“You’re not restricted by boundaries when you’re looking for talent,” HE Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), stated at the Bahrain Fintech Forward Summit.
Her words capture Bahrain’s strategic approach to talent development, emphasising an open model that leverages local and global resources to build a tech workforce that meets future demands.
Amid the intense competition for skilled tech professionals, Bahrain aims to anchor itself as a leading player, prioritising both internal talent cultivation and external partnerships.
Fusing education and global partnerships
Bahrain has long been committed to fostering an environment that nurtures talent from the ground up. Alkhulaif noted that the country’s human capital strategy is based on three main pillars: creating opportunities, equipping individuals with skills and establishing international cooperation. These foundations underpin Bahrain’s vision to be a “super-connector” within the GCC, attracting businesses to plug into a growing market, with a skilled workforce ready to adapt to emerging needs in the tech landscape.
These foundations underpin Bahrain’s vision to be a “super-connector” within the GCC
Alkhulaif highlighted Bahrain’s commitment to education, saying it was the first nation in the region to establish a formal education system. Today, the country continues to invest heavily in skilling, upskilling and reskilling its citizens to keep pace with the evolving demands of the tech industry.
“We continue to invest in education. It’s not just education in schooling but also all the skilling, upskilling and reskilling that is happening to ensure we’re always ahead,” she explained, reinforcing the role of lifelong learning in Bahrain’s approach.
The Labour Fund Tamkeen is central to this initiative, recycling fees paid by private companies to support their hiring, training and retention efforts. Through this fund, Bahrain provides businesses with essential resources to recruit and retain skilled professionals. “We have an institution to ensure that we have the right ecosystem and the right financing and funding to ensure people continue to be skilled and upskilled and reskilled,” Alkhulaif said, describing how Tamkeen’s model enhances Bahrain’s ability to cultivate tech talent in response to industry needs.
This approach reflects Bahrain’s long-standing view of partnerships as integral to its success, a mindset shaped by the country’s history as a trading hub. By opening up opportunities beyond its borders, the country aims to attract foreign companies and expertise, reinforcing its identity as a gateway within the GCC. “We want to ensure that we have the right talent for companies to come and plug and play whether it’s local or international,” Alkhulaif stated, signalling the EDB’s openness to blending local talent with global expertise.
GCC’s service and innovation hub
With the GCC’s economy anticipated to grow from over $2 trillion to an estimated $3 trillion by 2036, Bahrain aims to capitalise on this expansion by reinforcing its role as a regional hub. Bahrain has built a reputation as a service centre within the GCC, offering a gateway for businesses entering the region’s tech and finance sectors. Alkhulaif highlighted partnerships with major global companies like AWS and Citibank and the recent establishment of a Singaporean digital bank in Bahrain as examples of how the country’s approach to collaboration and open business policies continue to attract foreign firms.
Today, the country continues to invest heavily in skilling, upskilling and reskilling its citizens.
By welcoming partnerships with global firms, Bahrain not only brings international expertise to its market but also bolsters its local workforce, creating a dynamic ecosystem where knowledge transfer supports the growth of domestic capabilities. Alkhulaif explained that Bahrain’s collaborative model is positioned to benefit the entire GCC region. “The growth that is being seen in the region is exciting for everyone, and there is a place for everyone to benefit, both directly and also indirectly,” she said, adding that Bahrain’s role as a “super-connector” strengthens the entire region’s economic framework.
Incentives for talent retention
Retaining skilled professionals is a significant priority for Bahrain, and the government has implemented a range of initiatives to support companies in this area. Tamkeen’s resources help companies offer competitive salaries and cover professional development costs, making it easier for businesses to retain talent. Whether through salary increases or training programs, Tamkeen’s support gives companies the tools to maintain a high level of expertise within their workforce.
“Tamkeen continues to reinvent themselves to support the people, because this is what we believe, where the future is,” Alkhulaif said, affirming that talent retention is key to Bahrain’s long-term economic resilience.
By backing companies with strategic resources, Bahrain’s retention model not only keeps local talent in the workforce but also ensures that foreign firms can recruit from a well-trained talent pool. This approach emphasises Bahrain’s broader ambition to maintain a strong tech ecosystem that adapts quickly to market shifts, supporting both local growth and regional stability.