Middle East expats talk to me about Bahrain ?

[Manhattansunset]

We have an option to relocate to Bahrain including our kids. I have been to the Middle East a few times so have a rough idea about life there.

But how is Expat life really in Bahrain?
And, my main question: is it safe? We currently live in central London.

Many thanks

[ninaz]

Bahrain is safe, I would feel safer living there than in Central London TBH. I spend the last 30 years in the ME, not Bahrain but several other countries. I don't think you need to worry about safety more than you would at home obviously taking the usual precautions for your children and yourself. You should be fine, its a small country, I found the locals very friendly when I visited and I have a friend still living there, she works at a school and even stayed throughout the recent troubles all alone and was fine too.

[Kelly1814]

I'm in the Middle East but not Bahrain. Honestly, it is safer than the uk.

Check out www.expatwoman.com/forum

It doesn't cover Bahrain but you can ask questions of the ladies on the and lots of them have moved about a fair bit. Good luck!

Don't listen to all the naysayers, the Middle East i live in bears very little resemblance to the world news. We love it.

[DontWorryBaby]

My husband is currently in Bahrain and my children and I plan to join him this summer. He has not encountered any issues whatsoever.

[Weebirdie]

Bahrain is a nice place to live and on the very odd occasion things go a bit bonkers people know how to live around it. I used to love going to visit my son there even though the part of the ME Ive lived in for about 38 years in generally considered to be the jewel in the crown.

And pls be re-assured that things are as Kelly says - the ME we live in bears very little resemblance to the world news.

[partialderivative]

the part of the ME Ive lived in for about 38 years in generally considered to be the jewel in the crown

Which part is that Weebirdie? Just out of interest (we may be neighbours!)

[Weebirdie]

I believe we are. :)

[partialderivative]

It is a jewel isn't it!

(I'll not hijack anymore)

[lavenderhoney]

How long are you going for? And I strongly suggest a visit first- if i had had insisted on that I would never have touched down there again. Most people leave for the summer, and factor that in to your plans. Staying would be quite lonely, and you'd be indoors the whole time.

The people are nice. But it's very very small. And very expensive. Expatwoman has a Bahrain site you might find useful, and the unmoderated expat sites are useful. the facebook pages are ok, but I think they too are taken down a lot. You could put a call in to anyone who runs a toddler group there and see what they say.

[Cathpot]

I would start thinking about school places ASAP. Does the package you are being offered include school fees and rent allowance?