Bahrain has been voted one of the best locations in the world to live and the top choice in the Middle East and Africa in the world's largest global survey of expats.

The 2009 results of the independent Expat Experience poll, commissioned by HSBC Bank International, reveal the Kingdom is one of the friendliest expat locations with the fifth best quality of life worldwide and the very best social life.

In the overall rankings, Bahrain (5) is placed ahead of the likes of the United States (8), Hong Kong (10), Malaysia (11), Japan (16), China (22), the United Kingdom (23) and India (25).  The UAE came 18th and Qatar 26th.  And while the report revealed the general downside of expat life to be the social scene, Bahrain topped the global league table for 'social life'.
 
The Kingdom also leads the world in offering improved working hours; ease of organising healthcare; and the number of expats who have joined local community groups.

'The lifestyle in Bahrain is very good. This is a free country that is not at all restrictive. The fact that you can enjoy a high quality of family life is a strong selling point,' said Andrew Trevis, plant director of Kraft Foods Bahrain.

Bahrain was also ranked in the top five countries worldwide for:

-  'Finding somewhere to live' (2)
-  'Organising my finance' (3)
-  'Education / childcare' (4)
-  'Setting up utilities' (4)
-  'Quality of household goods' (4)
-  'Making friends' (5)
-  'Organising school for my children' (5)

'In Bahrain we have made a commitment to creating an attractive business environment for international companies looking to access the trillion dollar market of the Gulf,' stated Kamal Ahmed, chief operating officer of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), which has the overall responsibility for creating the right climate to attract foreign investment.-TradeArabia News Service