In early 2018 Bahrain announced the most significant recent oil and gas discovery in the kingdom since the 1930s, located in the offshore Khaleej Al Bahrain basin (KABB). Should the basin offer sufficient amounts of recoverable reserves, new production will push Bahrain to regain its status as a major regional oil and gas producer, in addition to offering significant benefits to its downstream…
Under the auspices of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP), Bahrain is actively seeking to boost renewable energy’s contribution to the energy mix. Development of new solar power projects will be an important component of implementing the NREAP, and the government has made good progress on advancing its solar agenda over recent years. While the NREAP emphasises decentralised,…
While the King Hamad Causeway is the most high-profile road transport project under development in Bahrain, the government is also moving to invest heavily in its domestic road network, with work set to resume on upgrades that had been stalled for years. Easing congestion and improving logistics networks are high priorities for Bahraini stakeholders, which should see investment in this segment…
Recent years have seen direct investment growing in Bahrain’s manufacturing sector. According to the Economic Development Board (EDB) – the kingdom’s export promotion agency – investment in manufacturing rose by 18% in the five years to 2018, and by 4.3% during the first half of 2018. Figures for full year 2018 show that the manufacturing, transport and logistics sectors accounted for…
As one of the world’s top-10 aluminium producers, Bahrain’s raw and value-added aluminium shipments account for the bulk of non-oil exports. With recent rises in manufacturing investment, the sector is set for a year of significant growth in 2020. Majority-state-owned smelter Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) is leading the implementation of the Line 6 expansion project to offer a major increase…
With the GCC retail sector valued at $253.2bn in sales in 2018 and tourists one of the main sources of mall footfall across the region, Bahrain is keen to consolidate its position as an important regional and international shopping destination. A major expansion of the kingdom’s mall offering is under way, while the upgrade and expansion of Bahrain International Airport is set to increase…
With highly developed ICT infrastructure and a raft of government and private sector-backed incubation and development programmes, Bahrain’s start-up scene is built on a strong foundation. This enabling environment is helping many new firms to develop innovative ideas and personal passions into bankable businesses. As a result, the kingdom continues to see high demand for incubator and accelerator…
The guide contains listings of some of the leading hotels and resorts in Bahrain and contacts for important government offices and services. It also contains useful tips and information for first-time or regular and business and leisure visitors alike.…
Recent years have seen the promulgation of various laws to position Bahrain as a competitive regional jurisdiction. This chapter reviews these new laws, including Bahrain’s new Law for the Encouragement and Protection of Competition, which came into effect on February 1, 2019. The first dedicated Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) came into force on August 1, 2019. Prior to the implementation of…
