By continuing to use the site you agree to our Privacy & Cookies policy

Bahrain

Bahrain news and analysis, tenders, contracts awarded, commentary and economic data

If you are not a MEED subscriber but need access to trusted information, expert analysis and new sales leads then subscribe to the Middle East’s leading business intelligence service now		 c2a_1___sub_to_MEED

Profile

Bahrain_map_527x286px Bahrain+flag King_Hamad_bin_Isa_al_Khalifa; photo credit: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images
Bahrain
Leader
King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa

Bahrain country datafile
Country overview
Government contacts

Country data

Iran 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012f 2013f
Nominal GDP ($bn) 18.5 22.1 19.3 21.5 25.9 26.5 27.7
GDP per capita ($) 24,171 28,416 18,563 19,420 22,918* 23,027 23,597
Real GDP growth (annual change, %) 8.7 6.3 3.2 4.7 2.1 2 2.8
Government revenue (% of GDP) 29.3 32.4 23.8 27.2 28.3* 30.8 31.5
Government total expenditure (% of GDP) 27.5 27.4 30.5 34.2 30.7* 34.7 35.1
Total government debt (gross, % of GDP) 19.2 14.6 25.4 35.6 36.8* 36 37.1
Current account balance (% of GDP) 15.7 10.2 2.9 3.6 12.6 9.9 10.5
Value of oil imports 5.9 7.2 4.4 5.4 7.5 7 6.5
Value of oil exports 10.8 13.8 8.9 10.2 15.5 15.4 15
Inflation (%) 3.3 3.5 2.8 2 -0.4 0.6 2
Click to see full economic data (2005 - 2017 forecast)
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database; Last updated: March 2013; *=Estimate

Bahrain trends

Estimated breakeven oil prices

The oil price balancing act in the Middle East Subscription

9 May 2013, 7:15 GMT | By

Middle East governments need even higher oil prices to help balance their state budgets

Middle East contracts awarded April 2013

Middle East contracts awarded: April 2013 Subscription

5 May 2013, 7:41 GMT

Just over $12bn-worth of contracts were awarded in April

Bahrain private sector credit growth

Credit growth slows in Bahrain Subscription

14 February 2013, 5:40 GMT | By

Growth for private sector slows after sudden rapid expansion in late 2011

Middle East and North Africa inflation

Inflation risks social unrest Subscription

7 February 2013, 7:50 GMT | By Richard Nield

Oil exporters will increase subsidises to contain inflation, but other governments are likely to struggle

Middle East contracts awarded

Middle East contracts awarded: January 2013 Subscription

3 February 2013, 11:02 GMT

Just over $3bn-worth of contracts were awarded in January

Introducing VAT

Political will erodes for GCC tax plan Subscription

10 January 2013, 1:37 GMT | By James Gavin

The Arab uprisings and economic crisis sap urgency for introducing value-added tax in the GCC

Expanded GCC plans

Plans stall for an expanded GCC Subscription

9 January 2013, 23:39 GMT | By Peter Salisbury

Some members are reluctant to welcome Amman or Rabat into the GCC due to their fiscal weakness

Filter Bahrain analysis by sector

MEED comment

Bahrain

Manama’s best hope is dialogue

4 April 2013, 15:15 GMT

Renewed pressure on Bahrain’s government to solve a political crisis is starting to take effect

Regulation: Measures could prove to be a wise move

Two-tier banking system formalised Subscription

7 March 2013, 13:38 GMT

Bahrain is right to put more pressure on its banks to shore themselves up for future crises

Causeway

Saudi Arabia causeway plan to foster close ties

14 February 2013, 13:06 GMT

Expansion of King Fahd Causeway will boost economic and political ties between Riyadh and Manama

Bahrain housing

Fast delivery of Bahrain projects needed Subscription

3 January 2013, 15:23 GMT

With its Shia population still restive, Bahrain’s focus is now on quick delivery of housing projects

Bapco

Sitra refinery upgrade to move slowly Subscription

13 December 2012, 16:05 GMT

Bahrain’s oldest refinery needs urgent rehabilitation, but the government is hesitant to shut down its most profitable plant

Dubai

GCC firms reduce refinancing risk

6 December 2012, 13:04 GMT

Gulf corporates’ credit-worthiness improves as debt is slowly repaid, but underlying risks still remain

See all MEED commentary

Special reports

Bahrain

Bahrain: Hopes rest on national dialogue

4 April 2013, 9:33 GMT

Two years after violent clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces brought Manama to a halt, Bahrain remains unstable

See all Bahrain special reports

Market presentations

After the Uprisings webinar

After the Uprisings: The outlook for business in the Middle East in 2013 and beyond Subscription

4 March 2013, 5:52 GMT

A webinar on the region’s business environment, providing current data and exclusive expert analysis drawn from MEED’s team of experts

