Bahrain is officially known as the Kingdom of Bahrain, but is most often referred to as simply Bahrain. It is a country made up of thirty-three islands contained in an archipelago in the Gulf. Home to over 100 miles of coastline, the country has numerous resources such as pearls, oil and fish stocks. Because of its relatively small size in comparison to other countries in the Middle East as well as its location in the Gulf, Bahrain has in recent years actively developed itself as a tourist and hospitality destination for people from throughout the region as well as from across the globe.
Bahrain is one of the countries in the Middle East that is pursuing a more liberal approach to social and cultural norms, which has contributed a great deal to its economic expansion and diversification. It is still a predominantly Islamic country, but has established a tradition of tolerance and welcome for other religions and ethnic groups that otherwise face difficulties in other parts of the Middle East.
Bahrain has limited oil supplies and diversifies the economy away from Oil. As a result top industries in Bahrain include banking, tourism, heavy industries and retail. In 2008 the City of London's Global Financial Centres Index recognised Bahrain as the world's fastest growing financial center. It is also a country with plentiful state of the art transportation facilities as well as advanced communication infrastructure. A large number of multinational companies make Bahrain their base of operations in the Middle East precisely because of the easy access to these advantages.
The very modern infrastructure of Bahrain contributes to its great wealth, as does its emphasis on brining unique and interesting events and activities to the country. For instance, Bahrain has its own Formula One race track and hosts a variety of motorsports events throughout the years. Another growth area for Bahrain is book publishing; in fact, it is the largest publisher of books in the Arab world.
Top industries and employers in Bahrain
The top industries in Bahrain include the following:
- Banking and Financial Services
- Tourism and Hospitality
- Telecoms and General Services
Within these various industries and areas there are a number of top employers, such as:
- Banking and Financial Services – Al Ahli United Bank, Al Salam Bank, Bahrain Islamic Bank, Bank of Bahrain & Kuwait, Bahraini Saudi Bank, National Bank of Bahrain
- Tourism and Hospitality – Bahrain Family Leisure Company, Gulf Hotels Group, Bahrain Tourism Company, National Hotels Company, Banader Hotel Company
- Telecoms and General Services – Bahrain Telecommunication Company, Bahrain Ship Repairing & Engineering Company, Seeff Properties Company, Bahrain Maritime & Mercantile International Company, Nass Corporation
Bahrain is a very attractive destination in terms of work as well as tourism. Its liberal approach to social norms, rich culture and dynamic social live makes it a perfect destination for those seeking a change in their career and wishing to relocate abroad.