For much of its history, Bahrain was the name for the eastern coast of Arabia. Bahrain means “two seas” in Arabic, and although it is unclear which two seas the name refers to, it has recently come to identify the 33 natural islands of the Awal archipelago. History The first notable inhabitants of the region were the Dilmun civilisation approximately 6000 years ago, but throughout history…
Global trade faces protectionist headwinds that are dampening the outlook for growth in the coming years. According to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), trade volumes expanded by 3% in 2018 and are expected to decline slightly to 2.6% in 2019 before rebounding to 3% in 2020. This may be the first time since the 2007-08 global financial crisis that growth will fall below a 3% average, as significant…
Benefitting from its robust financial services, industrial and manufacturing sectors, Bahrain’s economy is one of the most mature and diverse in the GCC. Although the kingdom has suffered in the wake of sustained low and volatile international oil prices – which have resulted in sluggish regional and national GDP growth, as well as a widening budget deficit – it has made major strides…
In the three decades before the 2007-08 global financial crisis, the world’s financial networks became increasingly interconnected. Financial system regulatory convergence and the growing penetration of World Trade Organisation rules, as well as the creation of currency unions such as the euro, resulted in a surge in cross-border capital flows. Global banks began to see the emergence of a…
A powerful driver of economic and non-oil growth, Bahrain’s banking sector plays an important role in ongoing diversification and development efforts. Furthermore, the kingdom has maintained its status as a regional financial centre, even with increasing competition from GCC neighbours. The sector has remained resilient in the face of subdued macroeconomic growth and a series of external…
As both a regional and global leader in Islamic finance, Bahrain benefits from supportive regulation, capable human resources, and a reputation for diversified and mature offerings. Demonstrating this, the Islamic banking and insurance segments have recorded elevated growth rates compared to their conventional counterparts in recent years, even as the industry faced macroeconomic headwinds. Islamic…
Two of the biggest trends in global insurance in recent years are premium growth in emerging markets and the rising importance of technology across the supply chain. The latter has come to be referred to as insurtech, a potentially disruptive trend that heralds both threats to and opportunities for incumbents and newcomers alike. While technological solutions are being applied along the length…
The performance of Bahrain’s insurance sector has reflected national macroeconomic trends in recent years, with premium growth remaining sluggish and, in some cases, declining, even as listed companies’ bottom lines recorded notable growth. Motor and medical insurance dominate the industry, and the recent promulgation of a national health insurance law is set to bring the latter additional…
Domestic oil production has declined in recent years, and Bahrain has increased its efforts to accelerate diversification and realign its economy to non-oil growth. However, the oil and gas sector remains its largest economic contributor, benefitting from a growing petrochemicals manufacturing base, rising natural gas production, and a major potential offshore oil and gas discovery in the Khaleej…
With investment rising despite subdued recent growth, Bahrain’s transport sector remains an important and dynamic non-oil growth driver. The kingdom’s public transportation, aviation, maritime and roadway infrastructure are set to undergo a dramatic transformation in the coming years, as the country implements a host of big-ticket projects across all segments of the transport sector. Offering…
