Bahrain - AL-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Bahrain

City Name

Manama

Bahrain

December 5, 2025

Manama 6:54 pm

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Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C/L) welcomes President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at The Chigi Palace in Rome, on Feb. 24, 2025.

Meloni to attend GCC summit in Bahrain as Italy deepens Gulf ties

The summit is expected to focus on economic integration in the Gulf, but regional issues will likely loom just as large, including post-war Gaza and the conflict in Sudan.

Royal Bahraini Air Force F-16s perform air maneuvers during the 2018 Bahrain International Airshow at the Sakhir Airbase on Nov. 14 2018.

US approves $1.4B in military sales to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain: What to know

An estimated $1 billion in foreign military sales will go to Saudi Arabia, and $445 million will go to Bahrain.

AirAsia airplanes are pictured on the tarmac at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on Jan. 8, 2024.

Malaysia's AirAsia bets Bahrain can fuel Mideast growth, challenging Gulf hubs

The Malaysian carrier signed a preliminary pact with Bahrain to explore establishing the kingdom as its Middle East hub, with plans for dozens of daily flights by 2030.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, right, and Qatari Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari arrive at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 28, 2025.

Analysis

UK chases elusive GCC trade deal that could boost exports, economic links

A new charm offensive at Saudi Arabia's flagship investment conference has fueled optimism that a UK-GCC trade pact, under negotiation since 2022, could soon be completed.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Latest News

Bahrain joins Gulf’s late movers in the solar race with 150 MW project

Solar panels are installed on the roof of a school in Bahrain's capital, Manama, on Aug. 25, 2022.

Analysis

As Carrefour retreats in Mideast, can new Gulf superstore brand advance?

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Bahraini protesters clash with police over new Israeli ambassador: What to know

MAZEN MAHDI/AFP via Getty Images

Egypt secures $220M from domestic, Gulf, Chinese investors for solar project

An aerial view of the solar mirrors at the Noor 1 Concentrated Solar Power plant some 12.5 miles outside the central Moroccan town of Ouarzazate, on Feb. 4, 2016.

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

Jennifer Gnana

Gulf Correspondent

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Karen Young

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is greeted by Saudi's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia January 13, 2019. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool via Reuters - RC160C633DE0

Despite US pressure, expect regional players to phone in Manama meeting

Several regional states will show up for the US-led conference in Bahrain, but none of them really believes it will promote Middle East peace.

Why Arabs are pressuring PA to take part in Bahrain summit

Some Arab countries are placing political and financial pressure on the Palestinian Authority to reconsider its rejection of the Bahrain economic workshop, which the United States is holding later this month to kick off its peace plan.

Why Jordan is silent on Bahrain summit

Jordan has yet to officially announce its position on the US-sponsored Bahrain economic conference that is to kick off the long-awaited US Middle East peace plan.

US Bahrain conference premature

The Bahrain conference demonstrates yet again the American lack of understanding of the region, and their mistaken belief that one could skip the Israeli-Palestinian diplomatic process.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands as Netanyahu departs the White House from the West Wing in Washington, U.S. March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis - RC12B9AA4CE0

Why Bahrain conference won’t be enough for peace

The US-initiated Bahrain conference will bring little to the Palestinians without a real peace process with Israel.

Can Palestinians survive PA's disengagement from Israel?

The Palestinian Authority's announced goal of disengaging from Israel appears to be dismissive of the geo-political environment in which it is operating and the devastating consequences such a move will have for Palestinians on the West Bank and in Gaza.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia January 14, 2019. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool via REUTERS - RC1E4A498AC0

Saudis’ troubled ties in region threaten Trump's anti-Iran agenda

The Trump administration is tightening the screws on Iran, but Saudi Arabia, Iran's archnemesis, may not be of help drumming up support for the US policy given the state of its current relations in the Arab world.

A man walks past a currency exchange bureau advertisement showing images of the U.S. dollar and other currencies in Cairo, Egypt, April 2, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany - RC1BF9442E80

Is debt answer to Middle East economic troubles?

The forecast for growth across the Middle East and North Africa is bleak. Unfortunately for the regions, heavy debt appears to be one way out.

Interview

Qatar says divisions within GCC have become ‘lose-lose’ situation for the region

Qatari spokesperson says the split among the Gulf states compromises the security of the region and that thousands of families are already paying a price.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz meets with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia March 5, 2019. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC13B1B19C40

Russian FM puts politics above economics on GCC tour

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has kicked off his tour of the Gulf, reflecting Moscow's ambition to capitalize on its regional recognition as a great power.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ekaterina Zaharieva, Bulgaria's deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs pose for family photo at the Middle East conference at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland, February 13, 2019. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel - RC15EF32E9B0

Veteran peace hands see growing Israeli-Arab alignment in Warsaw

While the Palestinians boycotted the meeting in Poland, a number of Arab delegates showed an interest in engaging with US plans for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

BANGKOK, THAILAND - FEBRUARY 04: The departure of Hakeem al-Araibi, a refugee footballer, from Bangkok's Criminal Court on February 4, 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. The Thai court is hearing the request to extradite the Bahraini football player, who was detained in Bangkok during his honeymoon. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)

Thailand buckles to global pressure, frees Bahraini soccer player

Thailand released Bahraini soccer player and refugee Hakeem al-Araibi from prison, though Bahrain has warned that it still seeks to pursue legal action against him.