Manama, Bahrain--The Supreme Council for the Environment (SCE) signed a cooperation agreement with Foulath Holding Company to boost sustainable development goals in Bahrain. The agreement aimed at planting and preserving mangrove trees in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Amna Hamad Al Rumaihi, Acting Director of the Communication and...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - GFH Capital is considering the offering of its unit in Saudi Arabia on the Tadawul. GFH Group's plans are unchanged with regard to listing in other markets, CEO Razi Al Murbati said. The group is listed on the stock exchanges of Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and...

The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also called for the release of some 200 hostages held by Hamas, as well as the restoration of basic services for Palestinians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Manama, Bahrain--Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) has attracted $295 million in direct investments within the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector as part of a total projected direct investment worth $1.4 billion, during the first nine months of 2023. Stemming from 14 local and international projects, the direct investments...

As Israel prepares for a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip, the international community has mobilized to try to protect civilians and prevent the conflict spreading across the region. But Tel Aviv's avowed determination to crush Hamas, the group behind the October 7 attack on Israel, are hampering mediation efforts.

"No to the occupation! No to America!" chanted demonstrators gathered in central Baghdad after Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr called for a protest "in support of Gaza" and against Israel, an AFP journalist reported.

Sochi, Russia -.Starting in 2024, travelers from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Malaysia  and Bahrain may no longer need tourist visas to visit Russia,  Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Vakhrukov said on the sidelines of the FTT-2023 Forum of Tourism Territories, Tass reported. "I reckon this could happen next year....

Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip and cut off the water supply as it kept bombing targets in the Palestinian enclave in response to the Hamas surprise assault it has likened to the 9/11 attacks. Israel has counted over 700 dead and launched strikes on Gaza that...

MANAMA, BAHRAIN – This week’s US$186 million (BD 70 million) issue of Government Treasury Bills has been oversubscribed by 270 percent. The bills, carrying a maturity of 91 days, are issued by the CBB, on behalf of the Government of Bahrain. The issue date of the bills is October 4,...

Manama, Bahrain - A fourth Bahraini soldier has died after an attack this week on his country's contingent in the Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Gulf archipelago's army said. Bahrain had previously announced the deaths of three of its soldiers in Monday's attack near the Saudi border with Yemen....

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Saudi Arabia on Tuesday condemned an attack on its territory that killed two Bahraini military personnel near the border with war-torn Yemen. Bahrain's military said late Monday that one officer and one enlisted soldier had been killed in what it described as a drone attack perpetrated by Yemen's Houthi...

The victims "were martyred while performing their sacred national duty to defend the southern borders of the sister Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", which has led a military coalition against Yemen's Houthi rebels since 2015, the military said in a statement. The incident occurred as Saudi Arabia is pushing for a...

MANAMA, BAHRAIN - This week’s BD 70 million (US$186 issue of Government Treasury Bills has been oversubscribed by 149 percent. The bills, carrying a maturity of 91 days, are issued by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain.  The issue date...

MANAMA, BAHRAIN - The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) and the Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) have decided to jointly provide training programs aimed at strengthening the global Islamic finance community.The programs cater to professionals from financial institutions, regulatory bodies, supervisory authorities and legal experts within the Islamic...

Manama, Bahrain--Spire Technologies has obtained licenses from the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), authorizing it to operate as a fully regulated open banking ancillary service provider in Bahrain. The approval from the CBB will effectively enable Spire Technologies to expand its offerings, delivering expert financial insights and swift digital solutions...

Bahrain FinTech Bay is a fintech ecosystem builder.

According to some activists at least 800 inmates joined the strike, the biggest in Bahrain's history. But Bahraini authorities said only 121 inmates took part. The mass hunger strike was suspended after 36 days in the wake of assurances from the authorities to improve conditions. Activists said some prisoner's health...

This was Investcorp's fourth exit in India in just a few years.

Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), Russia's Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov said that his country has offered the complete cancellation of tourist visas to Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. "We are exploring the topic of making the transition to visa-free travels," he added.

Manama, Bahrain--GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi has emphasized the crucial role of the private sector in ensuring a sustainable and resilient Gulf economy. Al-Budaiwi made these remarks during his speech at the 62nd meeting of the Board of Directors of the Gulf Chambers, hosted by Bahrain. The meeting was chaired by...

Cairo, Egypt-- Vowing to expand their relations to cultural, educational, environmental, and energy fields, Arab states and Japan have expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation between the two. Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, participated in the third session of the Arab-Japan Political Dialogue...

Saudi Arabia and UAE lead the region in rapidly embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, shifting from traditional factories to smart ones.

"The foreign minister and I agreed that we should work together to increase the number of direct flights, the tourism, the trade volume, the investment," Eli Cohen said during a ceremony to inaugurate Israel's new embassy. The embassy in the capital Manama will replace the first embassy Israel opened in...

Cohen's trip comes less than two weeks before the third anniversary of the accords in mid-September. Despite now having steady ties, Bahrain and the UAE have joined other Gulf Arab states in issuing a series of condemnations against Israel this year.

With a prolonged internal conflict anticipated and both the military and economy showing signs of strain, Israel's regional standing is being affected, say experts.

