Country Profile

In 1932 Bahrain pioneered oil production in the Middle East, and in doing so established the region’s initial framework for the petroleum industry. The new resource enabled Bahrain to modernise its economy by moving beyond traditional industries such as pearl diving and fishing. Today, the country’s national plan, Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, aims to enhance private sector growth as well as continue government investment in infrastructure, affordable housing, human resource development and digital transformation. The kingdom maintains a developed industrial sector and hosts the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelter. This chapter contains a viewpoint from King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.