Manama: Under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Kingdom of Bahrain will host the inaugural "Made in GCC 2026" Forum and Exhibition from October 6 to 8 at Bahrain Exhibition World. The event will gather senior officials, CEOs, manufacturers, and investors from across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the Forum and Exhibition is one of the initiatives endorsed by GCC leaders at the Gulf Summit hosted by Bahrain in December 2025, aimed at strengthening industrial integration and economic cooperation among GCC countries. It builds on longstanding Gulf cooperation, including the Customs Union, GCC Common Market, and efforts to unify standards and specifications through the GCC Standardisation Organisation, working towards establishing a unified Gulf product.
Manufacturing is a central pillar of the GCC economies, underpinning efforts to diversify income sources and build a sustainable productive base. It contributed 13.13% of the GCC's combined GDP in 2025. In Bahrain, manufacturing was the second-largest contributor to GDP, accounting for 15.1% in 2025, within the non-oil activities that made up 85.8% of GDP, and recording annual growth of 3.7% over the same period, reflecting the continued success of national efforts to strengthen manufacturing capabilities.
Bahrain will be strongly represented at the event through companies and manufacturers across key sectors, including aluminium and metals, iron and steel, energy, marine and engineering industries, cables and copper products, composite materials, food, dairy and water products, textiles and home furnishings, jewellery and perfumes, and consumer products. Participants will showcase their products, solutions, and capabilities to investors, buyers, and partners from across the GCC and beyond.
The participating sectors also cover product design and development, quality, supply chains and logistics, research and development, and industrial innovation, highlighting the sector's contribution to economic growth, investment, exports, and employment.
Dr Khalid Al Alawi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Development at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, stated that Bahrain is proud of the participation of a distinguished group of Bahraini companies and manufacturers in the inaugural edition of the event, reflecting the breadth of national capabilities and the diversity of their expertise. He noted that Gulf industrial integration represents a shared vision for building a more competitive industrial base with greater access to global markets.
The "Made in GCC 2026" Forum and Exhibition will combine high-level strategic dialogue with an industrial exhibition, offering opportunities to showcase Gulf products, technologies, and solutions, exchange expertise, and hold business-to-business meetings. It will also provide visitors, students, researchers, and SMEs with opportunities to explore industrial capabilities, career fields, partnerships, and business opportunities.