Bahrain’s Unemployment Fund ended 2025 with BD601.47 million in net assets, up sharply from BD530.87m a year earlier, as stronger contributions, investment holdings and bank balances helped bolster the scheme’s financial position.
The latest audited financial statements, covering the year ended December 31, 2025, show that the fund’s net assets increased by BD70.6m, or around 13.3 per cent, compared with 2024.
The accounts have been referred by the government to Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee for review.
The financial statements were approved by the board of directors on May 20, 2026, and signed on its behalf by Social Insurance Organisation (SIO) chief executive Sahar Rashed Al Mannai. They were audited by KPMG Fakhro.
The figures provide a snapshot of the fund’s growing financial base, with total assets reaching BD617.22m at the end of 2025, compared with BD546.44m in 2024.
Liabilities remained relatively stable at BD15.75m, compared with BD15.58m the previous year, meaning the substantial increase in assets translated into a corresponding strengthening of the fund’s net financial position.
Bank balances recorded a 11.7pc increase, climbing to BD144.15m from just BD129.024m a year earlier.
The fund’s investments also expanded significantly, reaching BD415.56m, compared with BD355.77m in 2024 – an increase of almost BD59.8m.
Accounts receivable stood at BD9.13m, marginally lower than the BD9.50m recorded in 2024.
Real estate investments grew slightly from BD7.39m in 2024 to BD7.5m in 2025.
The fund collected BD91.62m in contributions during 2025, up from BD87.60m in 2024. After deducting the reported contribution-related amount of BD38.96m, net contributions stood at approximately BD52.66m.
The financial statements also show a BD1.29m impairment charge in 2025, compared with an impairment reversal of BD7.45m in 2024. Despite the reversal, the fund recorded a positive overall change in assets of BD70.60m in 2025, compared with BD67.71m in 2024.
Its cash position also strengthened during the year.
Cash and cash equivalents rose from BD66.41m at the end of 2024 to BD80.15m at the end of 2025, representing an increase of about BD13.74m.
The cash-flow statement shows that the fund generated BD56.22m from operating activities during 2025.
Investment activity, meanwhile, remained substantial, with the fund continuing to deploy significant sums into investments while receiving income from its invested properties.
Income from investment properties reached BD266,000, compared with BD332,000 in 2024 – the fund reported investment-property related income and expenditure as part of its overall financial activities.
The government stated in writing that the latest figures underline the growing scale of the Unemployment Fund, which finances unemployment-related protection while maintaining a sizeable investment portfolio designed to support its long-term financial sustainability.
With net assets now above the BD600m mark, the accounts are set to come under parliamentary scrutiny as the financial and economic affairs committee examines the fund’s financial performance, contribution flows, investments and liabilities.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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