#Bahrain #Manama #Investments #Bahrain EDB #Gateway Gulf

Gateway Gulf 2025 Secures Over $17 Billion in Investments

From November 2 to 3, 2025, the Gateway Gulf 2025 forum, hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), brought together over 200 global ministers and business leaders at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel in Bahrain Bay. With the theme "Rethinking Global Investment for New Business Dynamics," this significant event aimed to highlight Bahrain's advantages and opportunities in the Gulf region.

Under the auspices of His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Deputy Prime Minister, the opening ceremony set the stage for a dynamic two days filled with discussions and collaborations. His Excellency Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, emphasized Bahrain's position as a "center of innovation and opportunity" and a "bridge between East and West," affirming the nation's confident stride into "the age of intelligence."

The forum garnered immense activity, creating a hub of interactions among delegates, international speakers, and both local and international journalists. The discussions spanned topics such as global trade tariffs, cross-border investments, digital transformation, and the transition to renewable energy, reflecting current trends and future potentials in those fields.

A highlight of this year's forum was the signing of several monumental agreements, reinforcing Bahrain's status as a leading investment platform. These agreements directly support investments in five critical non-oil sectors: financial services, ICT, manufacturing, logistics, and tourism; all aligned with Bahrain's long-term development goals.

Among the noteworthy initiatives discussed, the Golden License initiative was prominently featured. This initiative grants special status to strategic projects, including:

• - Beyon and Oracle: A collaboration between local tech group Beyon and Oracle aims to establish a sovereign cloud data center, enhancing digital infrastructure in the region.
• - Binaa Al Bahrain: This initiative looks to further the vision for urban living on the island, aligning with Bahrain's sustainable development goals.
• - Arla Foods: The Danish dairy giant announced an expansion of its product line at its Bahrain facility, positioning itself as the second-largest dairy producer in the region.
• - Foulath Holding: Parent company of Bahrain Steel SULB, is expanding its operations to include a solar project, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable practices.

Additionally, several previously awarded projects made headlines, such as the National Bank of Kuwait's groundbreaking for its first international headquarters in Bahrain, and Bahrain Titanium's initiation of its titanium production plant construction.

Other notable announcements included:

• - AirAsia Capital: Signed a Letter of Intent with Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications to explore establishing Bahrain as its Middle Eastern hub, thereby enhancing connections between ASEAN and the burgeoning aviation sector in the region.
• - Al Salam Bank: Celebrated the first anniversary of its ASB Capital initiative, launched at Gateway Gulf 2024, and reported significant asset growth and new investment products.
• - Investcorp: Disclosed investments amounting to $1.2 billion during the first quarter of fiscal year 2026.
• - SICO: Introduced a new range of specialized products, including a Turkey Fund and an initiative for gold investment.
• - Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA): Formed a strategic alliance to improve the global supply chain for aluminum and enhance trade corridors between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Asia.
• - Rashid Equestrian Horse Racing Club (REHC): Unveiled a multi-phase master plan for a world-class lifestyle and sports destination.

Bahrain's commitment to infrastructure development was again affirmed as the Bahrain Tender Board announced billions in government tenders awarded in the first nine months of 2025.

With the shared vision of Gulf member states aiming to enhance trade corridors, develop future industries, invest in advanced technology, and increase the non-oil GDP contributions, Gateway Gulf has positioned itself as a critical platform. This reinforces Bahrain as a responsive and business-friendly gateway to the region while uniting influential decision-makers and global leaders around shared opportunities for growth and investment.

The success of this year's forum, along with the increasing annual participation of attendees, showcases the growing international appeal of Bahrain and solidifies its stature on the global stage.