Bahrain: Economic Snapshot 2022
Click here to read our Bahrain Economic Report and Investment Analysis 2022 online …
How financial services are adopting sustainable criteriaOBGplus
As environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns become increasingly important in the corporate world, insurance companies are emerging as potentially key players in the shift away from fossil fuel-powered projects. The launch of the UN-convened Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA) in July 2021 reflects an ongoing change in the global insurance industry towards the wider recognition of the risks…
How the GCC is working to boost downstream production and exportsOBGplus
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reigniting international debate about the pace of the global energy transition and the risks of relying on oil and gas imports from countries with opposing agendas, discussion in the Gulf is largely framed around how to extract maximum benefit from the remaining hydrocarbons wealth while also playing a responsible role in global efforts to both mitigate climate change…
How the tourism industry is adopting sustainable practices post-pandemicOBGplus
The global tourism industry faces numerous challenges when it comes to decarbonisation, as highlighted by a November 2021 report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme and multinational consulting firm Accenture. In the years prior to the pandemic the sector thrived, recording its 10th consecutive year of growth in 2019. Moreover, with…
How higher learning institutions are embracing the metaverseOBGplus
In a bid to expand access, education is increasingly exploring the possibilities of the metaverse and extended-reality (XR) approaches. The former comprises a range of technologies which immerse users in a virtual environment. It denotes a 3D medium that combines virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) into a new digital realm, sometimes known as XR. These environments are accessed through…
How Bahrain is laying the groundwork for economic diversificationOBGplus
Bahrain has long taken a liberal approach to international trade and investment policy, which it conducts largely in line with its partners in the GCC, especially neighbouring Saudi Arabia. Historically, its closest foreign relations beyond the region have been with the US and the UK. Initially built around the defence industry, over the years these relations have expanded to areas such as electrical…
Bahrain to leverage investment projects to fuel economic recoveryOBGplus
In October 2021 the government launched a reform and investment programme in line with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, the country’s long-term development and diversification framework. The package had five pillars: the revised Fiscal Balance Programme (FBP), labour market reforms, regulatory reforms, a strategic projects plan aiming to attract $30bn in investment and a priority sector plan. Under…
Mandatory health coverage to increase insurance uptake in BahrainOBGplus
The insurance sector is set to undergo a series of reforms under the government’s Financial Services Development Strategy (FSDS) 2022-26, announced at the end of 2021 and developed in line with the broader Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 to stimulate growth over the course of the decade. The strategy has five priorities: create job opportunities; develop capital markets; strengthen legislation and…
Bahrain to harness innovation to transform bankingOBGplus
Bahrain has laid the foundation for strong growth in its financial technology (fintech) companies and ecosystem and is pursuing a two-fold strategy to expand the industry in the years ahead. The first prong aims to leverage fintech to facilitate integration of domestic payments infrastructure and improve links between retail banks, merchants and service providers. The second element involves enabling…
How financial services are adopting sustainable criteriaOBGplus
As environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns become increasingly important in the corporate world, insurance companies are emerging as potentially key players in the shift away from fossil fuel-powered projects. The launch of the UN-convened Net-Zero Insurance Alliance (NZIA) in July 2021 reflects an ongoing change in the global insurance industry towards the wider recognition of the risks…
