The Kingdom of Bahrain has slashed the minimum real-estate investment required to obtain its Golden Residency visa from roughly US$530,555 to US$345,000, a 35% reduction.
Under the revised terms, foreign nationals who own property in Bahrain worth at least BHD 130,000 (approximately US$345,000) now become eligible for Golden Residency.
What This Means for Golden Residency Applicants
The reduced threshold lowers the barrier for investment-based residency. Previously, the programme required a BHD 200,000 (approximately US$530,555) real-estate commitment; the new threshold makes long-term residency via property ownership more accessible to a broader segment of foreign investors.
Golden Residency is not limited to property owners. The programme remains open to individuals who meet other eligibility criteria such as:
- Those who have worked in Bahrain for at least five years with a monthly salary above BHD 2,000 (approx. US$5,306).
- Retirees who worked for at least 15 years and receive a pension of at least BHD 2,000 (approximately US$5,306).
- Non-resident retirees receiving a pension above BHD 4,000 (approx. US$10,624).
- Entrepreneurs, highly skilled professionals, and individuals making notable contributions to Bahrain’s economy or society.
Strategic Goals Behind the Cut
Authorities at the Ministry of Interior, through the agency responsible for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), have presented the new threshold as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Bahrain’s competitiveness as a long-term residency, business, and investment hub within the Gulf region.
By lowering the entry requirement, Bahrain aims to stimulate demand in the high-end real estate market, drawing more foreign capital and broadening access to residency beyond ultra-high net-worth individuals.
How Bahrain Now Compares Across the Gulf
Bahrain’s new US$345,000 requirement places it in a different position within the GCC’s residency-by-investment landscape. In the UAE, the lowest property-based residency option remains Dubai’s two-year residence visa, which requires a minimum property value of AED 750,000 (approximately US$204,000). The country’s long-term option, the 10-year Golden Visa, continues to require AED 2 million (about US$545,000) in real estate. With Bahrain’s revised threshold at BHD 130,000 (around US$345,000), it now stands as the second-most accessible property-linked residency route in the region.
Qatar sits slightly higher, offering residency through real-estate ownership starting from QAR 730,000 (around US$200,000) for a temporary residency permit, and requiring QAR 3.65 million (about US$1 million) for eligibility toward permanent residency benefits. Other GCC options remain at the upper end: Oman’s investor residency framework starts at RO 150,000 to RO 250,000 (approximately US$390,000 to US$650,000) depending on the validity period, while Saudi Arabia’s Premium Residency continues to be the most expensive route with a SAR 4 million (around US$1.1 million) one-time option.
What to Watch
The policy change may prompt increased interest from foreign investors evaluating Gulf-region residency and real estate investments. It could also intensify competition in Bahrain’s real estate sector, particularly in premium housing and waterfront developments. Meanwhile, by keeping other eligibility pathways (employment history, pensions, skilled professionals), Bahrain appears to maintain flexibility in its residency programme, offering multiple routes for those seeking long-term presence in the Kingdom.
