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…
The kingdom of Bahrain, renowned for its open markets and one of the most vibrant financial industries in the region, has faced economic headwinds in recent years. Lower oil prices have affected the many corporates that have chosen Manama as a base for their regional operations, and a stubborn fiscal deficit has resulted in a record-high level of public debt. The government has responded with…
As Bahrain’s banking sector completes its third full year of operation in a lower oil price environment, profitability and asset growth in the industry has turned flat. However, thanks to a robust regulatory framework, there has been no significant deterioration in asset quality, and there is sufficient liquidity in the system to allow banks to pursue lending opportunities. The sector has…
A low oil price environment has presented a number of challenges for Bahrain’s vibrant and fiercely competitive insurance sector. Downward pressure on premiums and a dearth of underwriting opportunities across the region have negatively affected the bottom lines of most Manama-based insurers. However, new opportunities in areas such as health care insurance and the extension of compulsory…
Despite a challenging investment environment, Bahrain’s exchange showed a relatively strong performance in 2017, with index gains in most sectors. Macroeconomic challenges remain in 2018, but new investment instruments and some significant changes to the exchange’s infrastructure are helping it to maintain its status as one of the most progressively regulated markets in the region – a…
Reduced oil prices and fiscal austerity measures being carried out by governments across the GCC have resulted in a challenging environment for Bahrain’s sharia-compliant financial institutions. The competitive domestic market – home to the largest concentration of Islamic financial institutions in the Middle East – has reacted to adverse conditions with what appears to be the beginning…
While Bahrain has pushed successfully to become one of the most diversified economies in the Gulf region, petroleum products still make up a significant share of the country’s total exports; 50% of all exports in 2016, according to data from the United Nations International Trade Statistics Database and the World Bank. In addition, the drive to establish a flourishing industrial base, coupled…
Targeting improvements in domestic infrastructure as well as expanding the links between the kingdom, the rest of the Gulf region and further afield, Bahrain is investing heavily in its transport networks. Among the major ongoing developments is the Airport Modernisation Programme, launched in 2016 to cater for rising air traffic and with the aim of turning Bahrain International Airport into…
Strong real estate growth continues in Bahrain, with a number of residential, commercial and hospitality developments coming on-line in 2017 and 2018. However, rental prices have not been immune to the ongoing regional challenges, notably lower oil prices, with rents dropping in 2017 for residential real estate, and remaining subdued for the office sector. Despite this, the overall volume of…
While 2017 saw the construction sector’s rapid growth slow somewhat, Bahrain has an impressive pipeline of construction projects lined up for the next few years. A strong focus on transportation and industrial infrastructure, as well as the construction of tens of thousands of affordable housing units, is expected to be among the key drivers of growth for the sector in the near future, with…
