NEWS
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued Order (47) of 2024 appointing a member to the Royal Family Council: His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa is appointed as a member of the Royal Family Council. This order shall take effect from the date of issuance and shall be published in the Official Gazette.more
His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), commended the Ministry of Youth Affairs for winning the "Best Arab Government Project to Empower Young People" award for the Lamea national programme. The event was part of the Arab Government Excellence Award, organised by the Arab Administrative Development Organisation (ARADO) in collaboration with the UAE Government. HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad emphasised Bahrain’s leadership in fostering and empowering talented youth, positioning them as essential contributors to development initiatives across key sectors. This approach aligns with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to engage youth in shaping the future. He also highlighted the vision of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the government approach in launching initiatives to harness youth potentials and integrate them across various sectors, ensuring their active role in advancing the Kingdom’s progress. His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad noted that the award is a distinguished Arab recognition of Bahrain's successful youth initiatives and a testament to the significant progress in programmes that empower young people, build their confidence, and provide opportunities for them to excel and lead in various domains. HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad highlighted that the outcomes of the Lamea programme and affirmed that the programme’s achievements showcase the resilience and determination of Bahraini youth. He highlighted their ability to turn challenges into opportunities in contributing to the Kingdom's development and progress. His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad reaffirmed the SCYS’s commitment to strengthening the programme, building on its successes, and implementing initiatives that further empower Bahraini youth.more
His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), held an event celebrating the youth leaders participating in the global youth competitiveness initiative, "Hope Network," which includes 29 ministers, government officials, UN representatives, and organisations supporting youth. His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the SCYS, Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC); His Highness Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Supreme Council for the Environment (SCE) and Vice Chairman of the High Authority of Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club and member of the SCYS; Ayman bin Tawfiq Al Moayyed, Secretary-General of the SCYS; and Rawan bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth Affairs, attended the event. HH Shaikh Nasser highlighted Bahrain’s ongoing efforts to launch global initiatives that strengthen international alliances, empower youth to drive progress and prepare them as future leaders. His Highness noted that the "Hope Network" aligns with the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to elevate Bahrain’s international standing by investing in youth through initiatives and programmes. This vision is supported by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, who consistently emphasises the importance of empowering youth and involving them in development processes. His Highness emphasised Bahrain's leading role in establishing the "Hope Network," with a focus on raising global awareness about the importance of inspiring hope and coordinating efforts to meet youth aspirations. HH Shaikh Nasser noted that the network aims to build an international environment that empowers and supports young people. His Highness added that the signing of the "Charter of Hope" by participants, underscores their shared commitment to advancing youth initiatives across member states.more
His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bapco Energies, chaired the company's third-quarter Board of Directors meeting for 2024. HH Shaikh Nasser highlighted Bapco Energies’ efforts to implement the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, aimed at securing new energy resources for Bahrain. His Highness also commended the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The meeting reviewed the company’s future strategy, with a focus on aligning efforts across Bapco Energies and its subsidiaries to further develop Bahrain’s energy sector. The Board approved an action plan which includes key renewable energy projects, in line with the National Energy Strategy, and investments in modern technologies to diversify energy sources and protect natural resources. Mark Thomas, Bapco Energies Group CEO, presented an update on the company’s performance and key projects, including progress on the Bapco Modernisation Program (BMP), which is nearing completion, as well as ongoing exploration and production activities. The Board also approved a unified framework for employee compensation and benefits across the group, aimed at enhancing integration and fairness across all sectors.more
His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), headed the ninth meeting of the follow-up committee on the implementation of the Sports City project. Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, Ibrahim bin Hassan Al Hawaj, Minister of Works, and Ayman bin Tawfiq Al Moayyed, Secretary General of SCYS, were present. HH Shaikh Nasser emphasised that the Sports City Project is one of the key strategic projects in the Kingdom of Bahrain, supported by His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, dedicated to youth and sports. This project will promote Bahrain's regional and international position in hosting sports events and championships. HH Shaikh Nasser commended the government's efforts, headed by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister, in developing the sports sector and infrastructure. During the meeting, HH Shaikh Nasser reviewed the general layout of the project, the timeline, and facilities. HH Shaikh Nasser highlighted the importance of maintaining Bahrain's position as a prominent sports hub, where the Sports City will play a key role in advancing the Kingdom's investments in sports, enhancing the competitive environment, and positioning Bahrain on the global stage.more
