Our Partners
Bahrain Economic Development Board
The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) is a dynamic public agency with an overall responsibility for formulating and overseeing the economic development strategy of Bahrain, and for creating the right climate to attract direct investment into the Kingdom.
The role of the Bahrain EDB is to provide leadership by uniting all of the Kingdom's shareholders through a unified vision, and to develop key strategies for growth. The Bahrain EDB also acts as a facilitator, helping all of Bahrain's stakeholders to understand and adopt the changes necessary for progress. In addition, the Bahrain EDB provides sound project management to ensure that all agreed reform initiatives are implemented in an effective and timely manner.
The Bahrain EDB is chaired by His Highness the Crown Prince and Commander-in-Chief of the BDF, Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The Bahrain EDB's Board of Directors consists of eighteen key ministers, two government officials and nine leading executives from the private sector. The Board's composition is designed to enable both the public and private sectors to work closely together to achieve Bahrain's strategic objectives for change and growth. These are enshrined in a three-pillared reform programme that addresses the economy, labour market, and education.
The Bahrain EDB has played a leading role in a number of important recent initiatives. These include Bahrain's hosting of the Middle East's first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix; becoming the first country in the Arab world to fully liberalise its telecoms industry; bringing about the privatisation law; and establishing a Free Trade Agreement with the United States.
The Bahrain EDB is also responsible for attracting inward investment into Bahrain, and is focusing on several economic sectors in which the Kingdom offers significant strengths, and in line with the local culture.
Several economic sectors capitalise on Bahrain's competitive advantages and provide significant investment opportunities. The Bahrain EDB works to enhance the capabilities, infrastructure and policies that are tied to the economic sectors and to the overall business environment, with the ultimate aim of attracting investment in these areas and thereby contributing to the Kingdom's economic growth.
The Bahrain EDB is also responsible for marketing the Kingdom of Bahrain abroad through its overseas network of dedicated offices, and by working closely with its embassies across the world to promote business investment opportunities.
In addition, the Bahrain EDB offers an investor- facilitation service to first-time investors who are interested in investing in Bahrain. This service includes acting as the first point of contact to the Kingdom, understanding the objectives of investors, providing them with information regarding the relevant procedures for setting up business, and helping them form a network of contacts in Bahrain.
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Gulf Air
Gulf Air launched services in 1950 as Gulf Aviation Company. Now fully owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain through Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, the airline started as a small scale commuter service, serving the oil fields of the Gulf and some regional customers. Today, Gulf Air is a major international airline serving over 40 destinations worldwide. However, whether it is 10 or 100 destinations, seven seater planes or the latest state of the art jets, our goal has remained constant - a commitment to the latest aviation technology and an adherence to traditional Arabian hospitality.
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BATELCO
Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco) is the leading integrated communications’ provider in the Kingdom of Bahrain and a significant force among the regions key telecommunications players.
Batelco serves both the corporate and consumer markets in the most liberalised and competitive environment in the Middle East, and remains committed to delivering cutting-edge telecommunications to its customers in Bahrain and the MENA region. The Company’s management and staff are driven by an enthusiasm for delivering the best customer experience based on innovation, affordability and reliability of products and services.
Batelco offers complete, end-to-end telecommunications solutions for its residential, business and government customers. The comprehensive solutions portfolio covers mobile services, international roaming, Broadband Internet, satellite services, WiFi, and MPLS IP-VPN based network services utilising our Next Generation all IP Network providing Datacoms services over fixed and wireless platforms in addition to managed services including systems integration and management.
Batelco has invested US$1.4 billion in Bahrain ’ s telecom infrastructure since 1981, including significant investment in NGN (Next Generation Networks) infrastructure which has reinforced the Kingdom’ s position as a leading communications hub. The Company’ s shares are listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange with a total capitalization of approx US$ 3.2 billion as of April 2008.
With an ongoing strategy to grow overseas, the Batelco Group incorporates joint venture operations in Jordan, Kuwait, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
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ARCAPITA
Arcapita operates out of four offices in Bahrain, Atlanta, London and Singapore. The Bank has a paid-in capital of $282 million, of which approximately 67% is held by over 270 prominent individuals and institutions mostly from the Arabian Gulf region, and the remaining 33% is beneficially held by Arcapita's management.
Arcapita has a balance sheet footing of $5.1 billion and an equity capital base of $1.4 billion. Arcapita has completed investments with a total transaction value of over $28 billion in its four lines of business, corporate investment, real estate investment, asset-based investment and venture capital. The Bank employs 338 people at its four offices.
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BAPCO
BAPCO, wholly owned by the Government of Bahrain, is engaged in the oil industry including exploration and prospecting for oil, drilling, production, refining, distribution of petroleum products and natural gas, sales and exports of crude oil and refined products.
The company owns a 250,000 barrel-a-day refinery, storage facilities for more than 14 million barrels, a marketing terminal, and a marine terminal for its petroleum products.
BAPCO's prime customers for crude oil and refined products are based in the Middle East, India, the Far East, South East Asia and Africa, and 95 percent of refined products are exported.
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Alba
The story of Alba marks the inception of industrial diversification in the Gulf. The company’s ongoing success as a primary producer of high-grade aluminium has brought significant economic benefits to the region and has taken the country technologically into the 21st Century. In the mid 1960s, the Bahrain Government was seeking to diversify its economic base from a heavy dependence on oil. The aim was to establish a suitable industry which would provide valuable export earnings, develop the country’s resources and create training and employment opportunities for a large number of Bahrainis.
Aluminium Bahrain was therefore incorporated by Amiri Charter in 1968 and officially commissioned on
11th May 1971 as a 120,000 tonnes per annum smelter.
Today, the company produces more than 500,000 tonnes per annum, having expanded in 1981, 1990,
1992 and 1997 - making the smelter one of the largest single-site producers of aluminium in the world.
The three shareholders are the Government of Bahrain (77%), the Saudi Public Investment Fund (20%)
and Breton Investments (3%).
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Al Zayani Investments
Established in 1977, Alzayani Investments is a dynamic company with a proven track record. It derives its strength from its local solid foundation, and its worldwide network of contacts.
Involved in diversified industries such as automotive, health care, manufacturing, real estates and service, the company is expanding on constant basis.
Its strategy is dedicated to expand and excel, with a global vision. It employs state of the art technologies to ensure an international competitive edge and stands ready for all future challenges.
Find out more about Al Zayani Investments