Bahrain

Arabian Peninsula

Middle East

A low-tax Middle Eastern country with widely spoken English and residence by investment, but a long 10-year naturalisation wait and no dual citizenship.

32
Overall score
Limited · Penalty applied · 94% data coverage
Language
Arabic
Currency
BHD
Citizenship
10 years for Arab applicants; 20 for others
Personal tax
No personal income tax
Cost of living
$1,500 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown
72
Access
17%
93Residence12%
21Citizenship and passport5%
83
Earning power
25%
81Salary and work12%
84Buying power13%
72
Business and wealth
20%
94Taxes7%
72Business8%
43Investment5%
72
Daily life
25%
73Quality of life18%
68Education7%
41
Rights and institutions
13%
19Freedom6%
60Rule of law7%

Severe environmental risk (0) cut the overall score from 70 to 32.

Pros

  • Widely spoken English
  • Residence by investment

Cons

  • A long 10-year naturalisation wait
  • No dual citizenship

Best for

Low-tax relocatorsInvestorsEnglish speakers

Score profile

Access
Residence
93
Citizenship
13
Passport
62
Earning power
Salary & work
81
Buying power
84
Cost of living
77
Economy
82
Business and wealth
Taxes
94
Personal tax
100
Corporate tax
100
Business
72
Investment
43
Wealth building
74
Daily life
Safety
74
Healthcare
64
Environment
0
Infrastructure
85
Education
68
HDI
90
Rights and institutions
Freedom
19
Rule of law
60
How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence
Openness to residents
Excellent
93
Migrant stock52.3% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality0.95 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible
StudentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
WorkRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employedRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
PermanentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
Low
13
Years required10 years for Arab applicants; 20 for others
Dual allowedNo
LanguageCheck the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
ResidenceTypical headline route: 10 years for Arab applicants; 20 for others; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
NotesRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Passport
Passport power
Moderate
62
122 / 198
Mobility
#47
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free75
  • On arrival41
  • eTA6
  • Visa required76

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Excellent
81
Output per worker$103,794 PPP (2024)
Unemployment1.1% (2025)
Participation70.4% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tech salary (estimate)Varies substantially by city, seniority, and employer
FreelanceMarket access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job marketUse current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Excellent
84
GNI / person$65,500 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$23,427 PPP (2024)
Price level49 (US = 100) (2025)
Inflation-0.1% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Good
77
Price level49 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

RentVaries substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly$1,500 / mo (single)
CitiesManama, Riffa, Muharraq
Economy
Economic strength
Excellent
82
Output & income
GDP$49B (2025)
GDP / person$30,597 (2025)
GNI / person$65,500 PPP (2025)
GDP growth2.6% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation-0.1% / yr (2025)
Unemployment1.1% (2025)
Output per worker$103,794 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture0.2% of GDP (2025)
Industry41.2% of GDP (2025)
Services54.3% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
Finance & bankingOil refiningAluminiumTourism
Top exports
Refined fuelsAluminiumFinancial services
TypeHigh-income, finance- and energy-led
Key sectorsIslamic & offshore banking, Aluminium smelting (Alba), Refining
SummaryA diversified Gulf economy and regional banking centre, with aluminium and refining beyond its modest oil output.
CurrencyBahraini dinar (pegged to the US dollar)

Business and wealth

Taxes
Tax friendliness
Excellent
94
PersonalNo personal income tax
CorporateNo general corporate income tax outside the oil and gas sector
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Personal tax
Personal tax
Excellent
100
PersonalNo personal income tax
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
Excellent
100
CorporateNo general corporate income tax outside the oil and gas sector
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Business
Business friendliness
Good
72
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality0.95 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness0.60 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign companyGenerally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local companyAvailable company forms and capital requirements vary
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Investment
Investing environment
Limited
43
Market cap44% of GDP (2025)
Private credit71% of GDP (2015)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxCheck current national and subnational rules
BrokersLocal and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
Good
74
Salary & work
Excellent
81
Business
Good
72
Investment
Limited
43
Tax friendliness
Excellent
94
Cost of living
Good
77

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Good
74
Personal safety
Homicide rate0.2 per 100,000 (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption0.25 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.28 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Moderate
64
Outcomes
Life expectancy81.4 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality8.8 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians0.74 per 1,000 (2020)
Hospital beds1.84 per 1,000 (2022)
Health spending$2,555 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemPublic/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
InsuranceCheck residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average costDepends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage
Environment
Environment score
Low
0
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure56.6 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress133.7% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Excellent
85
Digital infrastructure
Internet use100.0% (2024)
Internet resilience70 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed82 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed86 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access100.0% (2023)
Grid losses2.7% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality3.60 / 5 (2022)
Air connectivity37,543 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Good
68
Attainment
Expected schooling15.9 years (2023)
Mean schooling11.1 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment58% gross (2024)
Education spending1.9% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition$5,000-20,000 / yr
Public universityVaries by institution, programme, and student nationality
LanguagesArabic
Student workRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
HDI
Human development score
Excellent
90
HDI0.899 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy81.3 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling15.9 years (2023)
Mean schooling11.1 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$52,819 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Low
19
Freedom in the World11 / 100 (Not free)
Freedom on the Net30 / 100 (Not free)
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Moderate
60
Rule of Law percentile60 / 100
Sources
Resources
Official references
UN Statistics: M49 country and area codesunstats.un.orgPwC: Worldwide Tax Summariestaxsummaries.pwc.comGCC: Member Statesgcc-sg.orgUNDP Human Development Report 2025hdr.undp.orgInternet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Indexpulse.internetsociety.orgWorld Bank World Development Indicatorsdata.worldbank.org
Quick links
Bahrain visa & immigrationgoogle.comBahrain tax residency rulesgoogle.comBahrain citizenship requirementsgoogle.comCost of living in Bahraingoogle.com

Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.