006 Index of Economic Freedom published by the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal, Bahrain has the most free economy in the Middle East and is twenty-fifth overall in the world.
The survey put Bahrain ahead of regional competitors, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar because “The government has sought to diversify the economy to reduce dependence on Bahrain’s declining oil reserves and to encourage foreign investment. Because of its relatively cosmopolitan outlook, modern economy, favorable regulatory structure, and excellent communications and transportation infrastructure, many multinational firms doing business in the Persian Gulf are based in Bahrain.
The current GDP per capita shrank by 2.4% in the Eighties; it bounced back to a growth of 36% in the Nineties as a result of successful diversification initiatives. Bahrain’s urgency in embracing economic liberalization is due to its need to diversify the economy away from its limited oil supplies. Unlike its Gulf neighbors, Bahrain has little oil wealth and the economy has expanded into banking, heavy industries, retail and tourism. The Kingdom is the main banking hub for the Gulf and a centre for Islamic finance, which has been attracted by the strong regulatory framework for the industry according to the International Monetary Fund’s Financial System Stability Assessment of Bahrain’s financial regulatory environment, published on 6 March 2006.
Clothing
The general dress code for expatriates in Bahrain is smart-casual, no-one dresses sloppily in public. For women, it is important to keep in mind that even though the traditional Muslim head-covering (hijab) is not required, it is still advisable to dress conservatively.
Language
The official language in the Kingdom is Arabic. Those with training in Arabic will find it easier to move around, however, English is the second commonly spoken language which most people use. In all the Hospitals they have interpreters to assist in the language with patients.
Official Holidays
Friday is the weekly day of rest, but government offices also close on Saturday. There are also two public holidays every year:
The Eid Al-Fitr, (three days long) which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, is the longer of the two. It starts with a large prayer gathering and then visits to relatives and friends. Presents are usually given to children and close family members.
Eid Al-Adha forms the culmination of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
RAMADAN: This is the month when everyone fasts between sunrise and sunset to conform to the fourth pillar of Islam. Ramadan is mandatory for all Muslims and non Muslims should respect it by not smoking, drinking or eating in public during this period.
Currency
The Bahraini Dinar is the basic monetary unit it consists of 10 units of 100 fils (equivalent to 1 Saudi Riyal). The Dinar is pegged to the US Dollar so it fluctuates against other currencies in line with the dollar’s movement. Since 1986, the rate has been fixed at US$ = BD 0.377
Banking
While planning its economic diversification, Bahrain took advantage of its position as the Gulf’s central oil supplier to attract the world’s leading banks and insurance companies. Bahrain is now known as an international and regional wholesale interbank money center for the Middle East and beyond. The first offshore banking license was awarded in 1975. The country now has dozens of OBU’s, as well as commercial banks, specialized banks, investment banks, representative offices, money and foreign exchange brokers and moneychangers. It also has a large number of insurance companies.
According to an article published in Gulf Daily news in July, Bahrain’s banking industry is booming, with the consolidated balance sheet soaring to $163 billion at the end of June 2006. This is 33.5 per cent up on the same time last year, according to Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) figures.
Transportation & Carrier
Bahrain doesn’t really have a public transport system, although a bus service that has recently been overhauled and seems to be working well.
Taxi transportation within the cities is most common. Fares are reasonable and government regulated. International car rental agencies are available to everyone at a reasonable cost.
Bahrain International airport is the only official airport in Bahrain and Gulf Air is the official carrier. Website: www.gulfairco.com
Telecommunications
Modern communication facilities including phones, mobiles (cell), telex, fax, internet and courier services are available in Bahrain. The main telecommunications provider is Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco), and recently Voda phone.
Climate
Bahrain has two seasons: an extremely hot summer and a relatively mild winter. During the summer months, from April to October, afternoon temperatures average 40° C and can reach 48° C during June and July. The combination of intense heat and high humidity makes this season uncomfortable. Temperatures moderate in the winter months, from November to March, when the range is between 10° C and 20° C. However, humidity often rises above 90 percent in the winter.
Bahrain receives little precipitation. The average annual rainfall is seventy-two millimeters, usually confined to the winter months.