Bahrain is tucked between Saudi Arabia and Qatar on the Persian Gulf. Within the region, Bahrain is extremely popular with Western expatriates due its liberal stance on art, culture and alcohol. This makes Bahrain an especially popular place to teach English and competition for local contracts is high.

Bahrain offers visitors and expatriates a fascinating chance to learn about authentic Arab culture in an relatively moderate environment. While this island nation doesn’t have as much oil as its neighbors, it has managed to turn generous profits from oil refining and international banking.
Bahrain also attracts partiers from Saudi Arabia – and not just Westerners. Even Saudis occasionally enter through the British-built Gateway to Bahrain to let down their guard for a weekend. The same goes for English teachers in Saudi Arabia, who spend as many weekends in Bahrain as time and money permit.

However it’s not all nightclubs and entertainment in Bahrain. This country has an excellent National Museum in the capital city of Manama. It also boasts Qala’at al-Bahrain fort, an interesting place with pearl-diving legacy and eye-catching towers fronted by the Bahrain World Trade Center. 

In most cases, English teachers receive accommodation from their employers. This is usually a one-room or shared apartment, but in some cases employers will simply help teachers find a suitable place and reimburse them for the rent.

Public buses ply major routes in Manama, so it’s possible for English teachers and expatriates to make use of public transportation. Most teachers either rent a vehicle or purchase something. Individual schools typically have a system in place and will help an incoming teacher with transport logistics.

Teaching in Bahrain is rewarding for several reasons, and not just because of the relatively liberal mindset. Salaries are high by global standards, which means teachers who have the right credentials and experience find it hard to go anywhere else once they’ve started here. Conversely, teachers with limited experience and credentials will find it hard to get an interview.

Of course, much of that high salary goes toward paying down the cost of living. An advantage of living and working in more conservative Middle Eastern nations is that it’s easier to save money when there aren’t as many after-hours activities on the agenda. For those who want to save money in Bahrain, discipline is the operative word.
Most foreign English teachers arrange employment before arriving and go to work for private schools and language institutes. A TEFL certificate is a minimum requirement.

Bahrain Links

• Go to Bahrain forums
• Go to Bahrain photo gallery
• Google search for Bahrain
• Bahrain wikipedia entry