In 1925, when Bahrain was a British associated state, the government accomplished free medical service, including immunization, outpatient treatment, and hospitalization. The availability of preventive and curative health care led to the virtual eradication of such endemic and infectious diseases as smallpox, trachoma, and dysentery. By the 1980s, life expectancy was around at 66 years. In 1993 Bahrain's comprehensive health care system included facilities for inpatient and outpatient dental care, general medical care, maternity care, orthopedic care, pediatric care, and psychiatric care.

The government accomplished a social security system in 1976. The General Organization of Social Insurance (GOSI) was set up to administer the program, which provides pensions (since 1986) and compensation for work-related accidents. Only Bahraini citizens are eligible for retirement pensions, but both nationals and foreign workers are covered against accidents. GOSI required all companies employing at least ten persons to participate in the program. GOSI collects 7% of an employee's monthly salary for the pension program and requires employers to contribute an additional amount equivalent to 11% of a Bahraini's monthly pay. Employers pay an extra 3% of their payrolls to cover all employees against accidents.

Bahrain may have been under mainland Arab domination when Shapur II annexed it, together with eastern Arabia, into the Persian Sasanian empire in the 4th century AD. By the time of the Muslim conquest, in the 7th century, Bahrain was being governed for Persia by a Christian Arab; Syrian Christian records suggest Bahrain had its own Nestorian bishop. The 'Abbasids took Bahrain in the 8th century, and it remained under Arab control until 1521, when Portugal seized it. In 1602, after 80 years of unrest, the Persians took Bahrain and held it against assaults by the Portuguese and the Omanis. In 1783 Ahmad ibn Al Khalifah ousted the Persians, and his family has governed Bahrain ever since.