Immigration. Travel. Living.

Working in Bahrain as an expat

Bahrain has forever been a well-known destination for outsiders.  It is a regional economic and cultural center that is situated in the center of the Persian Gulf.  Just 48% of Bahrain’s populace are natives of Bahrain. The rest are foreigners from different nations. The earnings are substantial for expats who relocate to Bahrain for work-related reasons. Bahrain is a popular destination for international emigrants and routinely ranks among the top ten countries in which to find employment. It provides an excellent standard of living, plenty of highly skilled employment opportunities, and no personal income taxes.

An illustration of two business professionals, a woman and a man, shaking hands

Bahrain’s leading industries

Bahrain has tried to expand its economic streams beyond oil production during the last several decades. This has been effective, and the nation today benefits from a variety of businesses including plastics, tourism, petroleum refining, aluminum processing and manufacturing, financial services, and tourism. Bahrain is known as one of the global hubs for Islamic finance. Most employment prospects in Bahrain are in the aforementioned sectors, particularly in Manama, the country’s capital. Manama is home to the corporate headquarters of several significant Bahraini and foreign companies.

Monetary services

Even though they contribute significantly to Bahrain’s GDP, financial services barely employ 2% of the total workforce. Employment opportunities often favor those with extensive training and experience.

Construction

By far the largest employer of foreign employees is the construction industry, although many of the positions are for laborers, and the hours are often lengthy. To accommodate workers for large building projects, several businesses provide labor camps.

Education

Another industry where foreign workers are employed is education. Population growth has placed a strain on the educational system, especially in the private sector. Many foreign instructors live in Bahrain because their spouse works there. As a consequence, when the couple’s job contract expires, the teachers also depart the island. The majority of career opportunities will be in private schools, where pay ranges greatly but is often lower than that of Europe.

Tourism

The government believes that one industry with room for expansion is tourism, and as a result, numerous upscale hotels have opened on the island in recent years. A unique Boeing 747 that has been buried in 24 meters of water has served as the centerpiece of an underwater entertainment park that just opened for divers. More tourist initiatives are being thought about.

Retail

The retail industry employs a sizable proportion of foreigners, and new shopping malls are constantly being built. The bulk of foreign workers in this industry are from Southeast Asia, and although there are sometimes openings for management positions, the majority of job chances are for sales assistants.

Finding a job in Bahrain

Bahrain’s workforce heavily relies on expatriates, and most businesses offer friendly environments that are varied, which is fantastic for new hires. It’s crucial to keep in mind that you cannot get a work visa unless you have an offer of employment from a company if you want to work in Bahrain. It is not practicable nor wise to visit Bahrain on a tourist visa to get sponsorship due to the limited validity periods for such visas.  Before moving, the majority of expats in Bahrain search for employment via international recruiting agencies or by contacting the HR departments of Bahraini businesses to submit a direct job application. If you currently work for a multinational corporation, ask whether you may be transferred to Bahrain. Another well-liked method of finding employment is via networking and using your contacts. Bahrain’s employment market may be aggressive and prioritizes highly trained people. As a result, job searchers should make sure their resumes and interview techniques are current. Local Bahraini laborers or expats from Southeast Asia, mainly from India and the Philippines, often fill unskilled positions. By Western standards, low-skilled labor is badly compensated.

Bahrain’s workplace culture

Bahrain is recognized as a modern, diversified Arab nation. Women from all over the globe should particularly feel welcome and valued in the workplace. Unlike many Western nations, Bahrainis do not consume alcohol, therefore alcohol is not likely to be a part of work-social activities. It is also crucial to emphasize that modest attire is anticipated. Arabic proficiency is not necessary in the workplace since English is the primary language used. However, having some basic Arabic language skills is always helpful and will be valued by your Arabic-speaking coworkers.

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