Wastewater

Webinar: Project opportunities in GCC wastewater Subscription

15 May 2012, 11:24 GMT

Join MEED for an exclusive online seminar looking at the Gulf wastewater sector

Construction

GCC Construction: The move from private to public infrastructure spending

7 June 2011, 6:50 GMT

MEED’s webinar on the major changes impacting the region’s construction sector

Tenders

Bahrain: Fit-out works Subscription

27 April 2013, 20:28 GMT | By

Carrying out fit-out works for the renovation of a building

Bahrain: Electro-mechanical plumbing and drainage works Subscription

20 April 2013, 18:42 GMT | By

Repair and maintenance of electro-mechanical plumbing and drainage installation works

Bahrain: Ferrule gunmetal Subscription

20 April 2013, 18:40 GMT | By

Supply of ferrule gunmetal

Bahrain: Water meter boxes Subscription

20 April 2013, 18:34 GMT | By

Supply of water meter boxes

Bahrain: Cables Subscription

20 April 2013, 18:31 GMT | By

Supply of underground cables

Bahrain: Hire of mobile generators Subscription

7 April 2013, 12:39 GMT

35 generators to be rented for four months

Bahrain: Apartment building construction Subscription

7 April 2013, 11:58 GMT

10 storey apartment in Umm al-Hassam

Bahrain: Residential consultancy Subscription

26 March 2013, 12:07 GMT | By

Provision of consultancy services for the design stage of a residential project

Bahrain: Building construction Subscription

26 March 2013, 12:03 GMT | By

Construction of an archive building

Bahrain: Housing consultancy Subscription

26 March 2013, 11:58 GMT | By

Provision of consultancy services for the design stage of an affordable housing project

Filter Bahrain tenders by sector

Project awards

Falcon Cement awards LV Technology expansion contract Subscription

7 May 2013, 13:47 GMT | By

Thai company to build new mill and carry out upgrade at Bahrain cement producer

Technip awarded Bahrain sulphur recovery contract Subscription

15 April 2013, 11:08 GMT | By

French group Technip wins deal to modify Bapco refinery unit after submitting lowest bid

Bapco awards advisory mandate for $6bn expansion Subscription

14 January 2013, 10:53 GMT | By

Two banks appointed to advise on Bahrain refinery project

Projects trends

Gulf projects index 14.05.13

Sharp drops lead to Gulf index decline Subscription

16 May 2013, 9:18 GMT

Kuwait only GCC state to record fall in value of projects sector

Gulf Projects Index

UAE and Iran push down Gulf index Subscription

9 May 2013, 9:48 GMT

Kuwait records biggest market growth after the launch of new transformer stations project

Gulf Projects Index

Iraq and Oman lift Gulf projects index Subscription

2 May 2013, 10:19 GMT

Baghdad projects market reaches a $500bn high registering a growth of 3.3 per cent

More Gulf Projects Index

Top 10 projects

Rank Project Name Sector Contract value ($m)
1 Waste to Energy Power Plant Power 796
2 New Housing Scheme Construction 550
3 Askar Waste-to-Energy Plant Power 480
4 New Substations (39 nos.) Power 370
5 North Manama Causeway Transport 265
6 CIH Tower Construction 250
7 Muharraq Sewage Treatment Plant Water 200
7 Polyester Films Plant Industrial 200
9 Durrat Marina: District Cooling Plant Water 162
10 Hidd Industrial Area Sugar Refinery Industrial 150
10 Bahrain Bay: Four Seasons Hotel Construction 150
Click through to the full data table on Bahrain's biggest projects in construction
Click through to MEED's Q1 2013 Top 100 Projects report
Source: MEED Projects; Data compiled: April 2013; All projects are in execution

Companies

Ahli United Bank

Ahli United Bank (Bahrain) Subscription

First Energy Bank Subscription

Based in manama, Bahrain, the bank was established to offer finance to companies operating within energy markets in the GCC, Asia and North Africa

GPIC Logo

Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company Subscription

Securities & Investment Company Subscription

The Bahrain-headquartered bank is looking to build its business in the UAE

Seef Properties Logo

Seef Properties Subscription

Established by the Bahrain government, it was set up to manage properties such as Seef Mall

See all Bahrain company profiles

People

Adnan Ahmed Yousif Subscription

Adnan Ahmed Yousif board member, president and CEO, Al-Baraka Banking Corporation

Mohammed Ebrahim Mohammed Subscription

Mohammed Ebrahim Mohammed is CEO, Bahrain Islamic Bank

Adel el-Labban Subscription

Adel el-Labban is group CEO, Ahli United Bank

Abdulkarim Ahmed Bucheery Subscription

Abdulkarim Ahmed Bucheery is CEO, Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait

Abdul Razak Hassan al-Qassim Subscription

Abdul Razak Hassan al-Qassim is CEO and director, National Bank of Bahrain

Shirish Saraf Subscription

Shirish Saraf is vice-chairman and CEO, Samena Capital

See all Bahrain biographies

News

Falcon Cement awards LV Technology expansion contract Subscription

7 May 2013, 13:47 GMT | By

Thai company to build new mill and carry out upgrade at Bahrain cement producer

Filter Bahrain news by sector

Newsletter Sign-up

More sector and country newsletters

Subscribe to MEED to receive your choice of premium newsletters

Find out more

Research reports

ProjFinance

Pre-launch offer: Mena Project Finance Report 2013

Read in full
  • pause slideshow