From Michael Jackson to Jacqueline Fernandez: global celebrities who once called Bahrain home

Bahrain may be a small island nation, but its global footprint extends far beyond its borders. Over the decades, the Kingdom has been home temporarily, or permanently, to an extraordinary list of international celebrities. From music legends seeking privacy to actors and designers shaped by formative years on the island, Bahrain has quietly played a role in some remarkable global journeys.

Music icons

Michael Jackson
The King of Pop lived in Bahrain from June 2005 to May 2006, choosing the island as a place of refuge following his highly publicized trial. During his stay, Jackson resided in the Jasra area as a guest of the Bahraini royal family, valuing the privacy and calm the Kingdom offered away from global scrutiny.

Shakira
Colombian superstar Shakira reportedly spent part of her childhood in Bahrain in the early 1990s. She attended the Defense Dependents School (DODDS) in Juffair, a period she later immortalized in her song Ojos Así with the lyric, “I traveled from Bahrain to Beirut.”

James Arthur
The 2012 X Factor winner moved to Bahrain at the age of nine in 1997. He attended the British School of Bahrain for four years before returning to the UK in 2001, often citing his international upbringing as influential in shaping his outlook.

Flamingods 
The multi-instrumental psychedelic rock band Flamingods was formed in Bahrain in 2009. The group later relocated to the UK, but their sound remains heavily inspired by Middle Eastern rhythms and global influences rooted in their Bahrain beginnings.

Actors and media personalities

Jacqueline Fernandez
Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez was born and raised in Bahrain. She completed her schooling on the island and began her media career early, hosting a local television show titled Tic-Tac-Toe at just 14 years old before moving to Australia for university.

Shemar Moore
The Criminal Minds and S.W.A.T. actor moved to Bahrain at age four. He spent three years attending a private British school on the island while his mother worked there as a teacher.

Mamta Mohandas
Award-winning Indian actress and singer Mamta Mohandas was born in Bahrain in 1985. She attended the Indian School Bahrain until 2002 before returning to India to pursue her career in cinema and music.

Kitty Aldridge
British actress and writer Kitty Aldridge, best known for A Room with a View, was born in Bahrain in 1962 and spent the first four years of her life on the island.

Bruno Campos
The Brazilian-American actor, famous for his role in Nip/Tuck, lived in Bahrain during his childhood as part of a globetrotting upbringing shaped by international travel.

Fashion and society

Misha Nonoo
Fashion designer Misha Nonoo was born and raised in Bahrain. She attended school on the island before continuing her education in London and Paris, later building a globally recognized fashion brand.

Sandi Thom
Scottish singer-songwriter Sandi Thom, best known for I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker, moved to Bahrain around 2017. Beyond music, she has been deeply involved in local animal welfare, running the Bahrain Animal Rescue Centre.

From global pop royalty to Hollywood stars and fashion powerhouses, Bahrain’s unique blend of privacy, multiculturalism, and international connectivity has made it an unlikely yet influential chapter in many celebrity stories.