A regional opportunity
Education in Bahrain is in high demand and requires further investments and resources to support its growth. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) student numbers are expected to reach 15 million by 2020, creating demand at all stages of the education system. In Bahrain, education investors and providers have access to high-quality opportunities, both domestically and regionally, and can also benefit from savings when it comes to taxes. There are no income taxes in Bahrain, and the education sector is exempt from value added tax (VAT).
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6% average annual growth
of student numbers in private schools in Bahrain
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62.5% growth of GCC visitors
to Bahrain for Education and Training purposes (2018 – 2019)
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1st in MENA
in school life expectancy
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12th Globally
in Number of tertiary students from abroad as per the Global Innovation Index 2021 released by WIPO
Driven by growth
Why invest in education in Bahrain? The number of citizens under 20-years-old is expected to increase annually by 1.7% (around 30,000) over the next five years, creating progress in private education. In addition, a high number of expats and an increase in the expenses parents are willing to spend on schooling makes international education in Bahrain ever more popular. These factors create an ideal environment for investing in education.
Nurseries and kindergartens
Bahrain has 133 private kindergartens. Student numbers have increased 52% in five years.
Higher education
Over one year, in 2019, enrollment in Bahrain’s higher education institutes increased by 2.8%
K12 – Fastest-growing sub-sector
Student numbers have increased by 47% since 2013, an average of 7.2% per year
Research and Development
Bahrain’s mature industries such as ICT and financial services are the springboard for product development.
Executive training
There are opportunities, in partnership with foreign institutions, to align local skills with employment needs.
Youth Growth
Youth are 50% of GCC’s population with forecast to grow up to 65 million people by 2030
Closing the skills gap, opening up the future
Skilled instructors are needed for educational investments to thrive. Bahrain knows all about matching graduate skills to economic needs. By applying the following plans, we are creating opportunities for the full spectrum of education providers:
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Higher education/college
Bahrain’s first National Strategy is driving specialised education through improved teaching, accreditations and internships.
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Continuous learning
Organisations such as Tamkeen drive demand with dedicated resources and programmes that have enabled nearly 10,000 people to upskill.
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Specialised training
Bahrain is applying its strengths in ICT and financial services to develop high skill levels in these areas.
Success Stories
K12: British School (Inspired Education)
Inspired Education recently acquired the British School of Bahrain (BSB), making BSB its first school in the MENA region.
Nurseries: Calinou French Nursery
A French investment in the pre-school sector, Calinou aims to tackle a pressing need in the education market for French education in Bahrain.
Higher education: British University of Bahrain (Salford University)
A British university offering science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) undergraduate programmes. It is the first private university to specialise in undergraduate STEM degrees in Bahrain.
R&D: Applied Science University/London South Bank Enterprise Joint Venture
A ground-breaking initiative which brings the UK’s higher education enterprise culture to the Kingdom and targets student placement, teaching and private-sector collaboration.
Quest International School
Quest International School is the newest British School to enter Bahrain’s Education Market. Quest School aims to be an outstanding British International School in Bahrain with a reputation for excelling in meeting individual needs and preparing students personally, socially, and academically for a successful future.
American School of Bahrain
Founded in 1976, Esol Education specializes in the establishment and management of high quality international schools around the Middle East and Mediterranean. Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, with branch offices in Hong Kong, Cairo and Nicosia, Esol Education currently serves over 10,000 students, operating a total of nine international schools in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Cairo, Nicosia, and Aley. The American School of Bahrain is the latest school to offer the American Curriculum in Bahrain and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA).
Executive education: Bahrain Dental Training Center (in collaboration with RCSE)
Bahrain Dental Training Center is collaborating with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSE) to establish a state-of-the-art postgraduate professional training centre for dentists and related occupations—the first of its kind in the region.
Outward Bound Bahrain
Outward Bound is an international network of outdoor education organizations (or schools) in over 30 countries which are attended to by more than 150,000 people each year. The training and development that takes place are done through outdoor education and leadership courses. The aim of OBB is to establish and promote the advancement and personal development of Bahrainis in line with Vision 2030, by way of education, facilitation, and participation in a wide variety of activities, with special emphasis on physical endeavors in the outdoors.
Meet the team
Our highly skilled team is ready to help you learn more about education opportunities in Bahrain.
