Like its Dublin counterpart situated on St. Stephen's Green, RCSI Bahrain is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education and research.

[6] The relations between RCSI and Bahrain date back to the 1970s in the form of first aid training courses and setting examinations.

The establishment of the university in Bahrain was part of a greater €60−70 million 10−year development plan, which was officially launched in September 2003.

[7] RCSI believes its “collaborations across the globe” fulfill its 200-year mission of “teaching, discovery and engagement.” The university was formally opened on 4 May 2004 by the Prime Minister of Bahrain, Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and Ireland's Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, with the first batch of medical students being admitted in October of the same year.

Over the helmet is conventional drapery, called the Mantling, and derived from a head-covering worn by knights in armour for protection against the sun's heat.

The shield is decorated with two fleams of lancets, a satire cross, a hand and a crowned harp; the latter was taken from Arms granted in 1645 to the Dublin Guild of Barber-Surgeons.

Globally, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland was placed top 50 in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

[14][15] In countries that follow the tradition of the United States, the equivalent medical degree is awarded as Doctor of Medicine (MD).

[24] The theme is said to rely heavily on what is widely regarded as Ireland's greatest national monument, Newgrange, one of the finest examples in western Europe of the type of tomb known as a passage grave which can be dated to around 3200BC built by Stone Age farmers.

Older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza, this World Heritage Site and this campus have many similarities including symbology and round shape.

The intention of the design to reflect Ireland's lengthy cultural and innovative history merged with this sensitively with the Middle Eastern setting.

[25] An annual charity challenge dubbed “Paddle Bahrain” focuses to raise funds and increase public awareness of the risk factors associated with developing Type I & II diabetes.

The Charity Challenge – ‘Tour De Bahrain’ spin-a-thon is another event held to raise awareness of obesity.

A partnership was established with Diabetes.bh, a not-for-profit initiative, to create the first online education and community portal for people affected by diabetes in Bahrain.