Before moving to Bahrain, I honestly had no idea what to expect. I knew it would be hot. I knew I’d be teaching internationally. And I knew that most people back home had either never heard of Bahrain or immediately had a million questions when I told them I was moving there.
To be completely honest, I was nervous.
Moving across the world alone is one thing. Moving to a country in the Middle East that I knew very little about felt even bigger. But after living in Bahrain for a few years, I can genuinely say it became one of the easiest places I’ve ever lived.
Was it perfect? No. There were definitely challenges and adjustments. But there were also so many things that surprised me in the best way possible. From the safety and convenience to the food, travel opportunities, sunshine, and friendships, Bahrain ended up becoming a huge chapter of my life that I’ll always be grateful for.
So if you’re curious about what living in Bahrain is actually like as a Canadian, here’s my honest experience.
What Surprised Me Most About Bahrain
The biggest surprise was honestly how modern and easy daily life felt.
Before moving there, I think I expected life to feel much more unfamiliar than it actually did. Instead, I quickly realized Bahrain had pretty much everything you could need. Huge malls, incredible restaurants, coffee shops everywhere, grocery stores with imported products, movie theatres, gyms, beach clubs, and endless delivery options.
English is also widely spoken, which made adjusting much easier than I expected. I never felt completely lost trying to navigate day-to-day life.
I was also surprised by how safe Bahrain felt.
As a solo female traveler and someone living alone abroad, safety is something I pay a lot of attention to. Bahrain ended up being one of the safest places I’ve personally lived in or traveled to! I felt comfortable driving, going out with friends, grabbing coffee alone, and exploring the country.
Another thing that surprised me was how social and international Bahrain felt. Because there are so many expats living there, it’s actually pretty easy to meet people from all over the world. Some of my closest friendships came from my time there!
The Weather in Bahrain
If you hate winter, Bahrain might honestly feel like a dream.
For a huge part of the year, the weather is sunny almost every single day. During the winter months especially, the weather is absolutely incredible. Think warm sunshine, blue skies, patio weather, and evenings warm enough to sit outside comfortably.
Coming from Canada, that adjustment felt unreal. I loved not having to scrape ice off my car, wear giant winter jackets, or mentally prepare myself to go outside for half the year.
That being said… summer in Bahrain is no joke. The heat and humidity during the summer months can be intense. Walking outside can genuinely feel like opening an oven. You definitely adapt over time, but there’s no sugarcoating it.
Still, I personally found the constant sunshine and predictable weather really good for my mood and overall lifestyle.
Daily Living in Bahrain
One of the things I loved most about Bahrain was how convenient life felt.
Need groceries? Delivery.
Want coffee? Delivery.
Forgot something at the pharmacy? Delivery.
Craving late-night food? Also delivery.
Apps like Talabat become part of your daily life.
I also loved how easy it was to build routines there. Weekdays often felt very normal and structured, while weekends could be anything from beach clubs and brunches, outings for the best Arabic breakfast, to quick trips to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, or relaxing nights with friends.
Driving was pretty essential for me personally, although ride apps like Uber are also very common.
Teaching in Bahrain
Teaching abroad in Bahrain completely changed my life. International schools gave me the opportunity to work with students and teachers from all over the world, and it pushed me both personally and professionally.
Like anywhere, every school experience is different, but overall I really valued the friendships, travel opportunities, and experiences that came from teaching internationally.
One of the best parts was how easy it was to travel from Bahrain. Living there gave me access to places I probably never would’ve visited otherwise, including destinations around the GCC and beyond.
The Best Parts About Living in Bahrain
For me personally, the best parts of living in Bahrain were:
- The safety
- The sunshine
- The ease and convenience of daily life
- The friendships I made
- The opportunity to travel
- The sense of independence I gained
- The food and café culture
- Feeling like I was building a life completely outside my comfort zone
Living abroad forces you to grow in ways you don’t always expect. I became more independent, more adaptable, and more confident simply because I had to figure things out on my own.
The Hardest Parts About Living in Bahrain
Of course, living abroad also comes with challenges.
Being far from family during holidays or important moments could be difficult.
There were also moments where I missed Canada a lot, especially nature, greenery, lakes, mountains, and cooler weather.
Because Bahrain has such a large expat population, friendships can also feel temporary at times. People move often, contracts end, and goodbyes become part of the lifestyle.
And while I loved many things about Bahrain, the extreme summer heat could definitely become draining after a while.
Would I Live in Bahrain Again?
Honestly, probably not… but not because I didn’t love my time there.
Living in Bahrain gave me experiences, friendships, and confidence that completely changed the direction of my life. It helped me realize how much I love living abroad, traveling, and building a life outside of what feels familiar.
But one thing I’ve learned about myself is that I’m someone who genuinely wants to experience as much of the world as possible.
After spending three years in Bahrain, I feel really grateful for everything that chapter gave me, but I also feel excited to keep exploring new countries, cultures, and ways of life. I still have so much love for Bahrain and for the GCC in general. It will always hold a special place in my heart. It just feels like my next chapter is somewhere new.
And if you’re considering moving there yourself, hopefully this gave you a little better idea of what life there can actually feel like as a Canadian!
If you want to see more of what my life in Bahrain looked like, you can check out my travel Instagram, @shediditsolo
