Living in Bahrain
By Rhiannon G Williamson
The Kingdom of Bahrain basks in the warm, clear and calm waters of the Persian Gulf and is an incredibly prosperous and multi cultural country becoming increasingly popular with professional expatriates seeking well paying employment in a low taxation country where the standard of living in Bahrain is incredibly high and the local people are liberal and tolerant towards other cultures.
Bahrain manages to maintain a relatively neutral foreign policy and because of its general liberalism it's a great place for Western expatriates to experience a totally new life abroad. These facts mean that the number of international citizens living in Bahrain has increased substantially in recent years and directly contributed to the fact that Bahrain now has the fastest growing economy in the Arab world.
For anyone considering living in Bahrain this article is an introduction to the country, the entry requirements and to living and working in Bahrain.
Citizens of all nations other than Gulf Cooperation Council countries require a visa to enter Bahrain with the majority of those moving to live in the Kingdom being sponsored for their visa by their employer. The range of visas available is vast with much depending on whether the applicant has a job offer, is a spouse or dependent of an employed person in Bahrain, the country the individual heralds from etc., and therefore those considering travelling to Bahrain should initially contact their nearest Bahraini embassy or visit the Kingdom of Bahrain's Ministry of Interior website to find out which visa they should apply for and how to go about the application process.
The capital city of the Kingdom of Bahrain is Manama and most expatriates live in and around the capital and work in one of the Kingdom's main industries which are petroleum production and processing, IT, telecommunications, hospitality, medicine or banking. As a result of the popularity of the location, property for sale and rent in Manama is offered at a premium and those moving to work in Bahrain on a firm job offer should try and negotiate some money towards their housing as part of their overall remuneration package.
Unlike in some other Arab nations foreigners are permitted to own property in Bahrain and because the economy of the nation is so strong many see investment into property in Bahrain as a solid move to make. However for those keen on living in Bahrain the first step to take is to secure a job offer and then to rent housing while settling into the Kingdom and ensuring it is right for them before committing to the purchase of immovable property assets that can be slow to liquidate should the individual in question decide to leave the Kingdom.
Finally it's worth noting that the standard of living enjoyed by westerners living in Bahrain is incredibly high. As stated Bahrain is a prosperous country and one offering residents and visitors alike a cosmopolitan destination with exciting nightlife and incredible shopping! Hence it is of no surprise whatsoever that the number of international expatriates moving to the Kingdom ever year is on the increase.
Rhiannon Williamson writes guides and articles about planning a new life in Asia and the Arabic World on her site http://www.EasternExplorer.com visit the site for further specialist advice about working, education and living in Bahrain.
Article Source: Rhiannon G Williamson
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Flying To Dubai - Airport And Travel Guide
Flying To Dubai - Airport And Travel Guide
By David Rossy
There are direct flights to Dubai from most European and Asian cities, however if you are flying from North America or Canada then you will need to fly via Europe or Asia. However, looking on the bright side, this makes the flight cheaper and also gives you the opportunity to explore Europe with typical stop overs in either Paris, Amsterdam or London.
The main airlines for Dubai are Emirates airlines (www.emirates.com), Gulf Air (www.gulfair.com) and Air Arabia flies out of neighbouring Sharjah. if you are looking to keep the costs of airfare to a minimum then a good option is to fly Gulf air via via bahrain, or even Qatar airways via Doha. However bear in mind that connecting flights although usually much cheaper can be inconvenient - you may find yourself hanging around airport lounges for many hours doing that airport "game" of endless waiting followed by endless queueing, is it really woth it to save a few £'s?
it tends to be more expensive flying to Dubai in the June - August period and also over Christmas (in fact from the beginning of Dec right through to end Jan). So try and avoid flying at these times if at all possible - remember prices in the UAE are regulated, there are no bargain bucket shops nor last minute deals so book your flight as early as you possibly can to get best price.
On a side note Emirates airlines to date have a PERFECT safety record, they are not the cheapest airline but they are regarded as having superior service and that safety record is something worth taking into consideration!