His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, spoke at the opening of the Arab Youth Media Forum, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The forum was organised as part of the Arab Media Summit 2024. It aims to empower and engage youth in the media industry. Upon arrival, HH Shaikh Nasser was received by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council. In the segment "In Conversation: HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad, His Highness said believing in youth was a facet of the Arab culture. His Highness emphasised that the UAE's commitment to supporting Arab youth through initiatives like hosting the Arab Media Forum in Dubai, came within the framework of the priorities of joint Arab action. His Highness underscored the importance of supporting Arab youth by developing their skills to build the future of their countries, noting that the capabilities of youth reprsented half of the present and the entirety of the future. His Highness emphasised the significance of national identity as the guiding force for the Arab nation's achievements, recalling that the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founder of the UAE, has once said that those who do not have a past, do not have a present nor a future. His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa emphasised the role of Arab youth in harnessing media to positively engage with regional developments and changes. His Highness highlighted Bahrain's efforts to empower youth by providing them with opportunities to build and modernise, instilling confidence to implement their ideas, and cultivating a culture of faith and hope.more
His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, met with the crew of the "Ana Laha" (I am up for it), the programme aired during the holy month of Ramadhan. It was produced by STC Bahrain and led by content creator Omar Farooq. HH Shaikh Nasser commended the programme's efforts in documenting the cohesion and the true nature of the Bahraini community in providing assistance and standing together in challenging situations. His Highness praised the innovative ideas showcased through the social experiments it presented, which demonstrated the capabilities of Bahraini creatives in producing content with noble objectives. Ana Laha, whose production team is 90% Bahraini, has achieved remarkable viewership numbers, reaching over 200 million views to date. The programme touched on sensitive social issues, such as depression, cerebral palsy, drugs, disfigurement, and simple jobs. It has sparked discussions and debates on social experiments and raised awareness on these important topics.more
His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Majesty's Representative for Humanitarian Affairs and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, said that Bahraini Youth Day was a distinguished national event that recognised the pivotal role played by youth in shaping the present and future of Bahrain. HH Shaikh Nasser congratulated Bahraini youth on the occassion, and lauded their role in continuing the process of building Bahrain and their distinguished contributions in various fields. His Highness added that Bahraini Youth Day coincided this year with the Kingdom's celebration of the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's accession, highlighting the Royal Vision for Bahraini Youth. This vision prioritises the focus on young talent, harnessing their creativity, and empowering them to lead in the future. His Highness said that His Majesty the King's appreciation for Bahraini youth has been instrumental in shaping strategies to empower them, emphasising His Majesty's keenness on celebrating the accomplishments of Bahraini youth and backing their ideas and projects to guarantee their success. HH Shaikh Nasser noted that the kingdom has formulated a clearly defined strategy to elevate the status of Bahraini youth through a series of initiatives designed by the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. These efforts focus on supporting young talent, facilitating their progression to leadership roles, and fostering avenues for skill development and innovation in various sectors. His Highness emphasised the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to bolster youth-oriented policies. His Highness highlighted ongoing initiatives aimed at consolidating efforts through Team Bahrain, with a focus on creating frameworks to empower and inspire the youth. "We continuously think of what we can achieve for Bahraini youth of all age groups and reaching them in their villages and towns," His Highness said. His Highness added that this approach was a priority aimed at instilling hope in youth and to give them recognition for their ideas, which seek to build on national achievements to accomplish more for the kingdom. His Highness Shaikh Nasser praised the exceptional accomplishments of Bahraini youth, recognising their vital role in innovation and development. Several initiatives have been introduced to bolster the role of Bahraini youth as a driving force of innovation and creativity, such as the "Outstanding Youth' programme which sheds light on the dedication, capabilities and efforts made by youth to serve both themselves and the kingdom, His Highness Shaikh said. His Highness said that the National Youth Work Strategy (2023-2028) has been launched to encourage youth through initiatives that build a culture of achievement and boost the confidence of youth within a supportive environment. Mechanisms will be put in place to listen to youth and make them active partners in designing future plans and programmes, His Highness added. His Highness Shaikh Nasser reiterated his unwavering support for Bahraini youth, recognising their sense of responsibility, awareness, and commitment to shaping a bright future for the kingdom.more
