Bahrain is preparing to host the second Gateway Gulf forum on 3-4 November 2024 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Bahrain Bay. Under the theme “Investing in a Rapidly Transforming Region,” the event is expected to draw a select group of 250 high-level ministers, senior government officials, business leaders, and investors from across the globe, including delegates from the United States, Europe, Asia, and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Organised by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) and supported by Bahrain’s finance, investment, and industry leaders, this invitation-only forum aims to provide a platform for open dialogue on key economic issues. Gateway Gulf 2024 promises a personalised experience for attendees, offering workshops, project site visits, and private meetings aimed at generating collaborative opportunities. Its agenda will feature discussions on how global economic trends are impacting the region and the investment potential that remains largely untapped.
Bahrain’s strategic focus for this year’s Gateway Gulf includes highlighting key investment opportunities across the Kingdom’s priority sectors, including infrastructure, financial technology, and digital transformation. Delegates will examine these sectors in-depth through plenary sessions, roundtable discussions, and Majlis-inspired gatherings, in which government ministers and top business executives will discuss pressing regional challenges. The forum’s format seeks to break from “business-as-usual,” presenting new ways to foster economic integration and sustainable growth.
Central to the discussions will be the theme of economic collaboration within the region, with the forum poised to address how co-investments in the Gulf can drive economic diversification and create more resilient supply chains. With supply chains under increasing pressure worldwide, organisers say the forum will highlight the Gulf’s role in creating solutions to build a more cohesive and sustainable economic future. The event also aims to underscore how partnerships between GCC countries can help address the world’s evolving economic challenges.
An exhibition space at Gateway Gulf will display some of the Gulf’s largest development projects, with a particular emphasis on greenfield investments. Several announcements are anticipated regarding new ventures and milestone projects, underscoring the rapid pace of economic change in the region. According to the International Monetary Fund, Gulf economies are projected to grow by 3.5% in 2024, with their combined GDP reaching USD 2.1 trillion and set to expand further to USD 2.8 trillion by 2030. This growth highlights the region’s successes in its economic diversification efforts, an area that will feature prominently at the forum.
Bahrain, known for being the most diversified economy in the Gulf, has made significant strides in reducing its dependency on oil revenues. In 2023, the non-oil sector contributed 84% to Bahrain’s GDP, positioning the country as a leader in economic transformation within the region. The Kingdom has focused on sectors with high growth potential, supported by digital initiatives and infrastructure projects. Bahrain hopes Gateway Gulf 2024 will reinforce its role as a key destination for global investors seeking access to new and established markets in the Gulf.
With discussions set to tackle some of the most critical issues for the region’s economy, Gateway Gulf 2024 is expected to offer new insights and open doors to investment in the Gulf’s rapidly evolving landscape.