Dubai, UAE - Six years after imposing a comprehensive blockade on Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain have nearly restored ties with the country. However, underlying tensions persist, as changing dynamics in the Middle East drive competing foreign policy priorities. These unresolved issues have the potential...

DUBAI, UAE- As much of the world swelters in record temperatures, spare a thought for Issam Genedi, who ekes out a living washing cars in one of the planet's hottest regions, the Gulf. Pausing from his work at an outdoor carpark in Dubai, the Egyptian migrant says the UAE's furnace-like summer...

Manama, Bahrain--Bahrain has climbed up to ninth position in the top destinations in the world for expatriates, according to report published by global expat network InterNations. The country gained the higher position out of all the countries in the Middle East thanks to the ease of getting a visa, dealing...

Manama, Bahrain: Entrepreneurship-themed reality television show ‘Beban’ announces the expansion of its third season to Saudi Arabia, as Hope Ventures, the investment arm of Hope Fund and producer of Beban, partners with Saudi-based GFH Capital. Saudi-based businesses can apply for season 3 online through hopefund.bh/beban by July 23. The expansion...

London, UK--Bahrain and the United Kingdom have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on biodiversity and marine pollution. The MoU aims to create a framework of action between Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) and Britain’s Cefas by allowing them to explore areas of cooperation in monitoring the environment, marine...

Manama, Bahrain - The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has announced that the monthly issue of the short-term Islamic leasing bonds, Sukuk Al-Ijara, has been oversubscribed by 329 percent. Subscriptions worth BD 85.648 million ($227.46 million) were received for the BD 26 million ($68.92 million) issue. The Sukuk Al-Ijara has...

Manama, Bahrain--The Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) of Bahrain has invited bids for a $53.19 million tender to upgrade the Ras Abu Jarjour reverse osmosis desalination plant. International companies vying for the project will be required to submit their competitive technical and financial bid, within the latest international standards, said...

Investcorp buys majority stake in SEC Newgate for $100m.

The Middle East and North Africa region scores only 62.6% in gender parity, and at the current pace, the region will achieve full parity in 152 years, says a latest WEF report.

Manama, Bahrain - This week’s BD 70 million issue of Treasury Bills of Government of Bahrain have been oversubscribed by 109 percent.  The bills, carrying a maturity of 91 days, are issued by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), on behalf of the Government of Bahrain.  The issue date of...

Manama, Bahrain -- Treasury bills valued at Bahrain Dinar 70 million ($185 million) issued this week by the Central Bank of Bahrain have been oversubscribed 109 percent The bills, carrying a maturity of 91 days, are issued by the CBB, on behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The...

With violence escalating between Palestinians and Israelis, Morocco has postponed a meeting of Arab allies of Israel it was due to host this summer. According to the country's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita a date for the meeting can be worked out when circumstances are more "favorable." The annual meeting was...

Jerusalem, Undefined - Israeli defense exports hit an all-time high of $12.5 billion last year, with Arab countries that recently established ties accounting for nearly a quarter of purchase contracts, officials said Wednesday. The defense ministry, which oversees and approves the exports of Israel's defense industries, said one quarter of deals...

Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani has declared the formation of a new naval coalition. This alliance, encompassing regional powers like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Iraq, aims to enhance maritime security and underlines the increasing recognition of the need for regional synergy in establishing security.

"As a result of our ongoing evaluation of effective security cooperation with all partners, two months ago, the UAE withdrew its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces," a statement carried by the official WAM news agency said. The Bahrain-headquartered CMF was established in 2001, initially as a partnership between 12...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Royal Guard and the Bahrain Royal Guard have started the joint security exercise “Haris” in Riyadh. The joint exercise is part of the continuous cooperation between the Saudi Royal Guard and the Bahrain Royal Guard. The exercise was inaugurated by Major General Mohammed bin...

Sultan Al Neyadi, the UAE astronaut, honors Bahrain and Qatar from his orbital viewpoint 400km above Earth, describing them as "two shining pearls".

The Bahraini decision comes the day after the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia against a backdrop of unexpected rapprochement between Riyadh and Tehran, brokered by Beijing. The warming of relations between the region's two great rivals has paved the way for a major diplomatic reshuffle in the Arab world.

Jianuo is a leading provider of specialty premium components.

Manama, Bahrain - Beyon has announced a major investment of more than $250 million in state-of-the-art digital infrastructure in Bahrain which will support the growth of the country’s digital economy.  Batelco, part of the Beyon group, has joined the SEA-ME-WE 6 (Southeast Asia - Middle East - Western Europe) consortium,...

Manama, Bahrain--The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) announces that the monthly issue of the Sukuk Al-Salam Islamic securities has been oversubscribed by 197%. Subscriptions worth BD 84.706 million were received for the BD 43 million issue, which carries a maturity of 91 days. The expected return on the issue, which...

Dubai, UAE-- Qatar and Bahrain have agreed to restart flights toward the end of the month, in a sign of warming relations between the estranged countries. According to Bahrain News Agency, the resumption of flights between Bahrain and Qatar “comes within the framework of the brotherly relations between the two...

Tehran, Iran--Iran's trade with six Arab states has vaulted to $35.11 billion in the fiscal year of 2022-2023, according to the latest data released by the Islamic Republic. According to Iran Customs Administration, the Islamic Republic traded 58.25 million tons of goods (excluding crude oil exports) worth $35.11 billion with...

Revenues for the first quarter increased by 5 percent over Q1 2022.

The aluminium giant's profit fell 68% to US$126.2mn.

