Capital Governor Backs Youth Innovation

Capital Governor Shaikh Khalid bin Hamood Al Khalifa attended the closing ceremony of the iSHAPE programme, held as part of the “Manama, Arab Capital of Young Entrepreneurs 2026” initiatives.

The programme was organised by Al Budaiya Centre, Bahrain’s representative in the Global Shapers Community, the youth arm of the World Economic Forum, at the HQ co-working space in Seef Mall.

The Governor stressed the importance of supporting initiatives that empower young people and strengthen their skills in innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.

He said creating supportive environments for young entrepreneurs can help them turn ideas into practical projects, develop their skills and gain experience that contributes to Bahrain’s development.

Shaikh Khalid highlighted the importance of investing in young people’s potential and encouraging them to develop innovative solutions to community challenges. He also stressed the need to provide opportunities that enable young entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into projects with tangible and sustainable impact.

He praised the range of projects presented during the programme, noting their creative approaches to addressing community needs. He also highlighted the value of engaging directly with target groups and testing solutions in the field to improve projects based on real-world feedback.

During the closing event, participants presented their projects to a judging panel and entrepreneurship specialists, showcasing the results of three weeks of work.

The participants began by identifying real-life challenges before developing and testing practical solutions in cooperation with target groups. The process allowed them to assess the effectiveness of their ideas and refine their projects according to beneficiaries’ needs.

At the conclusion of the event, the Capital Governor honoured the winning teams and presented certificates to all programme participants in recognition of their efforts and innovative entrepreneurial projects.

Mohammed Hilal, Head of Al Budaiya Centre, thanked the Capital Governor for attending and for his continued support for youth initiatives. He said such support provides an important motivation for participants to further develop their ideas into entrepreneurial projects that serve the community and create sustainable positive impact.