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Analysis

GCC banks consolidate to boost resilience against future crises
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The Gulf banking sector has witnessed an increase in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in recent years, driven in part by the economic headwinds associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. At the outset of the pandemic in the first quarter of 2020, it was anticipated that the economic slowdown and the associated fall in oil prices would accelerate the M&A trend among banks in the region, with most…

Analysis

Bahrain’s secondary market key to unlocking funding for SMEs
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Launched in 2017, the Bahrain Investment Market (BIM) has so far secured one listing. However, with expectations that the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic may now be over, the financial authorities are intent on breathing new life into the initiative as a means of promoting rapid growth of high-potential small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Vibrant Ecosystem The BIM provides an alternative, less-regulated…

Analysis

Hydrogen holds promise as a sustainable energy resource in the Gulf
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With hydrocarbons-rich countries in the Gulf increasingly looking to reduce their carbon emissions, some in the region are turning to multi-coloured hydrogen as a more environmentally sustainable solution. Along with renewable sources like solar and wind, hydrogen is regarded as a potential low-carbon or zero-carbon fuel that is key to the transition away from fossil fuels. However, different types…

Analysis

Bahrain sees challenges and opportunities on the path to carbon neutrality
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In November 2021 Bahrain became the third GCC member, after the UAE and Saudi Arabia, to commit to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2060. Although its current emissions amount to a fraction of those emitted by its neighbours, climate change poses a very real threat to the kingdom. Modelling carried out in 2017 showed that a rise in sea levels of 1.5 metres would see Bahrain lose 27% of its landmass,…

Analysis

The impact of rising oil prices on the Gulf’s shift to renewables
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After opening 2022 at around $78 per barrel, Brent crude prices rose sharply over the next few months to surpass $127 on March 8 – the highest price in 14 years, driven in part by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – before moderating slightly to around $106 as of midMarch. Although investment in oil and gas has fallen by about 30% since the outbreak of the pandemic, there are signs that the increased…

Analysis

How the tourism industry is adopting sustainable practices post-pandemic
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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…

Analysis

New tourism attractions open new source markets to Bahrain
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With tourism tipped to be an important driver of growth and recovery in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the sector is projected to play a major role in wider economic expansion and attracting investment in the kingdom. Bahrain has several large-scale projects in the pipeline that are designed to position the country as a top destination in the region, leveraging its location in the Gulf between…

Analysis

Bahrain seeks to improve health care delivery
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Bahrain’s health sector is undergoing a series of changes under the National Health Plan (NHP) 2016-25 that are designed to improve patient choice, raise standards and encourage private sector involvement. One of the plan’s landmark reforms is the rollout of a new health insurance scheme for citizens, expatriates and visitors, known as Sehati, or “my health”. The Ministry of Health has shifted…

Analysis

Public-private partnerships accelerate education in Bahrain
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The Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting disruption to physical interactions caused complications for all sectors of the economy. In the education sector, the pandemic created challenges to learning continuity as schools and universities had to suspend in-person learning for long periods. However, this disruption has accelerated the digitalisation of education and could strengthen the system over the…

Analysis

Bahrain creates digital ecosystem to accelerate innovation
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Bahrain was one of the regional pioneers in liberalising its telecommunications sector and was an early adopter in the GCC of a technology-based strategy to diversify its economy. Following the accelerated wave of digitalisation that accompanied the Covid-19 pandemic, Bahrain aims to enhance its digital ecosystem with the launch of the Telecommunications, ICT and Digital Economy Sector Strategy 2022-2026,…