Stamp of approval

Bahrain has been ranked as one of the most welcoming places for expatriates to work in upsetting traditional favourities Canada and Australia, according to a global survey.

More than 3,000 expatriates took part in the survey conducted by HSBC Bank.

It ranked Bahrain first in one key measure of how easy it is for expatriates to set up a new life for their families. It also received high marks from expats who like the country's easy access to modern healthcare, decent and affordable housing and network of social groups that expatriates can join.

Canada, which ranked first in a similar survey last year, fell to second place on HSBC's integration score, which measures how easily foreigners and their families can settle into a new country. Australia, Thailand and Malaysia rounded out the top five.

Foreign workers in these countries found it easy to make local friends and said they enjoyed a higher quality of life than in their native countries.

HSBC's Expat Explorer survey was conducted between February and April and respondents were from the US, Europe and elsewhere and lived in more than two dozen countries and on four continents.

They ranked their new homes based on 23 factors, including food, entertainment, healthcare, commute and education. Of those measures, HSBC selected eight to create its 'integration score', a snapshot of which countries are most welcoming to expats.

Backing the survey on finding a good home in Bahrain, Jason Mejia, Star International Real Estate country manager, said: "Property wise it is very straightforward in terms of purchasing and you don't have much worries in terms of the soliciting side. There are no taxes and it's cheaper than the rest of the GCC.

"Also, if people were to buy property for investment, rental returns are considerably high compared to other countries."

On the financial front, investment advisor Osama Mohamed Muein, said: "We are very business friendly here. In fact, we are the friendliest in the region. The rules and regulations allow expats to invest easily and become professionals. Even the social life in Bahrain makes it easier for anyone coming from abroad to do business here."

The UAE and the UK received some of the poorest scores on the integration scale.

Expats in the Emirates reported finding it difficult to join local community groups; only 39 per cent of respondents made local friends compared to 76 per cent of respondents living in other countries. Foreign workers in England complained about the challenges of finding affordable housing.