Bahrain Scores Big: Signs Historic $17B Deal with the US Covering Tech, Aviation, Cables, and Flights

Mahir Haneef

TDT| Manama

Bahrain has signed a sweeping set of private-sector deals with American companies totalling approximately USD 17 billion, marking one of the kingdom’s most significant economic engagements with the United States in recent years.

The announcement came during a high-level reception hosted at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters on Tuesday, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The event brought together leading Bahraini and American business figures and marked the unveiling of transformative partnerships in technology, aviation, infrastructure, and industrial investment.

Strategic collaborations

The reception featured the signing of landmark agreements, including a digital solutions project for Bahrain’s government telecoms network with Cisco and the development of a major undersea fibre-optic cable linking Bahrain to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq. The cable, stretching 800 kilometres, is being executed in partnership with U.S.-based SubCom.

New air connectivity was also unveiled, with plans to launch direct flights between Bahrain and New York. This move is expected to boost business and tourism ties while underscoring Bahrain’s ambitions to become a central regional hub for U.S. firms.

Aluminium and capital flow

In addition to infrastructure deals, Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat announced USD 2 billion in strategic cooperation with U.S. firms focused on aluminium-related downstream industries. Meanwhile, Bahrain-based private and financial institutions are investing USD 10.7 billion in various American ventures, reinforcing a two-way channel of economic cooperation.

On behalf of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, expressed Bahrain’s appreciation for the Chamber’s hospitality and urged U.S. firms to capitalise on the kingdom’s open economy and trade agreements.

A legacy of partnership

HRH Prince Salman highlighted that the Bahrain-U.S. relationship, rooted in over 130 years of ties, continues to deepen through private-sector engagement. He reaffirmed the kingdom’s commitment to building economic bridges through collaborative investments and the exchange of expertise.

The event also included the presence of His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Court, and senior officials from both nations. The deals announced reflect Bahrain’s growing role as a regional entry point for American enterprise and digital infrastructure projects.

These announcements signal not only Bahrain’s economic ambitions but also its strategic positioning in a shifting global investment landscape.