Moving from Dubai to Bahrain? Here is the good news: with its large expat community, Manama, Bahrain’s capital and largest city, is culturally similar to Dubai. Like Dubai, English is spoken widely along with Arabic making you feel right at home! Since moving to a new country can still be highly stressful, the experts at ServiceMarket have put together this handy guide to help you learn more about Manama. You can also make the process smoother and hassle-free by finding the right international movers in Dubai.
A modern city with a rich history
Offering an eclectic mix of the old and the new, Manama features historic mosques built in the classic Islamic style alongside modern buildings featuring the latest architectural trends. You can also visit the Bahrain National Museum and enjoy archaeological treasures dating back thousands of years as well as art from Asia’s most prominent contemporary artists.
Expos, festivals, and nightlife
Every year Manama hosts multiple international expos, events, and competitions. It also features colorful festivals including the Bahrain Consumer Products Fair, the Bahrain Food Festival, the Sea Festival, the Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, the Bahrain International Music Festival, and many more! For the best nightlife experience, head over to Awal Avenue. Many of Manama’s clubs are clustered around this block.
Enjoy a good quality of life
Manama, has been ranked high as a city that offers a great quality of life and is a desirable location for expats. Many expats say it is easy to live here even if you don’t speak Arabic and locals have an open and welcoming attitude towards foreign residents.
A strong economy
Like many other countries in the Gulf region, Bahrain has a flourishing oil industry. It attracts expats from all over the world and offers them plenty of economic incentives. The per capita GDP is approximately $52,000. With this abundant purchasing power, there is no lack of luxurious hotels, spas, and malls.
Expats outnumber citizens
The population of Bahrain is mainly comprised of expats making citizens the minority. Out of the 1.2 million residents of Bahrain in 2010, less than 600,000 were of Bahraini nationality. The rest were expats from around the world; mainly from the Middle East and South Asia. This makes Bahrain a truly multicultural country, making it easier for new expats, such as yourself, to feel more at home.
Keep the expenses in mind
Following Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Manama is the most expensive city in the Gulf region. On the plus side, wages are high and there is no personal income tax. Moreover, Bahrain has one of the strongest currencies in the world.
Given the cultural similarities between the two cities, making the move from Dubai to Manama is likely to be a lot easier than you think. To make the process easier, find the right international movers and packers in Dubai through ServiceMarket today!