Dubai international airport is the busiest airport in the Middle East, almost 25 million passengers in 2005 ( as a comparison Seattle airport handled 29 million passengers in 2005 and is listed in the top 30 busiest airports worldwide). Apparently the government are investing a further $2,5 billion in expansion of the airport due to rapid growth of tourist traffic. We should see Dubai international being listed as one of the worlds busiest airports in 2007.
getting to/from the airport is easy and inexpensive. You can choose from Municipality buses, airport buses, taxi's or limo's. Additionally most of the reputable hotels, particularly those on Jumeirah beach, will offer free transfers to and from the airport. Costs for are approx Dh1.50, a taxi will cost around Dh 60 to the Jumeirah beach area. ( The Emirates currecy Dh Dirham is pegged to the Dollar, so 1Dh = $1, simple!).
Other points you should note before planning a trip to Dubai - technically if you have evidence of travel to Israel in your passport you will be denied entry, also you must have at least 6 months validity from your date of arrival. Assuming you meet these requirements a 60 day visa is available on entry from the airport. There is no charge for a standard 60 day visa.
Lastly, as with most foreign travel, a little bit of effort in terms of learning the language can go a long way. Here are some simple everday words you may find helpful - "Marhaba" hello, "al-salaam alaykum" Peace be upon you (typical arab greeting), "shukran" thank you.
The author has written many articles on Dubai and the middle east along with other popular holiday destinations, please check out cheap flights dubai for further information on this fascinating country, tipped to take over from Florida as the worlds busiest tourist destination in 2007/2008 due to massive investment and an ideal location being situated in between Asia, Europe and the USA.
Article Source: David Rossy
By David Rossy
There are direct flights to Dubai from most European and Asian cities, however if you are flying from North America or Canada then you will need to fly via Europe or Asia. However, looking on the bright side, this makes the flight cheaper and also gives you the opportunity to explore Europe with typical stop overs in either Paris, Amsterdam or London.
The main airlines for Dubai are Emirates airlines (www.emirates.com), Gulf Air (www.gulfair.com) and Air Arabia flies out of neighbouring Sharjah. if you are looking to keep the costs of airfare to a minimum then a good option is to fly Gulf air via via bahrain, or even Qatar airways via Doha. However bear in mind that connecting flights although usually much cheaper can be inconvenient - you may find yourself hanging around airport lounges for many hours doing that airport "game" of endless waiting followed by endless queueing, is it really woth it to save a few £'s?
it tends to be more expensive flying to Dubai in the June - August period and also over Christmas (in fact from the beginning of Dec right through to end Jan). So try and avoid flying at these times if at all possible - remember prices in the UAE are regulated, there are no bargain bucket shops nor last minute deals so book your flight as early as you possibly can to get best price.
On a side note Emirates airlines to date have a PERFECT safety record, they are not the cheapest airline but they are regarded as having superior service and that safety record is something worth taking into consideration!
Dubai international airport is the busiest airport in the Middle East, almost 25 million passengers in 2005 ( as a comparison Seattle airport handled 29 million passengers in 2005 and is listed in the top 30 busiest airports worldwide). Apparently the government are investing a further $2,5 billion in expansion of the airport due to rapid growth of tourist traffic. We should see Dubai international being listed as one of the worlds busiest airports in 2007.
getting to/from the airport is easy and inexpensive. You can choose from Municipality buses, airport buses, taxi's or limo's. Additionally most of the reputable hotels, particularly those on Jumeirah beach, will offer free transfers to and from the airport. Costs for are approx Dh1.50, a taxi will cost around Dh 60 to the Jumeirah beach area. ( The Emirates currecy Dh Dirham is pegged to the Dollar, so 1Dh = $1, simple!).
Other points you should note before planning a trip to Dubai - technically if you have evidence of travel to Israel in your passport you will be denied entry, also you must have at least 6 months validity from your date of arrival. Assuming you meet these requirements a 60 day visa is available on entry from the airport. There is no charge for a standard 60 day visa.
Lastly, as with most foreign travel, a little bit of effort in terms of learning the language can go a long way. Here are some simple everday words you may find helpful - "Marhaba" hello, "al-salaam alaykum" Peace be upon you (typical arab greeting), "shukran" thank you.
The author has written many articles on Dubai and the middle east along with other popular holiday destinations, please check out cheap flights dubai for further information on this fascinating country, tipped to take over from Florida as the worlds busiest tourist destination in 2007/2008 due to massive investment and an ideal location being situated in between Asia, Europe and the USA.
Article Source: David Rossy
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