Seven years in Bahrain. Ali had built a life there with his wife Fatma, a homemaker, and their two children. In July 2026, his contract ended in the context of the repercussions of the war in Iran.
The family returned to Tunisia: a particular joy for Fatma, happy to be reunited with her relatives, and a turning point for Ali, who must consider the next steps in his career.
For Fatma, the return is not merely a change of country. During the expatriation, her daily life revolved around the children and the home, far from her own family. Reuniting with her loved ones in Tunisia is a source of happiness.
Ali, head of logistics operations at a private company in Manama, shares this satisfaction, even though he now needs to find professional work and secure the family’s income.
Fatma, the Children, and a Return Prepared Long in Advance
The couple had already planned to return to Tunisia before the contract ended. Ali had therefore chosen a French school in Bahrain for his children to facilitate continuity of their schooling in the event of resettlement. The two children are 12 and 9 years old. The return did not come with the schooling difficulties that can accompany a sudden change in the language of instruction.
For their father, this preparation mattered as much as the logistical aspects of the move. He knew that expatriation would not necessarily be permanent. By choosing from the outset a French education, he wanted to keep open the possibility of the children continuing their studies in Tunisia without major upheaval. The professional break accelerated a family project that already existed.
The War in Iran Has Weakened Expatriate Jobs in Bahrain
Ali’s situation unfolds within a particularly difficult economic context for the Gulf countries.
The war against Iran disrupted trade, maritime transport, some tourist activities, and several sectors dependent on regional stability. Companies faced uncertainties about their orders, investments, and operating costs.
In a report published on June 2, 2026, Human Rights Watch documented job losses, pay cuts, and delayed or unpaid wages among foreign workers in Bahrain.
According to the organization, expatriate workers account for about three-quarters of Bahrain’s private sector employees. This high share directly exposes them to cost-cutting decisions made by companies.
Official statistics also confirm a significant economic shock. In the first quarter of 2026, Bahrain’s real gross domestic product contracted by 3.8% year-on-year.
Oil-related activities recorded a drop of 37.2%, due in particular to maritime restrictions and maintenance operations, while non-oil activities rose by 2.2%, according to the Bahraini Ministry of Finance.
These data show the scale of the disruptions, without automatically establishing the legal cause of each contract termination. The latter depends in particular on the reasons communicated by the employer.
What to remember
Seven years: the duration of Ali’s expatriation in Bahrain.
July 2026: termination of his contract amid a regional economic crisis.
Return with the family: resettlement in Tunisia and a new professional milestone.
An essential right: the end-of-service indemnity provided by Bahraini legislation, whose regime was amended in March 2024.
Ali’s return thus raises a question that potentially concerns many Tunisian expatriates: how to recover rights accrued in the country of employment, preserve the savings accumulated, and use the measures provided in Tunisia to facilitate a definitive resettlement?
