August 21, Bahrain's non-oil sector continued its upward trajectory in July, with re-exports jumping 22 per cent to BD61 million from the same period last year, according to a report by the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA). 

August 19, In the first half of this year, Chinese cars replaced Japan as the largest source of Bahrain's cars with a market share of 25%, while Japanese car market share dropped to 24%.  

August 5, Bahrain's economy grew 3.3% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024, according to a quarterly economic performance report by the Ministry of Finance, citing preliminary data from the Information & eGovernment Authority.   

July 21        According to recent statistics released by the GCC Statistical Centre, the total population of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries witnessed a significant increase of 7.3% in 2023 compared to 2021, reaching 57.6 million. Bahrain secured the fifth position among GCC countries in terms of population growth over the past two years, raising to 1.6 million in 2023.

July 18      Imports, exports and transshipments through Bahrain International Airport decreased last year (2023), according to an annual report. Although cargo handling witnessed a decrease of seven per cent with a total of 353,542 tonnes handled in 2023 (compared to 380,414 tonnes in 2022), the airport’s strategic initiatives and operational efficiency continued to maintain cargo throughput above pre-pandemic levels. 

July 8       Bahrain has begun final preparatory work before construction of the King Hamad Causeway, linking the Gulf island with Saudi Arabia. The 16-mile sea bridge will run parallel to the existing King Fahd Causeway.

June 24    The foreign ministers of Bahrain and Iran have agreed to start negotiations aimed at normalising relations between the two countries. The decision to begin formal talks reflects a broader trend of de-escalation and dialogue among regional powers,  namely Saudi Arabia, which backs the government in Bahrain and is closely aligned with Manama on security and trade.

June 21    Bahrain saw a surge in foreign direct investment (FDI) to a record $6.8 billion in 2023, up 148% from the previous year's figures, according to the latest World Investment Report (WIR 2024) by the United Nations Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTAD).   

June 1     Bahrain inaugurated a civilian aviation route from Bahrain International Airport to Shanghai Pudong Airport, marking its first direct flight to China. The Gulf Air will also launch a direct flight from Bahrain to Guangzhou, South China’s Guangzhou city. 

May 14      Moody’s Investors Service affirmed Bahrain’s B2 credit rating with a stable outlook, highlighting the country’s economic resilience and potential for future growth, despite ongoing fiscal challenges.

May 6       Bahrain has achieved impressive results on the Global Connectedness Index 2024, published by international logistics giant DHL, climbing seven ranks to secure the 25th position globally and the most improving country since 2021. 

April 9      Bahrain experienced a 2.4% increase in its gross domestic product (GDP) at constant prices in 2023 compared to the previous year. According to the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), Bahrain’s GDP reached BD13.6 billion ($36.08 billion) at constant prices in 2023, up from BD13.3 billion ($35 billion) in the previous year.

April 1      A blueprint to put Bahrain amongst the top 20 countries in logistics, increase flight destinations to 70 and increase the flow of air freight to one million metric tonnes is underway. Transportation and Telecommunications Minister said that infrastructure work continues at Bahrain International Airport to form a comprehensive and advanced global logistics center. 

March 21    Bahrain witnessed in 2023 a significant shift towards digitalization in its government services, resulting in numerous benefits. Approximately 10.4 million government transactions were conducted through digital channels, leading to an impressive 85% reduction in operational costs for the government and significant time savings.

March 15    Moody’s has affirmed a stable outlook for Bahraini banks, citing the sustained growth in the non-oil economy and favorable operating conditions.