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Information & communications technology (ICT)

Bahrain is a gateway to the GCC region offering great access to Saudi Arabia’s market. Global IT companies choose Bahrain as a hub due to the availability of talent, cost competitiveness, ownership structure and market access to the overall region. According to World Bank Doing Business 2017 report, Bahrain was ranked 2nd in MENA in the ease of doing business index.

Bahrain is the complete package

Bahrain’s market, although small, hosts a range of IT companies within the areas of IT services, IT distribution, IT consultancy, data management systems, software developers and customer support centres. Ranked the first in MENA for ICT readiness, Bahrain offers the most competitive and affordable ICT services in the region.

Having been the first country regionally to fully deregulate its telecommunications market, Bahrain continues to pioneer by becoming the first economy in the GCC to adopt a cloud-first policy. Bahrain’s government is committed to accelerating the transition to the cloud, enabling a more forward-thinking approach to data management as well as expanding business opportunities.

Bahrain offers information and communications technology companies various benefits including a business-friendly regulatory environment, great access to the regional market, a robust ICT infrastructure, a cost competitive location, powerful internet connectivity systems, availability of skilled human capital and various office setup options.

Business-friendly regulatory framework

  • 100%

    Bahrain offers foreign investors in the ICT sector 100% business ownership

  • 0%

    Bahrain also offers 0% tax (corporate and personal tax), making it the most liberal tax regime in the gulf.

Superior internet and networking capabilities

  • 4

    Submarine fiber optics systems

  • 2

    Terrestrial dark fiber systems

  • Bahrain offers internet bandwidth to connect to regional nodes in MENA, Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Australia

  • 4th

    globally for Telecoms Infrastructure by the UN (UN EGDI 2018)

  • 1st

    in MENA in ICT readiness, Bahrain offers nationwide high speed 5G network

As a pioneer within the region, Bahrain was the first country in the GCC to fully deregulate its telecommunications market.

Access to the market

Bahrain lies at the heart of the Arabian Gulf, providing fast and efficient access to a $1.5 trillion market. The regional route network and Bahrain’s central location allows easy access to large neighbouring economies like Saudi Arabia.

The total value of the ICT market in the Middle East is forecast to reach USD 200bn in 2017. As such, the region presents various information and communications technology opportunities in a range of different sectors including:

Cloud (datacenter & software as a service)

  • 41%

    World’s highest cloud traffic growth rate. (Cisco’s Global Cloud Index)

  • 35%

    Cloud data center traffic will grow at an annual growth rate of 35%. (Cisco’s)

  • 83%

    Of regional traffic is projected to be consumed by cloud services. (Cisco’s)

Cybersecurity

  • USD 2.5mn

    There is a big opportunity for cybersecurity firms in the region with the average financial loss for companies in MENA amounting to USD 2.5mn due to security incidents. 57% of companies in the GCC are unprepared for attacks. (PwC Middle East Cybersecurity Survey 2016)

  • 20%

    The MENA cybersecurity market is expected to grow at CAGR of 20% from 2017 to 2022. (Ken Research)

Digital media

  • 336M

    in MENA. As of 2017, 30% of the GCC population are gamers (NewZoo Global Market Report)

  • 9.79%

    MENA has the world’s highest gaming and e-sports CAGR of 9.79% with expected revenue to reach $3.9bn in 2023 (PwC)

  • 10%

    MENA accounts for 10% of global mobile app traffic and revenue generation (Device Research)

E-commerce

  • $181 ARPU

    MENA’s average revenue per user (ARPU) is amongst the highest in the world. MENA market averages $181 while China averages $48 (The Mobile Economy 2018)

  • 4mn

    MENA is home to 4 million online shoppers (GSMA Mobile Economy)

Business services

  • 190 SSCs

    MENA is home to over 190 Shared Services Centres

  • 41%

    GCC outsourcing market growing at 41% to USD 1.86bn by 2021

Total costs in USD

Source: Cost of doing business in Bahrain, KPMG Report 2018

Total costs in USD

Source: Cost of doing business in Bahrain, KPMG Report 2018

Ready-to-go commercial office spaces at:

Bahrain Financial Harbor
Bahrain World Trade Center
Al Moayyed Tower
Fakhroo Tower

Serviced offices:

Regus
Servcorp
Alliance

Landing pads/incubators:

Brilliant Lab
Brinc
CH9
Flat6Labs

Hub for human capital

A hub for qualified people with exceptional talent, Bahrain ranks 1st in the Human Capital Index in the MENA region (World Bank 2018).  It also ranks 1st globally for internet users (as a percentage of the population), and 1st in MENA for digital life (InterNations 2019).

Bahrain provides companies a great opportunity to build teams of people that match their needs.

As a result of Bahrain’s liberal business environment and visa system companies are able to hire teams of local and international staff to better service their regional clients.

Tamkeen, a semi-government organisation bolstering the private sector, offers salary and training subsidiaries as well as grants to cover other costs (equipment, IT infrastructure, marketing).

Bahrain ranks 1st in MENA for ICT development and digital life. (InterNations Expat Insider Survey 2019)

CONTACT US

Discover Bahrain’s strengths, sector by sector

Bahrain offers an ideal location for ICT companies to access the fast-growing Middle East and GCC markets across key sectors. From cloud computing companies to digital entertainment enterprises and internet security providers, Bahrain offers plenty of room to grow.

Cloud

Learn more

Cyber
Security

Learn more

Digital Content
& e-Commerce

Learn more

Business Services

Learn more

Who’s Here:

Join a powerful network in Bahrain that includes these information and communications technology companies.

The cost of living in Bahrain is 23% lower compared to GCC countries (KPMG). Bahrain also ranks 5th globally for the best places to live and work by the HSBC Expat Survey 2019, and ranks 1st globally in Reaching Potential and Work/Life Balance.

Learn how you can start your business here

Additional resources

A compilation of ICT sector resources and data to download and read at your convenience.

ICT
factsheet

An overview and factsheet of the ICT sector in Bahrain, outlining how Bahrain has emerged as a leading location for IT business opportunities.

DOWNLOAD PDF

ICT industry
in Bahrain

An in-depth look at the advantages of Bahrain’s ICT sector, including high demand for mobile data, applications and services; widespread regional internet use; and a strong ICT ecosystem.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Sabre

An in-depth look at why Sabre, a company offering airline and hotel software, data, mobile and distribution solutions, chose to base its regional headquarters in Bahrain.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Elite

An in-depth look at how Bahrain has been the ideal location for Elite Technologies to expand as a business specializing in digital information services and systems.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Meet the team

We at Bahrain EDB are excited to help you begin or grow your information and communications technology venture in Bahrain.

David Parker

Co Chief Investment Officer

Mohamed Al Khalifa

Senior Manager

Fajer Al Pachachi

Manager

Amal Askar

Senior Executive

Khaled Abdulla

Executive

Marwa Almosawi

Coordinator

Get in touch with us

Location Find our offices
Phone +973 17 58 99 99
Contact Contact Bahrain EDB
Hours Working hours