DUBAI- Bahrain's economy grew 2.73% in the first quarter from a year earlier, backed by expansion in the country's non-oil sector, the government said on Thursday.

Bahrain was pledged $10 billion in financial aid last year from its wealthier Gulf allies - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirtaes - to avert a potential debt crisis.

The yearly GDP growth in the first quarter came amid an increase in spending on infrastructure projects which "benefit from the Gulf financial support package," the government said in a statement.

(Reporting by Davide Barbuscia; Editing by Saeed Azhar) ((Davide.Barbuscia@thomsonreuters.com; +971522604297; Reuters Messaging: davide.barbuscia.reuters.com@reuters.net))