Bahrain ‘Most Competitive’ in ICT Business Operations

Bahrain ‘Most Competitive’ in ICT Business Operations

Bahrain is 28 percent more cost-effective in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) direct operating costs when compared to other GCC countries.

The Kingdom is also the most competitive country in terms of operating an ICT business, and has an annual cost 13 percent lower than the GCC average, according to a recent report released by KPMG.

The recent report released by KPMG titled ‘The cost of doing business in the GCC-ICT’ claims that the Kingdom has the most competitive commercial rental costs, manpower costs, and internet charges when compared to its GCC peers.

Additionally, the report highlights the Kingdom’s annual cost of living, with it remarkably being 24 percent below the regional average, as well as Bahrain positioning itself as the most favourable jurisdiction regarding the cost of education and accommodation costs in the GCC.

The report aims to examine the typical direct and indirect costs associated with operating an ICT firm in the GCC countries, and analyzes the direct costs of business registration, licensing, commercial rental rates, manpower costs, telecom costs, internet charges, electricity and water charges, and IT infrastructure.

The average annual cost of living in Bahrain rounds up to $25,800 (BD9,725), compared to the UAE (ABD), where the average annual cost of