Manama : On the sidelines of the fourth meeting of the Bahraini-Saudi Coordination Council, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) and the Ministry of Investment in Saudi Arabia with the aim of encouraging direct investment.
The MoU was signed by Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of the Bahrain EDB, and by Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Falih, Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia.
The MoU includes cooperation between the Board and the Ministry to enhance joint efforts aimed at encouraging direct investment through the exchange of statistical information on direct investments and available business opportunities, as well as on policies, systems, laws, and regulations related to direct investment opportunities and the investment environment in both countries. It also includes efforts to raise awareness of investment opportunities and investment initiatives in both countries across various economic sectors of mutual interest.
The agreement will support the exchange of information regarding public-private partnership opportunities and efforts to coordinate promotional activities for these opportunities with developers, investors, and potential financiers. It also includes efforts to organise exhibitions, workshops, conferences, and other events aimed at expanding cooperation in the field of direct investment. The Kingdom of Bahrain will host an annual Bahraini-Saudi Investment Forum between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to showcase investment opportunities in both countries and to invite investing and interested companies, in the first half of 2026.
Minister Alkhulaif said on this occasion: “The Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia benefit from a deep-rooted legacy of robust economic and investment ties, which continue to evolve under the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The MoU signed between Bahrain EDB and MISA not only strengthens our longstanding relationship, but also represents a transformative shift towards greater public-private sector partnerships between our 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”.
The cumulative stock of direct investments coming from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2024 amounted to approximately USD 10.13 billion, representing 21.9% of the total cumulative stocks of direct investments in the Kingdom of Bahrain during 2024. Saudi investments contribute to a number of important economic sectors, such as financial services, insurance, industry, and information and communication technology.
