Entrepreneurship has today become a central and key driver of economic, strategic, and geopolitical transformations, contributing to the attraction of investments and the enhancement of national economic competitiveness, Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa has said.
This came during his participation in the high-level panel discussion titled “A New Dawn for Entrepreneurship,” at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026, held in Davos.
On behalf of His Majesty King Hamad, Prime Minister’s Court Minister Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa concluded Bahrain’s participation in the Davos Forum with a focus on developing business-enabling policies.
Highlighting the kingdom’s experience in investing in human capital, Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat) Board of Directors chairman Shaikh Salman affirmed that Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad, and the guidance of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, continues to develop policies and legislation that support the business environment, foster entrepreneurship, and promote innovation and digital transformation, including artificial intelligence technologies, in a manner that contributes to inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
The Minister also shed light on Bahrain’s experience in investing in human capital, stressing the importance of continuous education in keeping pace with the rapid transformations driven by artificial intelligence.
Shaikh Salman also reviewed Bahrain’s leadership in adopting and supporting youth entrepreneurship initiatives by launching competitions dedicated to university students, aimed at nurturing innovative ideas and empowering young people to enter the labour market, thereby contributing to the creation of new job opportunities and reinforcing paths of economic development.
Regarding the emergence of new entrepreneurial models, he explained that artificial intelligence plays a key role in enhancing capabilities and building skills across several vital sectors, including finance, retail, technology, and even the government sector.
He emphasised that entrepreneurship has become a fundamental economic capability for transforming technology into productivity, innovation, and scalable growth.
The Bahraini delegation included several senior government officials, including Sustainable Development Minister and Bahrain Economic Development Board chief executive officer Noor Al Khulaif; Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro; Mumtalakat CEO Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa; PMO director general Hamad Yaqoub Al Mahmeed; PMO’s Research and Projects undersecretary Yusuf Buhejji; Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority CEO Sara Buhiji; Adviser to the Board at Bahrain EDB Iain Lindsay OBE OB; Gulf Air Group chairman Khalid Taqi; as well as other senior officials from Bahrain’s public and private sectors.
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