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Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have signed a major agreement to boost direct investment and strengthen economic ties between the two kingdoms.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked between the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) on the sidelines of the fourth Bahraini-Saudi Coordination Council meeting.
The signing ceremony was overseen by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.
The MoU was signed by Sustainable Development Minister and Bahrain EDB chief executive Noor Al Khulaif, and Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al Falih.
The agreement outlines several key collaborative efforts, including the exchange of statistical data on investment flows, business prospects, policies, and regulations related to direct investment opportunities. The partners will also work to raise awareness of potential investment opportunities across diverse economic sectors and facilitate joint promotional efforts aimed at developers, investors, and financiers, particularly for public-private partnership initiatives.
To deepen collaboration, the MoU sets mechanisms for organising exhibitions, workshops, and conferences, including the hosting of an annual Saudi-Bahraini Investment Forum in the first half of 2026, which will showcase investment opportunities and attract companies interested in investing in either market.
Ms Al Khulaif commented that the MoU not only strengthens their longstanding relationship but also represents a “transformative shift towards greater public-private sector partnerships” between the two nations. “We highly value and welcome Saudi investments in Bahrain’s key economic sectors, which continue to play a vital role in further advancing Bahrain’s sustainable development journey,” she added.
Saudi Arabia’s cumulative direct investments in Bahrain reached approximately $10.13 billion by the end of 2024, representing nearly 22 per cent of Bahrain’s total cumulative direct investment stock, spanning sectors including financial services, insurance, industry, and ICT.
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