Zinj, Bahrain

Living in Zinj is no walk in the park. The suburb's history as a hub for African slave trading casts a long shadow, with the name itself translating to "negroes" or "blackamoors." And while the area has seen extensive commercial development in recent years, including malls like the Galleria, the local bureaucracy remains a persistent headache.

Zinj is also home to several foreign embassies, and in the 2000s saw large pro-Palestinian protests that turned violent, with one Bahraini citizen killed and around 100 injured. The suburb's 12,000 date palms and farm animals provide some rural charm, but overall, the security situation and heavy-handed government presence make Zinj a tough sell for most expats.

In short, Zinj is best suited for those with a high tolerance for red tape and a certain comfort level with the area's troubled history and ongoing tensions. For the average Western professional, the hassle likely outweighs the benefits.