GCC banks experienced robust lending growth during Q2-2023, despite multi-decade high rates from US hikes, with loans from GCC-listed banks hitting a record $1.9 trillion.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Gulf Federation for Electronic Sports was established Thursday on the sidelines of the Next World Forum, to support, nurture, and develop Gulf talents through annual tournaments hosted by all countries. The launch was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi...

DUBAI, UAE - Bahraini authorities have agreed to offer prisoners extra rights, including more visiting hours, following a mass hunger strike that activists say is the largest in the country's history. The interior ministry late on Monday said it would "increase the duration of visitations" and was looking to raise the...

Manama, Bahrain--Bahrain and the United States have reviewed joint cooperation, partnership and strategic dialogue in the political, economic and security fields. The review came up in a meeting between Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Political Affairs Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and Paul Dean, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in...

Manama, Bahrain--Bahrain has indicated its keenness to encourage investments in the kingdom's oil and environmental projects through partnerships with the private sector, especially banks, to achieve sustainable development goals. Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Daina, Oil and Environment Minister, Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, has affirmed the government’s keenness to...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - After being banned in several Arab countries, blockbuster film Barbie in Saudi Arabia is drawing huge crowds. The unexpected success of the film Barbie in Saudi Arabia has become a symbol of the dramatic societal changes taking place in the Middle East. Despite calls for its...

But by 2050, sea levels could rise by at least 0.5 metre, according to the minister, citing the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Some experts view the estimate as conservative. Rising seas aggravate flooding, threaten coastlines and could pollute Bahrain's already scarce groundwater reserves with salty seawater.

With support from a military force from neighboring Saudi Arabia, Bahrain crushed the 2011 protests which had demanded a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister.Bahrain faced US criticism at the time, with former president Barack Obama imposing an arms embargo for four years. But Obama's successor Donald Trump fully...

Manama, Bahrain - Tamkeen, a semi-autonomous government agency, tasked with developing Bahrain's private sector has decided to support the Bahrain-based business-to-business (B2B) tendering platform, Procural, as part of its effort to create new jobs for Bahrainis. The support will enable Procural to enhance its ability to use cloud-based technology and...

Three thousand additional US personnel on troop-landing warships have already passed through the Red Sea, and US-led maritime forces are warning ships against approaching Iranian waters. The moves follow a spate of capture and attempted capture of ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the U-shaped gateway to the...

Central banks are prioritizing fiscal and monetary policy coordination to boost macroeconomic stability, cut inflationary pressures, and support long-term growth.

Manama, Bahrain - The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has said its monthly issue of the Sukuk Al-Salam Islamic securities has been oversubscribed by 319 percent. Subscriptions worth BD 137.151 million ($364m) were received for the BD 43 million ($114m) issue, which carries a maturity of 91 days. The expected...

Its net profit rose to US$4.14m as against US$3.96m last year.

"Vessels are being advised to transit as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible" to minimize the risk of seizure, US Fifth Fleet spokesperson Commander Tim Hawkins told AFP. The International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), led by Washington, is "notifying regional mariners of appropriate precautions to minimize the risk...

The net profit increased by 32.74 percent compared to Q2, 2022.

Kuwait City, Kuwait - Kuwait has barred hit film Barbie from cinemas over concerns about "public ethics", officials have said, also confirming a separate ban on a horror movie featuring a transgender actor. Barbie and Talk to Me both "promulgate ideas and beliefs that are alien to the Kuwaiti society and...

"The situation in Ain al-Helweh camp has now calmed down," Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said referring to south Lebanon's restive Palestinian camp. "Security and intelligence services... have no information that the situation could spin out of control and spill over to other camps," he said.

Manama, Bahrain-- Looking to develop the e-commerce sector in the kingdom, Bahrain's Ministry of Industry and Commerce has published a survey to evaluate consumer satisfaction in the e-commerce sector in response to the growing volume of e-commerce transactions. These efforts come from the Information Systems Directorate and the Consumer Protection...

Life in Bahrain largely moves indoors during the summer months, with the ever-present Arctic blast of air-conditioning systems.

The company announces $95 million investment for expansion.

New customers and projects were added in H1 2023.

Manama, Bahrain-- for "exceeding the scope of the permit." The owner had exceeded the scope of the permit which was issued to him, in accordance with the provisions of the Real Estate Sector Regulation Law,  promulgated by Law No. 27 of 2017 and its amendments and executive edicts. In a statement issued...

Dubai, UAE-- Bahrain and the US have reaffirmed their commitment to freedom of navigation in international waters. They reiterated the importance of ensuring safe passage for commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and condemned acts that put freedom of navigation in jeopardy. The joint statement came after a meeting...

Manama, Bahrain--Bahrain has recorded a two percent rise in gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2023, driven by a 3.5 percent jump in the non-oil sector. The average quarterly increase, according to the Bahraini Ministry of Finance and National Economy, of the annual non-oil GDP has touched about...

New York, US--Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are looking to collaborate in order to speed up the sustainable development goals, aligning them with government programs under the 2030 Agenda. In this connection, discussion took place at a joint meeting between Amna bint Ahmed Al Romaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of...