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In October 2016 Alba secured the biggest corporate loan in the history of the kingdom, as conventional and Islamic banks offered it $1.5bn in the first tranche of funding that will finance the $3bn potline six expansion. The government’s investment arm, Mumtalakat Holding Company, controls 69.38% of Alba, and the project is a key component of...

Created in 2006, Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company owns controlling or significant stakes in many of the kingdom’s major businesses and has made strategic investments in companies in other countries. A core aspect of Mumtalakat’s portfolio revolves around managing the government’s commercial interest in many of the country’s most significant...

Bahrain’s involvement in telecoms goes all the way back to the mid-19th century when the island became a way station for the telegraph cable linking India and Europe. The kingdom was also the first country in the Middle East to launch internet services in 1995, and was the first country in the GCC region to liberalise and open up its ICT...

From heavy industries largely owned by government entities to regional headquarters for multinational companies, Bahrain has a vibrant manufacturing sector that is growing steadily and playing an increasingly important role in the economy. The global downturn in both crude oil and commodities prices squeezed profit margins despite record...

In July 2016, Bahrain approved a new law allowing 100% foreign business ownership when it comes to various sectors of the economy, including health care. The new law is meant to spur growth and attract investment to various economic sectors, including food, administrative services, entertainment and leisure, information and communications,...