Manama, Bahrain -- The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) announced that the monthly issue of the short-term Islamic leasing bonds, Sukuk Al Ijara, has been oversubscribed by 403 percent. Subscriptions worth BD 104.778 million ($277 million) were received for the BD 26 million issue, which carries a maturity of 182...

Manama, Bahrain - Bahrain has taken steps to ban from its markets the contaminated cough syrups made in India in response to recent reports of the death of many children who consumed them in some countries.   The National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) on Sunday confirmed that the Kingdom's markets are...

Manama, Bahrain - Bahrain has reported a 4.09 percent increase in its real GDP in the fourth quarter of 2022 YoY, driven by a growth of 4.91 percent in the non-oil sector, as a result of its economic diversification initiatives. The high-achieving sectors include the financial corporations sector which grew...

TRENDS Twitter poll suggests 48% candidates face discrimination during job recruitment process in the Gulf region, while 30% do not, and 22% remain unsure.

Customers at a Bahrain jewellery store study displays of pearls that are, unusually, 100 percent natural -- the result of attempts to preserve a centuries-old industry. While rare elsewhere, natural pearls prised from seabed oysters by divers are the only variety produced in the Gulf kingdom, which is fiercely proud...

"The technical committees are now doing their work in this context, and it is expected that there will be exchange visits to consider the procedures we need to reopen embassies." foreign ministry spokesperson Majid Al-Ansari told a briefing. A UAE official confirmed that the reopening of embassies is "under process".

Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 over Assad's brutal crackdown of pro-democracy protests. But on Wednesday, in the latest sign of an easing in tensions with Damascus, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Jeddah, the first such visit since the war began.

In 2017, Bahrain joined Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt in imposing a diplomatic blockade on Qatar. The countries' rivalry goes back even further, however, and Bahrain is the last to renew ties. Agreement on the reconciliation was reached in talks at the Gulf Cooperation Council headquarters in...

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, diplomatically isolated since the start of the Syrian war in 2011, has visited the UAE and Oman over the past two months. An Arab League summit is expected to be held in Riyadh in May.

Manama, Bahrain - Bahrain has announced the launch of a Golden Licence, providing incentives and streamlined services to foreign and local businesses with large-scale investment projects in the country, in an important step in the country's pursuit to incentivise investments and boost job creation under its fiscal and economic reforms,...

The kingdom witnessed 6.2 percent non-oil real GDP growth, the highest since 2012 and higher than the 5 percent annual target set by its Economic Recovery Plan that aims to enhance the economy's long-term competitiveness and support post-COVID recovery.

The United Arab Emirates takes the lead as the happiest Arab country in 2023, according to the World Happiness Report, followed by Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The central banks of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar raised their benchmark borrowing rates after the US Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate by 25 basis points last night.

Manama, Bahrain – The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has issued treasury bills with a maturity period of 12 months. The issue date of the bills is 23 March 2023 and the maturity date is 21st March 2024. The weighted average rate of interest is 6.17 percent compared to 6.31...

Manama, Bahrain: Aerolam Middle East and Titan Company are set to launch their operations in Bahrain with a total investment of  $45 million. This was was announced during the recent high-level Bahraini delegation visit to India this week, which was organised to highlight investment opportunities in Bahrain across priority sectors....

Iran said it would welcome restoring ties with Bahrain to end seven years of ruptured relations, following the China-brokered deal to heal rifts between Tehran and Riyadh. "The resumption of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia shows the effectiveness of the diplomatic solution to resolve misunderstandings," said Iran's foreign ministry...

Manama, Bahrain -- The first fully Bahraini satellite will be named “Al Munther”, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported on Sunday, quoting  Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, National Security Advisor, Royal Guard Commander and the Secretary General of the Supreme Defence Council.   Shaikh Nasser  also unveiled the official logo of...

MANAMA, BAHRAIN -  Speaker of  the UAE Federal National Council Saqr Ghobash discussed ways to enhance cooperation with First Deputy Chairman of Ukraine Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) Oleksandr Kornienko on the sidelines of the 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union held here. During the meeting, they discussed parliamentary cooperation between the...

Dubai, UAE -- Bahrain has revoked visas for two members of Human Rights Watch who planned to attend this week's Inter-Parliamentary Union assembly in the Gulf state, the activist group said on Friday. Visas that were issued for two members of the rights group on January 30 were cancelled on...

BEIRUT, LEBANON - Lawmakers attending an inter-parliament gathering in Bahrain's capital this week should seize the "opportunity" to address the Gulf state's "dismal rights record", rights groups have said. Parliamentarians from around the world are planning to attend this year’s Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the oldest and largest organization of parliaments in...

ABU DHABI, UAE - UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI)  Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei Thursday had a meeting with Bahrain's Minister of Works Ibrahim bin Hassan Al Hawaj at the MoEI headquarters in Dubai. They discussed ways to boost UAE-Bahrain synergies in the infrastructure and transport sectors. Al...

Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain announced the signing of 12 agreements and partnerships worth over US$2 billion for nine joint industrial projects. The announcement came following a meeting of the Integrated Industrial Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development. Jordan Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh oversaw the signing of the...

The third meeting of the Higher Committee of the Industrial Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development will take place in Jordan's capital Amman.

According to Saeed Shehabi and Moosa Mohammed, Bahrain infected their computers with FinSpy spying software, allowing agents access their data.

Earlier in the last week of January, Bahrain's crown prince and Qatar's emir spoke by telephone. in a sign that the two Gulf countries are making effort to improve ties.