Transport
From The Report: Bahrain 2023
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With Bahrain’s 780-sq-km landmass stretching across 33 islands, efficient transport connectivity between the country’s four main islands – Bahrain Island, Al Muharraq Island, Sitra Island and Umm Al Nasan Island – is integral to economic development. National strategy has focused on establishing Bahrain as an international tourism destination and logistics centre. That drive has resulted in significant government investment in general and commercial transport infrastructure, with a new port, a high-capacity causeway connecting Bahrain with Saudi Arabia and a new airport all launched over the last 15 years. The positive socio-economic impact of those projects has encouraged additional enhancements, with stronger multi-modal linkages with the broader Gulf region a central goal of the next wave of strategic developments.

This chapter contains interviews with Mohamed bin Thamer Al Kaabi, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, and Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, CEO, Bahrain Airport Company.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

At the crossroads: Plans for new road and rail connections support the kingdom’s aim to become an international logistics centre
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With Bahrain’s 780-sq-km landmass stretching across 33 islands, efficient transport connectivity between the country’s four main islands – Bahrain Island, Al Muharraq Island, Sitra Island and Umm Al Nasan Island – is integral to economic development. National strategy has focused on establishing Bahrain as an international tourism destination and logistics centre. That drive has resulted in significant government investment in general and commercial transport infrastructure, with a new port,…

Interview

Building capabilities: Mohamed bin Thamer Al Kaabi, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, on enhancing logistics infrastructure
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Interview:Mohamed bin Thamer Al Kaabi Which priorities is Bahrain focusing on to improve its transport and logistics sector? MOHAMED BIN THAMER AL KAABI: Bahrain’s strategy for the logistics services sector is set to play a critical role in Bahrain Economic Vision 2030. Under the plan, the kingdom aims to leverage its strategic location and logistics capabilities to position it among the top-20 global destinations for logistics services by 2030. The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications…

Analysis

Clear horizons: Increased passenger and cargo aviation capacity aligns with key tourism and logistics objectives
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The expansion of the logistics and tourism industries is central to the government’s economic development strategy, and both sectors have received sizeable investment in recent years. A significant milestone for both sectors was the 2021 opening of a new terminal at Bahrain International Airport (BIA) – operated by Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) – which at 210,000 sq metres has four times the physical footprint of the old airport, the capacity to process 14m passengers per year and a significant…

Interview

Flying high: Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, CEO, Bahrain Airport Company, on the improvements being made in the aviation industry
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Interview:Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah In what ways can the kingdom further increase its competitiveness and international presence in the global aviation sector? MOHAMED YOUSIF AL BINFALAH: There was a gradual recovery in international travel and passenger flows in 2022. Around 6.9m passengers travelled through Bahrain International Airport (BIA) in 2022, compared to 3m in 2021, making it a positive recovery year. With no major restrictions on international travel in place, 2023 presents an…