Manama:The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) has inaugurated the Awali Exhibition at the Bahrain National Museum, working in collaboration with Bapco Energies.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the event was graced by several notable figures, including Hala Mohamed Jaber Al Ansari, Advisor to His Majesty the King for Cultural and Scientific Affairs; Dr. Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Dainah, Minister of Oil and Environment; Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Qatar; Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of BACA; along with officials from the Ministry of Oil and Environment, members of Bapco Energies' executive management, and prominent cultural personalities from Bahrain.
Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa expressed pleasure in opening the exhibition, emphasizing Awali's significance in Bahrain's history as a symbol of urban and social development. He highlighted that the exhibition provides insights into life during a time of significant change and reiterated BACA’s commitment to partnerships that enhance public understanding of Bahrain's history and architectural heritage, acknowledging the support from Bapco Energies.
Mark Thomas, Group CEO of Bapco Energies, shared pride in partnering with BACA for the exhibition, noting Awali's integral role in Bahrain's history and its connection to the nation’s oil and energy development. He stated that the exhibition preserves Bahrain's heritage and documents key milestones in its economic and social evolution.
The exhibition showcases Awali's origins from the early 1930s oil exploration in Jebel Dukhan to its development as a planned town. It highlights the town's innovative approaches in architecture and urban planning, which introduced new technologies to Bahrain at the time.
Today, Awali remains a vibrant community, preserving its historic infrastructure and continuing to reflect a pivotal era in Bahrain's history shaped by the oil industry's emergence.