Bahrain is a small Arab monarchy with the first post-oil economy in the Persian Gulf region. [1] Since the late 20th century, Bahrain has invested in the banking and tourism sectors. [2] Many large financial institutions have a presence in Manama, the country's capital. Bahrain has a high Human Development Index and was recognised by the World Bank as a high income economy.
This list includes notable companies with primary headquarters located in the country. The industry and sector follow the Industry Classification Benchmark taxonomy. Organizations which have ceased operations are included and noted as defunct.
Name | Industry | Sector | Headquarters | Founded | Notes | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC Islamic Bank | Financials | Banks | Manama | 1998 | Islamic bank | P | A |
Al Baraka Banking Group | Financials | Banks | Manama | 1978 | Investment banking | P | A |
Al Muntazah | Consumer services | Food retailers & wholesalers | Muharraq | 1984 | Supermarket chain | P | A |
Aluminium Bahrain | Basic materials | Aluminum | Askar | 1968 | Aluminium products | P | A |
Arab Banking Corporation | Financials | Banks | Manama | 1980 | Bank | P | A |
Bahrain Air | Consumer services | Airlines | Muharraq | 2008 | Airline, defunct 2013 | P | D |
Bahrain Bourse | Financials | Investment services | Manama | 1987 | Primary Bahrain stock exchange | P | A |
Bahrain Petroleum Company | Oil & gas | Exploration & production | Awali | 1929 | National oil company | S | A |
Banagas | Oil & gas | Exploration & production | Southern Governorate | 1979 | Natural gas | P | A |
Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait | Financials | Banks | Manama | 1971 | Bank | P | A |
Batelco | Telecommunications | Mobile telecommunications | Hamala | 1981 | Mobile and fixed | P | A |
BMMI | Consumer services | Food retailers & wholesalers | Sitra | 1883 | Retail group | P | A |
Central Bank of Bahrain | Financials | Banks | Manama | 1973 | Central bank | S | A |
DHL International Aviation ME | Industrials | Delivery services | Muharraq | 1979 | Cargo carrier | P | A |
Fakhro Group | Conglomerates | - | Manama | 1888 | Automotive, industrial, technology, restaurants, shipping | P | A |
Gulf Air | Consumer services | Airlines | Muharraq | 1950 | Flag carrier airline | S | A |
Gulf Aviation | Consumer services | Airlines | Muharraq | 1949 | Airline, defunct 1974, now part of Gulf Air | P | D |
Gulf Traveller | Consumer services | Airlines | Manama | 2003 | Airline, defunct 2007 | P | D |
Investcorp | Financials | Nonequity investment instruments | Manama | 1982 | Investments | P | A |
Khaleeji Commercial Bank | Financials | Banks | Manama | 2004 | Retail bank | P | A |
Mumtalakat Holding Company | Financials | Real estate holding & development | Manama | 2005 | Holding company | S | A |
Nass Corporation | Industrials | Heavy construction | Manama [3] | 1963 | Construction | P | A |
National Bank of Bahrain | Financials | Banks | Manama | 1957 | Bank | P | A |
Swiftair Bahrain | Industrials | Delivery services | Manama | 2008 | Cargo airline, defunct 2012 | P | D |
T’azur Company | Financials | Full line insurance | Manama | 2007 [4] | Islamic insurance products | P | A |
The Benefit Company | Financials | Financial services | Manama | 1997 | Money movement | P | A |
Western Gulf Advisory | Financials | Asset managers | Manama | 2008 | Asset management, defunct 2011 | P | D |
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 297,502 as of 2012. Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a diverse population. After periods of Portuguese and Persian control and a short invasion from the ruling dynasty of Saudi Arabia, followed by a longer invasion by Oman, Bahrain established itself as an independent nation in 1971 following a period of British hegemony.
The economy of Qatar is one of the highest in the world based on GDP per capita, ranking generally among the top ten richest countries on world rankings for 2015 and 2016 data compiled by the World Bank, the United Nations, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The country's economy has grown despite sanctions by its neighbors, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Mainly because the country exports primarily to Japan, South Korea, India and China, making the sanctions effectively redundant as neither Saudi Arabia nor the United Arab Emirates have imposed trading penalties such as tariffs or embargoes on any of these countries for trading with Qatar, or offering incentives such as discounts for their own energy exports to reduce Qatari exports.
The economy of Saudi Arabia is highly reliant on its petroleum sector. Oil accounts on average in recent years for approximately 40% of Saudi GDP and 75% of fiscal revenue, with substantial fluctuations depending on oil prices each year.
The economy of Mozambique is $14.396 billion by gross domestic product as of 2018, and has developed since the end of the Mozambican Civil War (1977–1992). In 1987, the government embarked on a series of macroeconomic reforms, which were designed to stabilize the economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and with political stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, have led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. Inflation was brought to single digits during the late 1990s, although it returned to double digits in 2000–02. Fiscal reforms, including the introduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service, have improved the government's revenue collection abilities.
The economy of Bahrain is heavily dependent upon oil and gas. The Bahraini Dinar is the second-highest-valued currency unit in the world. Since the late 20th century, Bahrain has heavily invested in the banking and tourism sectors. The country's capital, Manama is home to many large financial structures. Bahrain's finance industry is very successful. In 2008, Bahrain was named the world's fastest growing financial center by the City of London's Global Financial Centres Index. Bahrain's banking and financial services sector, particularly Islamic banking, have benefited from the regional boom driven by demand for oil. Petroleum is Bahrain's most exported product, accounting for 60% of export receipts, 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP. Aluminium is the second most exported product, followed by finance and construction materials.
The Arab states of the Persian Gulf, also known as the Arab Gulf states, refers to a group of Arab states bordering the Persian Gulf. There are seven member states of the Arab League in the region: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Yemen is bound to the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, based on history and culture.
The economy of the Middle East is very diverse, with national economies ranging from hydrocarbon-exporting rentiers to centralized socialist economies and free-market economies. The region is best known for oil production and export, which significantly impacts the entire region through the wealth it generates and through labor utilization. In recent years, many of the countries in the region have undertaken efforts to diversify their economies.
According to the Fourth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2005–2010), the Privatization Organization of Iran affiliated with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance is in charge of setting prices and ceding shares to the general public and on the Tehran Stock Exchange. The privatization effort is primarily backed by reformist members of the Iranian government and society who hope that privatization can bring about economic and social change.
Arcapita founded in 1997, is an asset management firm. Headquartered in Manama, Bahrain, Arcapita also operates from its offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. The firm serves a group of investors in the Middle East region including investment firms, family offices, high net-worth individuals, and sovereign wealth funds. Arcapita completed over 100 investments in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia for a total transaction value exceeding $30 billion. The board of directors contain nine members, mainly from the Gulf Cooperation Council. Members are chairs, previous chairpersons, or current Chief Executive Officers of sovereign wealth funds, regional investment firms or global financial services firms.
Gulf International Bank (GIB) was established in 1976 during the first oil boom and is incorporated in the Kingdom of Bahrain as a conventional wholesale bank. It is licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain and is headquartered in Manama in Bahrain.
The Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) is a development finance institution established to by the Government of Bahrain to promote investments in the country. BDB is registered with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain as a conventional retail bank.
Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company B.S.C. (Mumtalakat) is the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain. It was established by Royal Decree in 2006 and is wholly owned by the Government. Mumtalakat actively sought investment opportunities locally, regionally and internationally.