Bahrain secured US $291 million in new tourism projects during the first nine months of 2022, signalling investor confidence in the kingdom’s bid to welcome 14 million visitors by 2026.
Figures from the Bahrain Economic Development Board show eight operators either entered the market or expanded, committing capital that should create roughly 1,090 jobs over three years. The deals range from hospitality builds to themed-experience upgrades and align with a four-year tourism strategy that aims to lift the sector’s GDP share to 11.4 percent, diversify attractions beyond the Formula 1 weekend and broaden Bahrain’s reach to new source markets. Total foreign investment captured by the EDB across all sectors hit BD 348 million (US $921 million) in the same period, with tourism joining financial services, ICT, logistics and manufacturing as priority pillars.
The push comes as post-COVID pent-up demand revives Gulf leisure travel and regional carriers increase point-to-point routes. Officials say streamlined licensing and public-private land-lease models helped close recent deals, while SMEs stand to benefit via supply-chain contracts and experiential add-ons such as heritage tours and food-trucking. The government’s Economic Recovery Plan also allocates funding for digital ticketing and smart-mobility links to integrate new resorts with existing cultural sites like Qal’at al-Bahrain and the Pearl Trail. For founders, the momentum opens white spaces in event tech, eco-tourism and destination marketing—segments where agile startups can bolt onto larger operators as service partners.
“All the indicators show that we are in the right direction to recover, and with our four-year tourism strategy … we are hoping to attract even more investments and welcome 14 million tourists by 2026,” said Munther Al-Mudawi, EDB executive director for tourism.
Developers and service providers can register project ideas with the EDB’s tourism desk as the next investment window opens.