ا His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs and Chairman of Bapco Energies - the integrated energy company leading the energy transition in the Kingdom of Bahrain – met with Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, and Mark Thomas, Group CEO of Bapco Energies. The meeting laid the foundations for cooperation between Bapco Energies and TotalEnergies, under which TotalEnergies will support Bapco Energies in optimizing its Sitra refinery, which is currently being upgraded, and in trading of its petroleum products. TotalEnergies will bring its global oil and feedstock supply capacity, as well as its refining and trading expertise. His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesy the King for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs and Chairman of Bapco Energies said: "We are pleased to welcome such a respected and experienced global player in the energy trading sector. Bapco Energies and TotalEnergies’ collaboration will pursue opportunities for the Kingdom of Bahrain's oil & gas products and offer new energy solutions to our customers. With the start-up of our US$7 billion Bapco Modernization Programme (BMP) refinery upgrade project later this year, our partnership with TotalEnergies will help build a quality customer base for our expanded production. We look forward to working in partnership with the Total team and bringing their experience and technology to Bapco Energies." "We are pleased to have been selected by the Bahraini authorities to support Bapco Energies in optimizing their downstream petroleum operations, with a view to maximizing value for Bahrain. I sincerely hope that this new partnership marks the beginning of a promising relationship between TotalEnergies and the Kingdom of Bahrain," said Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies. "We are indeed a global integrated energy company and are willing to bring for the benefit of the Kingdom of Bahrein and Bapco Energies our full expertise along integrated oil, LNG and power value chains. We will work to extend our collaboration beyond oil and petroleum products to potential future developments in other energies, such as LNG or renewable power." “This new collaboration with TotalEnergies will bring incremental value to the Kingdom of Bahrain and Bapco Energies through the application of TotalEnergies’ global expertise in product trading and feedstock optimization. We are looking forward to partnering with TotalEnergies to building the Bapco Energies brand as a reliable and trusted global supplier of quality products”, concluded Mark Thomas, Group CEO of Bapco Energies. more
His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Majesty the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of Bapco Energies, today chaired the Company’s Board of Directors meeting for the last quarter of the year. HH Shaikh Nasser commended the speech delivered by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa before the COP28 Summit announcing the launch of Bahrain's National Action Plan, "Blueprint Bahrain", which is aimed at achieving carbon neutrality. His Highness emphasised that His Majesty's announcement marks a significant milestone in Bahrain's energy sector transformation and sustainability journey. HH Shaikh Nasser congratulated His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on the occasion of the Kingdom of Bahrain's celebration of its National Days, in commemoration of the establishment of the modern Bahraini State as an Arab, Muslim state founded by Ahmed Al Fateh in 1783, and the anniversary of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s Accession to the Throne. His Highness commended the group's achievements in the current year, which included launching the Sustainability-Linked Finance Framework ("Framework"), making it the world’s first national energy group to implement this practice. This is in addition to partnering with regional institutions to develop a national portfolio of energy companies, and enhancing investment opportunities in the sector. This led to its success in refinancing Murabaha facilities worth $2.2 billion, increasing it to $2.5 billion, and issuing Sukuk worth US$750 million for 10 years. His Highness welcomed Bapco Energies Group's transformation into world-class governance processes and the completion of the first environmental and social impact assessment for Bahrain; as well as comducting the feasibility study for a carbon capture and storage project to achieve 10% of the target of reducing carbon emissions by 2035. The meeting reviewed the group's financial performance for Q4 2023, focusing on major projects aligned with Bahrain's national energy strategy. They also discussed a strategic investment package to support the group's transformation project in line with global sector changes. Mark Thomas, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Bapco Energies, presented the company's environmental and social governance report, which outlined procedures for achieving health and safety principles. It also covered forming an environment, health, and safety working committee to create training programs for 2024 projects and standardise data collection for greater transparency, integrity, and accountability. Abdulla Jehad Al Zain, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bapco Refining Company; Dr. Abdulrahman Jawahery, Chief Executive Officer gave a presentation on the latest Bapco Modernisation Programme (BMP). Faisal Al Mahroos, BAPCO's Chief Executive Officer and Johann Pleininger, the Chief Executive of Tatweer Petroleum, gave a presentation the company's ongoing exploration and production activity.more
