Manama : Under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Kingdom of Bahrain will host the first edition of the Made in GCC 2026 Forum and Exhibition from 6 to 8 October at Exhibition World Bahrain.
The Forum and Exhibition reflect the shared vision of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, to strengthen economic and industrial integration, support sustainable development, and reinforce the industrial sector’s role in economic diversification. The initiative aims to build a more competitive, sustainable, and resilient GCC industrial ecosystem capable of responding to evolving global economic trends.
The Forum and Exhibition will be held alongside the meetings of the GCC Industrial Cooperation Committee, the GCC Commercial Cooperation Committee, and the accompanying GCC meetings, to be held in October under Bahrain’s chairmanship, led by Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, with the participation of the GCC ministers concerned. The event will also bring together Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, alongside senior government officials, policymakers, chief executives, investors and industry experts, in the largest GCC industrial gathering aimed at strengthening industrial cooperation and integration among the GCC states and opening broader horizons for partnerships and high-value investments.
Combining a high-level strategic forum and a specialised industrial exhibition under one platform, the event will feature ministerial sessions, executive dialogues and expert discussions covering a broad range of strategic themes. These include industrial policies, access to global markets, resilient supply chains, GCC industrial integration, financing mechanisms, green manufacturing, smart factories, national talent development and industrial infrastructure. The accompanying exhibition will showcase the latest Gulf-made products, advanced industrial technologies and innovations, alongside dedicated investment and innovation platforms and business-to-business meetings designed to foster strategic partnerships, strengthen economic and industrial collaboration, and attract high-value investment opportunities.
Minister Fakhro said that Bahrain is honoured to host the inaugural Made in GCC 2026 Forum and Exhibition, noting that the event reflects the strong commitment of GCC member states to advancing joint Gulf cooperation and underscores Bahrain’s role in supporting initiatives that strengthen industrial and economic integration across the GCC.
The minister added that the Forum and Exhibition will serve as a strategic platform for exchanging expertise, enhancing industrial and investment partnerships, accelerating the adoption of innovation and advanced technologies, and showcasing the region’s industrial capabilities. He noted that it will further establish “Made in GCC” as a unified industrial brand that reflects the quality and competitiveness of Gulf products while enhancing their presence across regional and international markets, thereby accelerating efforts to build a more integrated, resilient and sustainable GCC industrial sector.
The Made in GCC 2026 Forum and Exhibition is expected to enhance collaboration between the public and private sectors, facilitate the exchange of best practices, attract high-value investments and support industrial innovation. The event will further enhance the competitiveness of Gulf products, increase the contribution of the industrial sector to GCC economies and support the aspirations of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the Leaders of the GCC member states, towards a more diversified, prosperous, and sustainable GCC economy.
