StartUp Bahrain Weekend Sparks New Dreams and Bold Ventures

Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy and Chairman of Mumtalakat Holding Company, attended the closing ceremony of the fifth edition of StartUp Bahrain Weekend, held at the American University of Bahrain (AUBH).

Organised under the StartUp Bahrain initiative — the Kingdom’s national platform for entrepreneurs supported by the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) — the event brought together over 200 entrepreneurs, developers, designers, and marketers to collaborate, compete, and innovate.

The competition’s top honours went to Team As-humi in first place, Echelon in second, and Bestook in third. Team Salesfy received the “DOO Choice Award,” while Gymna won the “NineDots Choice Award.”

Shaikh Salman emphasised Bahrain’s unwavering commitment to empowering young entrepreneurs as key contributors to national economic growth. He noted that the Kingdom’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has witnessed remarkable expansion, guided by the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and supported by government efforts led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

He praised StartUp Bahrain Weekend as a successful national model that inspires Bahraini youth to transform ideas into viable business ventures, boosting both innovation and competitiveness. Highlighting global trends, Shaikh Salman noted that start-ups are projected to create over 14% of jobs worldwide within the next five years, underscoring their importance as engines of innovation and digital transformation.

The Minister commended Tamkeen, chaired by His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, for its continued role in supporting national talent and fostering an innovation-driven economy.

He also pointed to the government’s efforts to enhance Bahrain’s start-up ecosystem by improving access to financing and simplifying regulations — achievements that have helped position Bahrain among the top start-up ecosystems in the Middle East and North Africa, according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report. Shaikh Salman called for celebrating Bahrain’s entrepreneurial community for its creativity, resilience, and contribution to job creation.

During the event, a new annual entrepreneurship competition for students from the University of Bahrain’s College of Business Administration was announced. The initiative, launched by Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education and Chairman of UoB’s Board of Trustees, in partnership with Tamkeen, aims to encourage innovation among students and support the development of new businesses that contribute to the national economy.

This year’s StartUp Bahrain Weekend was organised in collaboration with several key partners, including Brink, General Assembly Bahrain, Reboot Coding Institute, Spring Venture Services, Ordable, NineDots, Unipal, AUBH, and DOO.

Over an intensive 54-hour programme, participants engaged in workshops and mentorship sessions led by more than 20 industry experts from leading institutions and companies.

Ali Alalawi, founder of Unipal, delivered the keynote address, highlighting how initiatives like StartUp Bahrain Weekend serve as platforms for turning creative ideas into real projects with lasting impact.

Salma Houari, Director of the Investcorp Innovation Lab at AUBH, said the event provides a strong launchpad for high-potential start-ups. She added that winners will gain access to the Innovation Lab’s incubation programme, offering MIT-style mentorship and opportunities for collaboration with businesses to achieve investment readiness.