Bahrain Bids Farewell to Power Pioneer

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Former Minister of Electricity and Water, engineer Abdullah bin Mohammed Juma, passed away on Wednesday, leaving behind a rich legacy of national service and technical leadership.

Born and raised in Fereej Al-Fadhel in Manama, Juma attended school in Al Qudaibiya Eastern Primary School before travelling to the UK for college studies in 1966.

After doing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, he began his career in 1970 as an engineer in the Electricity Distribution Department of the Ministry of Electricity.

Projects

Among the early projects he helped advance was the extension of electricity to villages and islands across the Kingdom – including Nabih Saleh, which was connected to the national grid through a submarine cable in the 1970s.

Through diligence and technical skill, he rose to become Director of the Distribution Department, then Director of Electricity in the 1980s, and Assistant Undersecretary for Electricity Affairs in the early 1990s.

Appointed Minister of Electricity and Water in 1995, Juma oversaw major expansion plans for power generation stations in Sitra, Riffa and Hidd, strengthening the Kingdom’s capacity to meet growing demand.

His tenure coincided with a period of rapid modernisation that saw Bahrain transition from limited local networks to a comprehensive national system serving every governorate.

Appointment

After leaving ministerial office in 1999, he was appointed to the Shura Council, where he served until 2002.

He later moved to the private sector, founding a company and developing a portfolio of real estate projects that continued his interest in infrastructure and national growth.

Known for his love of photography and nature, Juma was inspired by his uncle, whom he often credited as a formative influence. He was also praised by the late Prime Minister for his work ethic and dedication to public service, a reputation he retained throughout his career.

Bahrain remembers him as a pioneer of its modern electricity and water system – a man whose technical vision and commitment to development helped light the Kingdom for generations to come.