2011 Bahrain Country Commercial Guide - US - Export.gov

financial crisis, coupled with the political unrest of 2011, negatively impacted the growth
in this sector.
Competition from State Owned Enterprises Return to top
Established in June 2006, the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company manages all of the
Government's state non-oil & gas enterprises. Mumtalakat holds minority and majority
stakes in more than 35 commercial enterprises, representing a portfolio value of
approximately USD 9.1 billion. Mumtalakat‘s portfolio of companies spans a variety of
sectors, including aluminum production, financial services, telecommunications, real
estate, tourism, transportation, and food production. These include:
-Aluminum Bahrain (ALBA)
-Arab Satellite Communications Organization (ARABSAT)
-Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard (ASRY)
-Bahrain Airport Company
-Bahrain Food Holding Co.
-Bahrain International Circuit
-Bahrain Real Estate Company (Edamah)
-Bahrain Telecommunications Company (BATELCO)
-Gulf Air Company
-Hawar Island Development Company
-McLaren Group
-National Bank of Bahrain (NBB)
-Tourism Projects Company
Political Violence Return to top
Historically, Bahrain has been an open, politically moderate, economically liberal Gulf
state that enjoys close ties to the United States. In recent years, Bahrain has seen
periodic outbursts of political unrest arising from demands for political and social reform
and on issues such as housing, employment, and sectarian discrimination.
In February and March of 2011, Bahrain witnessed unprecedented political and civil
unrest that resulted in at least 35 deaths. All 18 opposition members of parliament
resigned to protest the use of force against civilians. In March 2011, the Government
imposed emergency law (―State of National Safety‖), during which Bahraini security
forces conducted operations and during which military forces from Saudi Arabia and the
United Arab Emirates were deployed to Bahrain. The Government lifted the State of
National Safety on June 1, 2011. Parliamentary by-elections were peacefully conducted
in September 2011 to replace the vacated parliamentary seats. In July, the Government
of Bahrain launched a National Dialogue process that resulted in several recommended
reforms, though opposition groups generally rejected the process. In November 2011,
the royally-appointed Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) released a
detailed report on its findings and recommended reforms, particularly in the security
services. As of March 2012, the Government of Bahrain has implemented some of the
recommendations made by the BICI and National Dialogue, but political and civil unrest
continues in some areas.
Ongoing demonstrations have occasionally degenerated into violent clashes between
police and protestors, but such violence is normally confined to specific neighborhoods,
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