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  • Impact of taxation on tobacco products prices in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates

    The 3 countries imposed more than 70% excise tax on tobacco products. Saudi Arabia, in addition, imposed the value added tax. This led to sharp price increases and less affordability in all the countries. In 2020, the affordability index in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries ranged from 1.3% in Kuwait to 3.8% in Saudi Arabia. However, affordability was still higher in these countries than in the rest of the world.

  • How UAE is Beating Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Lebanon, and Syria in Surging Tourism Growth Across the Middle East

    But what truly sets the UAE apart isn’t just its attractions—it’s how the country consistently reinvents itself. While Saudi Arabia is still developing its Vision 2030, Qatar focuses on luxury, and Oman specializes in eco-tourism, the UAE delivers a fully realized tourism ecosystem. Progressive visa policies, safety, state-of-the-art airports, and year-round events make the UAE not just a destination but an experience tailored to global tastes.

  • Why Bahrain is considering future in BRICS+

    The foreign policy of Bahrain frequently follows in the footsteps of Abu Dhabi’s leadership. As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become the first Gulf Arab state to accede to the BRICS+ group of countries, it is therefore worth considering what Bahrain’s possible entry into the bloc could mean for Manama—even if it may not necessarily materialize any time soon. Bahrain’s expression of interest in BRICS+ is part of a wider trend in the region. Countries in West Asia and North Africa such as Algeria, Kuwait, Tunisia and Turkey have all recently considered joining the bloc, which they see as a balancing force. Many governments understand membership to be beneficial in the sense that it could empower them internationally amid a global transition toward a more multipolar order.

  • Special Envoy Lipstadt’s Travel to Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE

    The U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, departed this week for travel to Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates from December 3-14.  This is Ambassador Lipstadt’s fourth trip to the Middle East and North Africa since assuming office in May 2022; her last trip to the region was to Israel in December 2023.

  • Preview: Saudi Arabia Target Crucial Win Against Bahrain in World Cup Qualifier

    Saudi Arabia, under coach Roberto Mancini, look to end a three-match winless run at home. They previously suffered defeats to Jordan and Japan and settled for a draw with Indonesia. This match provides an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to regain form and push for qualification.

  • Bahrain’s first bitcoin fund targets GCC investors

    The National Bank of Bahrain has launched its first bitcoin investment fund aimed at institutional investors in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Developed in partnership with ARP Digital, the fund allows investors to gain exposure to bitcoin while ensuring full protection against potential losses, albeit with a cap on possible gains.

  • Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait Not to Allow U.S. Airbases to Be Used Against Iran

    Urgent calls for de-escalation dominated the discussions, with regional leaders expressing fears that an extended conflict could jeopardize key oil installations. Although Iran has not directly threatened Gulf oil facilities, it has hinted that intervention from "Israel supporters" could lead to retaliation against their interests in the region. According to Saudi commentator Ali Shihabi, Gulf states believe an Iranian strike on their oil facilities is unlikely, but are cautious given the hints conveyed through unofficial channels.

  • Bahrain Offloads Stake in Key Saudi Oil Pipeline to BlackRock

    Bapco Energies, which manages the nation’s energy infrastructure including the pipeline, sold a minority ownership stake in the Saudi Bahrain Pipeline Company to a fund managed by BlackRock’s diversified infrastructure team, according to a statement, which didn’t include terms. The pipeline can transport as much as 350,000 barrels of oil per day and connects Saudi oil processing facilities at Abqaiq with the Bapco refinery in Bahrain.

  • BlackRock-managed fund buys stake in Saudi-Bahrain pipeline

    A BlackRock-managed fund (BLK.N), opens new tab has bought a minority stake in a pipeline linking Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from Bahrain state oil firm Bapco Energies, the two firms said on Wednesday, as the small Gulf state tries to extract value from its energy assets. A fund managed by BlackRock's Diversified Infrastructure business bought the stake in Saudi Bahrain Pipeline Company (SBPC), they said in a joint statement.

  • Bahrain’s new corporation tax isn’t just about boosting revenues

    Bahrain has been facing fiscal pressure since 2010, when it recorded its first budget deficit of the new millennium. While it has used a wide range of tax instruments to improve its finances, most notably value-added tax, it has so far shunned a tax on business profits. Several factors contributed to this decision, most notably a concern that it might affect Bahrain’s reputation as an attractive destination for foreign direct investment.