Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) is generating approximately $100 million in economic impact annually from its flagship Formula 1 (F1) Grand Prix weekend alone, according to its chief executive Shaikh Salman bin Isa al Khalifa.
Shaikh Salman underscored how the BIC has become a primary engine for national diversification, driven by record-high attendance, specialised talent development and unparalleled institutional synergy.
“That’s important because that brings in that economic impact – an average of a $100 million over that weekend – with hotels, with airlines, with restaurants, all of that being spent here,” he said.
He noted that the Bahrain Grand Prix has been a resounding success, selling out for the last three consecutive years. Last year saw more than 37,000 people attend on the main Sunday, with approximately 12,000 visitors travelling from abroad, generating a ‘tangible buzz’ across the island.
Shaikh Salman highlighted the immense global reach of the sport, stressing the strategic importance of hosting the event. “I think Formula 1 is a great platform,” he asserted. “There’s more than 800m fans now in Formula 1. That number grew 90m in one year.”
As the first nation in the Middle East to host F1, Bahrain’s pioneering status has been crucial in strategically repositioning the kingdom as a global destination for major sporting and entertainment spectacles. The BIC, under Shaikh Salman’s leadership, has transformed beyond a motorsport venue into a powerful symbol of national ambition and innovation.
The BIC’s strategy focuses on sustainability, which began with its inception more than 20 years ago in 2004. Shaikh Salman revealed the staggering volume of activity now hosted: the facility hosted 424 events last year, including 47 racing events and 112 non-motorsports events, such as the popular darts championship.
Looking forward to 2026, the priority is capacity growth and specialisation, not merely increasing the number of events. “We’re selling out earlier than last year ... we’ve been sold out for about three years,” he said. The circuit is already booked out six months in advance, prompting plans to grow capacity and build grandstands to meet the booming demand.
“I’ve always said, ‘We’re going to do our own thing.’ We have so many advantages in Bahrain,” Shaikh Salman affirmed, rejecting benchmarking against newer regional competitors.
He was talking to Maite Elizalde, country editor for Bahrain at The Business Year (TBY), during a fire-side chat at the recent launch of the publisher’s inaugural Bahrain report in the Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention and Spa.
A key component of the BIC’s success is the remarkable co-ordination among government bodies and key stakeholders, a synergy known as ‘Team Bahrain’.
“It is fundamental. And I think that’s one of the biggest differentiators that we do here in Bahrain compared to the rest of the world,” Shaikh Salman said.
This collaboration rests on three pillars:
n Customer Experience: Ensuring seamless service for guests ‘from the moment they land to the moment they leave’, involving a BIC team of about 120 people deployed at the airport.
n Logistics of Operations: Managing the movement of the entire F1 entourage – including up to seven Boeing 777s – with the Interior Ministry and Customs ensuring all freight is on its next flight within 24 hours of the race.
n Economic Component: Partners like the BTEA (Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority) and Gulf Air collaborating to maximise visitor spending and event success.
The BIC is also a key incubator for local talent. While the permanent staff is 160-strong, the workforce surges to more than 4,000 people during the F1 week.
“From day one, we didn’t want to be a venue or a country that just had F1 come for a weekend or a week. We wanted to learn, we wanted to grow the human capital, the skill sets, everything,” he said.
Bahrain’s expertise is now exported, with BIC teams supporting and managing races in countries including Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, and formerly India. Furthermore, Bahraini nationals hold influential roles on FIA commissions, placing the kingdom on the global motorsports stage.
A significant future focus is promoting diversity and youth involvement, with special emphasis on ‘females entering the sport’ through karting training programmes, ensuring the long-term sustainability and evolution of the industry’s demographics.
The Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 will take place from April 10 to 12 next year.
With Bahrain retaining the same place in the calendar as 2025, racing will begin in Australia from March 6 to 8. China will then host round two from March 13 to 15, followed by Japan from March 27 to 29, prior to coming to Sakhir.
avinash@gdnmedia.bh
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