Nov. 2, Manama (BNA): Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, was appointed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to open the third Gulf Gateway Forum 2025. More than 200 decision-makers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Asia, Europe, and North America will attend the event, which is being organized by the Economic Development Board, on November 2-3.
On behalf of HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister inaugurates Gateway Gulf 2025
The Deputy Prime Minister confirmed that His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s goal of establishing the Kingdom of Bahrain as an open regional economic hub is reflected in the country’s hosting of the Gulf Gateway Forum for the third year in a row. He pointed out that the meeting also reflects the Prime Minister’s and HRH the Crown Prince’s directives to improve economic ties and create long-term investment prospects in key industries.
Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah emphasized that the theme of this year’s event, “Rethinking Global Investment for New Trade Dynamics,” represents a profound understanding of contemporary issues and the necessity of strengthening regional integration and developing novel avenues for sustainable development. He pointed out that the GCC nations have emerged as major participants in the new global economic scene thanks to their sophisticated infrastructure and abundance of people and financial resources.
He went on to highlight Bahrain’s consistent execution of its Economic Vision 2030, which is founded on equity, competitiveness, and sustainability and is backed by a flexible legal framework, skilled domestic people, and cutting-edge digital infrastructure. Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah emphasized the Kingdom’s efforts to maximize the potential of non-oil sectors, which currently account for more than 86% of GDP and demonstrate the effectiveness of its economic diversification policies, which include the growth of promising industries and the strengthening of public-private partnerships.
The Deputy Prime Minister welcomed the high-level attendance at the forum, which includes notable investors and regional and global economic leaders, and expressed hope that the discussions would lead to initiatives that improve regional and global economic ties. Additionally, he praised the Economic Development Board’s and other partners’ contributions to the forum’s organization.
The introductory remarks were given by Minister of Finance and National Economy Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa:
Distinguished visitors, Your Excellencies,
It is a pleasure to welcome you to Gateway Gulf, the premier investment forum that unites international investors, regional leaders, and forward-thinking thinkers to unlock the full potential of investment in Bahrain and throughout the Gulf, on behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
We are happy to have you here in Bahrain, whether you are from the Americas, Asia, Europe, or the Gulf Cooperation Council. Your attendance demonstrates a common faith in the potential of our area and the ability of collaboration to propel long-term advancement.
The Kingdom of Bahrain has drawn over 17 billion dollars in foreign direct investment since the first Gateway Gulf in 2018, in accordance with His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s directions to promote an open and competitive economy that generates opportunities for everyone. Additionally, we will unveil projects totaling an additional 17 billion dollars over the course of the next two days through 61 announcements and 33 signing ceremonies.
Bahrain has always served as a starting point.
Our archipelago of islands has been a bridge between East and West, between creativity and opportunity, connecting cultures and commerce for millennia. That tradition of transparency is still present today.
Bahrain provides one of the most flexible and hospitable business environments in the region for everything from finance and logistics to manufacturing, tourism, and the digital economy. However, our people—talented, aspirational, and eager to change the future—are our greatest asset, not only our location or our laws.
Gateway Gulf is not just a gathering place.
It serves as a forum for fostering connections, investigating prospects, and exchanging concepts that will revolutionize GCC investment going forward.
We are seeing a remarkable change in our area. Governments are innovating, economies are diversifying, and emerging sectors like fintech and clean energy are changing the scene. In addition to becoming a capital hub, the Gulf is becoming a center for innovation, sustainability, and cutting-edge technology.
Bahrain is pleased to be at the center of this change, providing investors with an ecosystem based on innovation, transparency, and connectivity—a place where partnerships and company may grow.
The setting in which we meet today has two distinctive features.
First, the ambition and rate of development in our region are unique globally.
Ambition in action, not just in words.
Across the Gulf: Projects are up and in production, not simply planned.
Not only are new industries developing, but they are also expanding, recruiting, and exporting.
In addition to being deployed, capital is already compounding and producing tangible returns.
Since 2016, the number of SMEs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has more than doubled.
Innovation and capital combine in the United Arab Emirates to create cutting-edge data centers that benefit the region and the globe.
The second is worldwide: the world we live in is changing.
These days, fragmentation, decoupling, and deglobulization are frequently discussed.
However, we have reached the Age of Intelligence, which is more profound and possibly even more revolutionary than the Industrial Revolution.
Artificial intelligence is shifting from the periphery to the core, influencing how banks service their clients, how factories run, and how ports and logistical networks transport commodities globally.
In order to enable this transition, private and public capital are becoming more and more important in making sure that the infrastructure, energy, human capital, and regulations are all in place.
Success in this new era will be mostly determined by speed and consistency.
Businesses and countries that consistently deliver on schedule will be the victors.
And in Bahrain, this is made possible by our Team Bahrain philosophy, which links capital to decisions quickly and accurately as one government, one partner.
Our catalyst is Gateway Gulf.
We will investigate the following topics over the next two days: New trade dynamics and the opportunities they offer;
In the Age of Intelligence, digital transformation and the industrial underpinnings that transform aspirations into investments.
Distinguished guests, your excellencies,
I want you to see the people and stories behind the numbers and projections when we open Gateway Gulf today:
The entrepreneurs who dare to be creative.
Future technologies are being designed by youthful engineers.
Communities are prepared to develop in tandem with our investments.
Let Gateway Gulf be a hub for creative thinking, deep connections, and the development of a common future vision for the Gulf.
We appreciate you coming, and welcome to Bahrain.
Supporting future economic diversification, investigating new investment opportunities, adjusting to changing trade dynamics, the emergence of new financial pathways, and facilitating digital transformation are just a few of the seven major issues that will dominate the two-day program of the event. Focused roundtable sessions, one-on-one meetings to explore opportunities, presentations of investable projects, and activities to support strategic relationships will all supplement these conversations.
