Bahrain’s startup metrics look shiny—$1.2 billion in value, fourth in MENA—but sliding to 67th globally should jolt us into fixing the ecosystem’s weakest links.
First, talent. We celebrate a multicultural pool where English is the norm, yet founders still lose engineers to Riyadh salaries and Dubai lifestyle perks. Tamkeen’s grants help, but without longer startup visas and equity-based compensation rules, Bahrain will remain a training ground for competitors.
Second, capital depth. Early cheques flow easily, but Series B money often requires a headquarters move. Rather than launching another accelerator, policymakers should underwrite a co-investment fund that matches every international dollar with a local one—skin in the game that keeps cap tables anchored here.
Third, sector focus. Reports trumpet fintech, AI and cybersecurity, but our sandbox approvals still take months, not weeks. A single digital licence that covers data residency, payments and consumer protection would turn “business-friendly” from slogan to lived experience.
Finally, storytelling. Global rankings reward familiarity; dropping seven spots means Bahrain’s wins aren’t breaking through. We need founders, not officials, front-and-centre at events like Web Summit Qatar and Slush. Authentic success stories travel further than government ads ever will. The good news? All ingredients exist: zero corporate tax, 100 percent foreign ownership, and ministerial willingness to tweak policy. But stitching them together demands urgency—otherwise the 2025 report will read like déjà vu.
If we tackle talent retention, late-stage capital and faster regulation now, Bahrain can turn regional promise into a truly global startup brand.
