The sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain celebrates today (Monday) December 16 the 53rd anniversary of its National Day, and the people of Bahrain, under wise leadership, continue the journey of building, renaissance and development in all fields.

The Kingdom, government and people, shares with their brothers in the Kingdom of Bahrain feelings of pride in what has been accomplished and achieved, which highlights the depth of relations that extend over many decades between the two countries at the level of the two leaderships and the two brotherly peoples.

This distinguished fraternal relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain is confirmed by the historic official visits between the two brotherly countries, leading up to the prosperous era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and his brother, the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Since its independence in 1971, the Kingdom of Bahrain has witnessed a comprehensive renaissance in all economic, educational, health and other developmental fields, and has established a modern and diversified economic structure that has strengthened its position as a major commercial, financial and tourist center in the region.

The foreign policy of the Kingdom of Bahrain is based on sound principles, including affirming its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity at the regional, Arab, and international levels, as well as maintaining and protecting its strategic, political, and economic interests abroad and defending them, developing, promoting, and strengthening ties and relations with all Arab and international countries and bodies, representing it in Arab and international forums, and supporting the just causes of the Arab and Islamic nations, foremost among them the cause of Palestine and Jerusalem.

The Kingdom of Bahrain continued its foreign policy to strengthen relations with various countries around the world and to extend bridges of friendship and cooperation with various peoples in a way that benefits the nation and the Bahraini citizen.

In domestic affairs and in order to strengthen the development process, the Kingdom of Bahrain has charted its reformist approach emanating from the spirit of the law and the constitution, and has worked to modernize legislation and laws to keep pace with the modern democratic process, and has achieved rapid development and sustainable development over the past five decades, as it has become a major commercial and financial center and an attraction for foreign capital, and its economic plans have been based on a specific vision.

The Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, launched in 2008, outlines a comprehensive plan for the development process in the Kingdom of Bahrain, based on three principles: sustainability, competitiveness, and fairness. It aims to establish a clear approach to economic development, focusing on the main objective of improving the living standards of all citizens.

Modern lifestyle and economic competitiveness

Bahrain considers foreign investment a key element of its Economic Vision 2030, a long-term plan to improve the competitiveness of its economy, create job opportunities for its skilled workforce, and improve the standard of living for its citizens. This explains Bahrain's commitment to building on its existing advantages to make the Middle East a more attractive business hub.

In addition to cost, competitiveness, easy access to the rest of the Middle East region and robust commercial infrastructure, the Kingdom of Bahrain has extensive experience in understanding and responding to the needs of foreign companies.

The Kingdom of Bahrain has strengthened its success in providing suitable housing for citizens and establishing new and sustainable urban communities through 8 residential cities, including: Isa Town, Hamad Town, and Zayed Town, which were launched since the launch of social housing projects for low-income people in the 1960s, and the launch of 5 cities, namely: Salman Town, Khalifa Town, East Hidd Town, East Sitra Town, and Ramli Suburb, where citizens were housed in the first phases within the framework of the Royal Decree to build 40,000 housing units.

These housing cities constitute a model for sustainable urban, architectural and developmental progress, as they are characterized by the availability of modern quality of life components, including infrastructure, communications and transportation networks, facilities and services, while preserving environmental and heritage aspects.

Tourism development and investor incentives

According to the official website of the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the total population is 1,577,059 people, according to the 2023 census.

In the tourism sector, the Kingdom of Bahrain, represented by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, is striving to develop and elevate the tourism sector to increase its contribution to the national economy. Developing the tourism sector in Bahrain is among the priorities of the government's work program, which works to incentivize investors by providing an environment conducive to tourism projects, and to stimulate the private sector, which supports its efforts in promoting the country as a tourist destination. The Kingdom of Bahrain is working within an integrated system of plans and programs to increase the benefit from the tourist attractions it possesses, whether historical or modern, in its belief in the importance of tourism development as one of the most important pillars of the process of civilizational development in its comprehensive sense, and the extent of this vital sector's ability to increase the national product, the income of individuals, and diversify economic activity.

4 Foundations of a Tourism Strategy

Bahrain’s new tourism identity was launched based on four pillars of the tourism sector development strategy: First, developing access points such as the King Fahd Causeway, Bahrain International Airport, and Khalifa Bin Salman Port, in addition to developing marine facilities to attract private yachts from neighboring countries; Second, attracting tourists by holding permanent events in Bahrain and developing the Bahrain Exhibition Centre to accommodate a larger number of events; Third, developing tourist accommodation facilities, whether hotels, furnished apartments, or residential apartments, and studying the establishment of a private institute for hospitality; and Fourth, placing the Gulf tourist at the forefront of its concerns and revitalizing family tourism, and then expanding the circle to attract tourists from other countries.

Supporting national talents and energies

The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, in partnership with national institutions, the private sector, and civil society, places significant emphasis on supporting cultural initiatives, creating the necessary conditions and resources to preserve tangible and intangible cultural heritage, developing cultural infrastructure, and nurturing national talents and capabilities. This aligns with the government's work program, the economic vision, and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030. The Kingdom of Bahrain has also acceded to numerous international cultural agreements, including UNESCO conventions on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions, the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, the 1973 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the 2014 Convention for the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, among others. The Kingdom boasts several archaeological sites, such as the Bahrain Fort site, the Sheikh Salman bin Ahmed Al Fateh Fort in Riffa, Arad Fort, and Bu Maher Fort in Muharraq. It also features national museums, including the Bahrain National Museum, the first museum established in the Arabian Gulf region in 1988, the Bahrain Fort Site Museum (2008), the Postal Museum, and others.

Special attention given to women and youth

In the field of women, the Kingdom of Bahrain pays special attention to ensuring that educated women have a role in urban development, which represents the clearest representation of the interdependence and integration between the different dimensions of sustainable development. The Supreme Council for Women works through its plans that focus on integrating women’s needs and ensuring gender balance, by ensuring that this is applied realistically and through quantitative and qualitative measurements that are announced periodically in reports dedicated to this matter.

In affirmation of its commitment to the youth sector, the Kingdom of Bahrain has worked to support, empower, and develop their cognitive and professional capabilities, and to promote their positive participation in all aspects of life, believing that they are the true wealth of the nation and the cornerstone of construction, security, stability, civilizational progress, and sustainable development

Interest in renewable and alternative energy

The Kingdom of Bahrain has prioritized renewable and alternative energy sources, ensuring the optimal utilization of its climatic conditions and leveraging the comparative advantage offered by solar energy. This commitment, in turn, contributes to environmental protection efforts alongside other state entities, reaffirming the country's dedication to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This focus on clean energy projects began with Bahrain's membership in the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) since its establishment in 2009. Bahrain participated in IRENA's tenth conference held in Abu Dhabi. Furthermore, the establishment of a Sustainable Energy Unit in 2013 has contributed to raising awareness of renewable energy sources, which are characterized by their lower cost, greater resilience to climate change, and their ability to meet development needs and keep pace with the global shift towards investment in alternative energy.

Securing the needs of the labor market

In the labor sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the issue of unemployment has received significant attention from the government, which has taken steps to implement its strategy aimed at absorbing the influx of graduates in the medium and long term. This follows the government's success in recent years in maintaining unemployment rates within safe limits by ensuring the labor market's needs are met with qualified personnel and supporting policies to improve productivity in private sector establishments. The health sector has also received special attention, with the establishment and development of numerous health centers and hospitals, and the introduction of health services that contribute to improving healthcare and providing medicines and skilled specialists in all fields, thus ensuring a safe and healthy life for every citizen and resident.