The latest batch of Golden Licenses span across diversified sectors namely tech, real estate, and green manufacturing, contributing to economic diversification and growth
Manama, Bahrain – 03 November 2024: The island nation of Bahrain reported a total of USD 4.4 billion in investment stemming from the latest batch of four new Golden License projects. The four new large-scale projects, which are set to generate over 1,100 employment opportunities, will contribute to national economic growth and diversification owing to their multi-sectoral impact that spans across tech, real estate, and green manufacturing.
The announcement was made during Gateway Gulf, which was held from 2–3 November 2025 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Bahrain Bay, where the invitation-only event gathered over 200 distinguished guests, including global investors, business leaders, policymakers, government officials, and industry visionaries, to explore high-value investment opportunities and partnerships across the Gulf.
The newly awarded Golden Licenses announced at Gateway Gulf are as follows:
- A partnership between Oracle as a technology provider and homegrown technology group, Beyon, to launch a sovereign cloud data centre to host clients using Oracle applications.
- The Bahrain-United Arab Emirates real estate partnership Binaa Al Bahrain, powered by Eagle Hills, is shaping the future of urban living in the island nation with strategic developments, supporting Bahrain’s broader ambitions for sustainable progress and modernisation.
- The new product line expansion of the Bahrain-based facility of Arla Foods – the multinational dairy company headquartered in Denmark. This milestone positions Arla as the second largest dairy maker in the region, playing a pivotal role in Bahrain’s food security and increased export ambitions. With this new expansion, Arla will be exporting to new markets including: the EU, Africa, China, Japan, and Indonesia.
- Foulath Holding – an industrial holding company with major steel investments and the parent company of Bahrain Steel & SULB – for its expansion to an existing facility to develop a solar project by building a specialized shed structure.
“As a trusted destination for investment for global enterprises, owing to an agile government and highly skilled talent pool, the island nation of Bahrain has proven its strength as a place where business ambition meets opportunity. The Golden Licenses awarded to these four pivotal projects add to the diversity of projects that have been awarded since the initiative was first launched in April 2023, bringing the total investment value to over USD 6 billion for the cumulative portfolio,” said H.E. Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), adding, “The Golden License is more than an initiative – it is a reflection of our Team Bahrain approach and to our unwavering commitment to simplifying growth, accelerating success, and partnering with companies to build a thriving economic future.”
Emblematic of the Team Bahrain approach, which champions the private and public sectors working closely together to create an innovative environment for businesses to succeed by investing in the development of a robust, digitally ready economy and consistently pioneering regulatory policies and legislative frameworks. The Bahrain EDB plays a vital role in this framework, serving as a bridge between the government and investors.
Bahrain has continued to prioritise digital transformation, economic growth, and investing in futureproofing its highly educated, bilingual workforce. The island nation has achieved strides in its journey to diversification, with non-oil GDP contributing 85.3% of the total GDP as of 2024. The financial services sector stands as the highest contributor to GDP at 17.2%, followed by manufacturing at 15.1% as of 2024.
Recent achievements include a rise in FDI stock to USD 45.5 billion, resulting in an FDI stock-to-GDP ratio of 96.5% in 2024, well above the global average rate of 45.8%, which stands as a testament to the robust trust international investors place in the island nation.
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Phone: +973 – 397 98919
E-mail: media@gatewaygulf.com
About the Host, Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB)
Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) is an investment promotion agency with an overall responsibility of attracting investment into the Kingdom of Bahrain and supporting initiatives that enhance the Kingdom’s robust investment climate. Bahrain EDB works with governments and both current and future investors to identify opportunities, communicate key strengths and initiatives, and enable economic growth through strategic investments.
For more information on Bahrain EDB visit www.bahrainedb.com
About the Forum, Gateway Gulf
Hosted by Bahrain Economic Development Board with the support of senior government officials across the Kingdom’s finance, investment and industry portfolio, Gateway Gulf is a unique invitation-only forum offering the opportunity for global businesses and investors to directly engage with the architects of the GCC’s development success story and gain priority to access to leading investable projects of the region, as well explore opportunities for developing investment presence in the Bahrain and the region beyond. The inaugural edition of Gateway Gulf was held in 2018, with 2025 marking its third edition.
Gateway Gulf is reflective of the Team Bahrain approach, in which private and public sector cooperation is championed to create an innovative and attractive investment environment for businesses to succeed. Whether passing a new regulation or analysing the feasibility of launching a niche idea to market, Team Bahrain works with empathy and drive to connect investors to the key decision makers that matter.