Expats moving to Bahrain will have no choice but to rent property, as there are many restrictions on foreign nationals buying property. There is a wide choice of rental accommodation available and nearly all of it is situated in urban developments, though Arabs and expats tend to live in their own communities.

The quality of accommodation in Bahrain is impressive, due to the amount of investment in the country and developers who compete with each other to build the most impressive buildings. In fact, development is one of the downsides of living in Bahrain, as it is a continuous process and if there is empty land near to your home; chances are somebody is going to build on it sooner or later. Residents should also be aware that some development projects work 24 hours a day, creating a great deal of dust and noise.

The companies who recruit foreign workers usually avail themselves of the services of relocation consultants who will deal with every aspect of moving somebody from one country to another. They can help them with various issues to help them settle, from practical matters such as utilities to learning about the cultural differences in their new country. Some of the larger corporations will an employee in-house to do a similar job.

Rental costs will vary according to the size and location of the property. Some villas can be rented with pools and some apartment blocks will have gym and pool facilities. An expat living alone can expect to pay the equivalent of 750 – 1000 USD for a one bedroom apartment, while a villa with two or three bedrooms can cost around $2000 per month. These figures can be as much as 25% higher if you require furnished accommodation. Some people may be lucky enough to find a serviced apartment, where cleaning and laundry services are included.

As part of the lease agreement the charges for air-conditioning may be included, as is the cost of gas when the tank is communal. If gas is not included you may have to purchase gas bottles separately and the charges for other utilities such as electricity and water will not be included. A deposit will have to be paid against possible damages. Renters should also be aware that there is often a local tax payable to cover the cost of refuse collection and other local issues. This is usually paid by the landlord although some leases will require the tenant to pay.

A long-term lease will be for a minimum of one year for an expat worker and leases for a shorter term are rare. Most expat workers will have a contract which runs for several years, so a long term lease is the best option.