Manama: His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, deputed Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, to inaugurate the third edition of the Gulf Gateway Forum 2025. The event, organised by the Economic Development Board, is being held on November 2-3, with the participation of more than 200 decision-makers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Asia, Europe, and North America.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that hosting the Gulf Gateway Forum for the third consecutive year reflects the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to establish the Kingdom of Bahrain as an open regional economic hub. He noted that the forum also embodies the directives of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, aimed at strengthening economic partnerships and developing sustainable investment opportunities across vital sectors.
Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah highlighted that this year's forum, held under the theme "Rethinking Global Investment for New Trade Dynamics", reflects a deep awareness of current challenges and the need to enhance regional integration and create innovative pathways for sustainable development. He noted that GCC countries, with their human and economic resources and advanced infrastructure, have become key players in the new global economic landscape.
He further pointed to Bahrain's steady implementation of its Economic Vision 2030, which is based on sustainability, competitiveness, and equity supported by a flexible legislative environment, qualified national talent, and advanced digital infrastructure. Shaikh Khalid underscored the Kingdom's efforts to maximise the potential of non-oil sectors, which now contribute more than 86% of GDP, reflecting the success of its economic diversification policies, including the development of promising sectors and the enhancement of public-private partnerships.
The Deputy Prime Minister welcomed the high-level participation in the forum, which includes prominent regional and international economic leaders and investors, looking forward to the forum's discussions resulting in initiatives that strengthen economic partnerships between the region and the world. He also commended the role of the Economic Development Board and all partners in organising the forum.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, delivered the opening address, welcoming global investors, regional leaders, and visionary thinkers to the forum. He noted that since the first Gateway Gulf in 2018, Bahrain has attracted over 17 billion dollars in foreign direct investment and is set to announce projects worth another 17 billion dollars over the next two days.
The forum's two-day programme will focus on seven key themes, including supporting future economic diversification, exploring emerging investment opportunities, adapting to evolving trade dynamics, the rise of new financial pathways, and enabling digital transformation. These discussions will be complemented by focused roundtable sessions, one-on-one meetings to identify opportunities, presentations of investable projects, and initiatives to facilitate strategic partnerships.