Spotlight*Bahrain - Money and Finance

Saving is a near-universal habit in Bahrain, with the large majority putting money aside every month. Yet this discipline sits alongside real strain; only a minority live extremely comfortably, and close to half are getting by with difficulty or keeping up with their commitments only with effort. Saving here reflects caution rather than surplus.

Debt is widespread, and notably not confined to those falling behind, as those who borrow are more likely to save and to invest. Non-bank lenders now reach more borrowers than banks, and what drives borrowing is pressure rather than purchases, with emergencies and supporting family outweighing big-ticket buying. Women are markedly more exposed to credit than men. Ambitions lean towards security over accumulation, with being debt-free and a comfortable retirement leading well ahead of becoming wealthy, yet only a minority hold any investment at all.

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