In July 2016, Bahrain approved a new law allowing 100% foreign business ownership when it comes to various sectors of the economy, including health care. The new law is meant to spur growth and attract investment to various economic sectors, including food, administrative services, entertainment and leisure, information and communications, manufacturing, and mining and quarrying, and allows…
Created in 2006, Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company owns controlling or significant stakes in many of the kingdom’s major businesses and has made strategic investments in companies in other countries. A core aspect of Mumtalakat’s portfolio revolves around managing the government’s commercial interest in many of the country’s most significant companies. EXISTING PORTFOLIO: Gulf Air…
In October 2016 Alba secured the biggest corporate loan in the history of the kingdom, as conventional and Islamic banks offered it $1.5bn in the first tranche of funding that will finance the $3bn potline six expansion. The government’s investment arm, Mumtalakat Holding Company, controls 69.38% of Alba, and the project is a key component of the country’s strategy to invest now in order…
In May 2016 Bahrain approved its fourth NTP, which mapped out key targets for the upcoming three-year period. The national plan, which succeeds the third NTP, released in 2012, calls for, among other things, 95% of all households and 100% of all businesses and public radio communication stations in the kingdom to have access to affordable, reliable and secure ultra-fast broadband services,…
The UK’s decision to leave the EU caught the financial markets by surprise and drove them to a period of real uncertainty. The unexpected results led to a broad sell-off across continents and asset classes. Because the UK is the fifth-largest economy in the world, it is critical that the Brexit process be carried out in an efficient and timely manner. Brexit is a huge change in many aspects,…
Bahrain has gone through a series of economic challenges in the past five years. A primary source of these is the downturn in the real estate market. In an effort to combat the negative effects of the downturn on investors, three significant laws have been issued since 2014 regulating the dealings of all parties involved in the real estate market. Law No. 28 of 2014 on real estate developments…
Bahrain is a regional financial hub for investment and business in the GCC. This holds true due to the efforts set forth by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism (MoICT), and its minister, Zayed R. Al Zayani, in cooperation with other ministries. The MoICT has taken steps to encourage and create lucrative opportunities for foreign investors and companies wishing to establish a presence…
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.…
This chapter contains an overview of the legal framework in which local and foreign investors operate in Bahrain, including a summary of marketing investment products and services, a rundown of the changes to foreign ownership laws for certain businesses and a look at the recent amendments to real estate laws. This chapter contains a viewpoint from Hatim Q Zu’bi, Partner, Zu’bi & Partners,…
