Bahrain Reviews Expat Engineers’ Qualifications After Fake Degree Case

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Bahrain’s Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs, Yasser bin Ibrahim Humaidan, said the ministry conducted a comprehensive review of the academic and professional qualifications of all expatriate engineers after discovering suspected forgery in a certificate submitted by a foreign employee.

The minister made the statement while responding to a parliamentary question submitted by MP Dr. Hisham Al‑Ashiri regarding how a foreign employee was able to work for a long period at the Electricity and Water Authority using a forged academic certificate without it being detected during recruitment or contract renewals.

Humaidan explained that prior to joining the authority, the employee had accumulated many years of experience in the electricity sector, working with reputable institutions in the field that had credible professional references. At the time of recruitment, the employee also submitted several professional and academic qualifications in addition to the academic certificate that later came under question.

The minister added that at the time of hiring, the authority’s main focus was on practical experience to meet operational needs. The same approach was followed during the renewal of the employee’s contract, where the concerned department, in coordination with the Human Resources Department, assessed job requirements, performance, and the availability of a Bahraini replacement before approving contract extensions.

He noted that throughout the employee’s service period, there were no indicators that raised concerns about the authenticity of the submitted qualifications.

Following a review of the recruitment procedures used at the time, the ministry found that they were consistent with the approved frameworks and regulations then in place, with no evidence of procedural violations or negligence. There were also no signs that would have prompted suspicion about the authenticity of the documents during the recruitment process.

However, after the authority later became aware of possible forgery in one of the employee’s certificates, it initiated a comprehensive review of the academic and professional qualifications of all expatriate engineers.

Humaidan said that during this review, the authority confirmed suspicions of forgery. As a result, in October 2023 the authority reported the case to the Public Prosecution and the Ministry of Interior to take the necessary legal measures and investigate the employee.

The competent authorities subsequently carried out the required procedures, and a court ruling was issued against the individual on August 26, 2025.

The minister affirmed that the authority has taken all necessary legal steps and stressed that administrative oversight and the application of regulatory procedures related to job performance are continuously monitored by officials within the authority.