Tag: Records of Bahrain

BAHRAIN : Foreign Minister: Guinness World Records achievement reflects Bahrain’s model of coexistence

Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, said that the Kingdom of Bahrain’s official inclusion in the Guinness World Records as the country with the highest density of places of worship for different religions represents international recognition of Bahrain’s established approach to religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and respect for human rights and religious, cultural, and civil freedoms.

The minister said that the achievement reflects the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Bahrain’s national approach to coexistence, which is grounded in the rule of law, justice, and constitutional institutions, and supported by consistent government policies that have made tolerance and coexistence an integral part of national practice.

Dr. Al Zayani extended congratulations to His Majesty the King and to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on the achievement, noting that it reflects Bahrain’s longstanding commitment to religious and cultural diversity.

The minister noted that the global achievement coincides with the international observance of the International Day of Peaceful Coexistence, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly following a Bahraini initiative, as well as with the national observance of the Year of Isa Al Kabeer. He said this alignment highlights Bahrain’s historical standing as a society rooted in religious and cultural coexistence, and its role in promoting dialogue and peace, drawing on a legacy shaped by the leadership of His Highness Isa Al Kabeer, founder of the modern Bahraini state, and carried forward under the current national approach led by His Majesty the King.

Dr. Al Zayani explained that Bahrain’s ranking in the Guinness World Records, with an average of 2.577 places of worship per square kilometre, reflects the Kingdom’s long-established practice of accommodating places of worship for different religions and denominations. These include mosques and “grand mosques” (congregational mosques), alongside churches, a Jewish synagogue, one of the oldest churches in the region, and a Hindu temple established in Manama more than two centuries ago.

He said that this diversity reflects social cohesion, equal citizenship, and respect for freedom of religion and belief, and represents a practical expression of Bahrain’s values of coexistence and peace.

The minister highlighted Bahrain’s efforts to share its experience in religious coexistence and dialogue at regional and international forums through initiatives launched under the leadership of His Majesty the King. These include the declaration on freedom of religion and belief, international conferences on intercultural dialogue, the King Hamad Award for Coexistence and Tolerance, and other initiatives aimed at serving humanity, empowering women and youth, and promoting a culture of peace. 

Dr. Al Zayani reiterated that the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty the King and the directives of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, continues its human rights and development efforts, as well as its diplomatic and humanitarian role through its non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, in support of regional and international peace, dialogue among religions and cultures, the National Human Rights Plan, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

source/content: bna.bh (headline edited)

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BAHRAIN : World’s largest rooftop solar plant set to shine with over 189,000 panels

The power plant is a major step in the country’s ambitions to achieve the Net Zero 2060 target.

Bahrain-based industrial giant Foulath Holding has partnered with Yellow Door Energy, a leading sustainable energy developer in the Middle East and Africa, to launch a record-breaking 123 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar project.

The project marks the construction of the world’s largest single-site rooftop solar power plant, signaling a crucial step in Bahrain’s pursuit to achieve its Net Zero 2060 target.

Developed under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), 77,000 solar panels will be installed across a newly built 262,000-square-meter stockyard shed, capable of generating a total rooftop capacity of 50 MWp.

The announcement was made at the Four Seasons Hotel in Bahrain Bay on November 2, during the third edition of the premium investment forum Gateway Gulf.

It was hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board, with global investors, business leaders, policymakers, and government officials from multiple regions in attendance.

A transformative step towards clean energy vision

As a small island nation, Bahrain faces unique constraints in developing large-scale solar farms on the ground. Rooftop installations provide a space-efficient and scalable solution to harness clean energy without compromising valuable land resources.

In total, the site will consist of ten rooftop and four on-ground photovoltaic systems, producing an estimated 200 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean electricity in its first year.

The overall initiative of the project is to reduce carbon emissions by 90,000 metric tons annually.

“Today, the island nation of Bahrain stands at the forefront of sustainable global innovation. We are incredibly proud of this transformative project – marking the largest rooftop solar plant in the world,” said Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development.

“This milestone not only strengthens our position as a regional leader in clean energy, but embodies our dedication to build a resilience, sustainable future in line with our national vision of elevating Bahrain’s international competitiveness,” she continued.

A $250M commitment to sustainability

For Foulath Holding, the project represents the continuation of a long-term environmental strategy.

Meshary Al-Judaimi, Chairman of Foulath Holding, revealed that the company has already invested approximately $250 million in sustainability projects over recent years.

“Over the past several years, Foulath has invested approximately $250 million in various sustainability projects,” he said.

“These investments are a testament to our commitment to responsible operations, environmental stewardship, and protecting the health and well-being of our community, thereby ensuring industrial development goes hand-in-hand with environmental care. The solar project serves as a continuation of that commitment,” Al-Judaimi added further.

Powering a sustainable industrial future

The solar plant project will be developed in partnership with Yellow Door Energy, known for its large-scale renewable infrastructure in the region.

“I think this project proves how cost-competitive, clean energy can drive forward industry and set a new global benchmark for decarbonizing steel production,” said Sherif ElKholy , Managing Director at Actis and Chairman of Yellow Door Energy.


“As a leading investor in sustainable infrastructure and majority shareholder of Yellow Door Energy, we are proud to witness this signing and look forward to seeing this transformative project come to life,” he continued, emphasizing the significance of the partnership.

With over 189,900 high-efficiency solar panels spanning 707,000 square meters, this initiative will power a new chapter in Bahrain’s energy transition.

source/content: interestingengineering.com (headline edited)

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Engineers holding tablet standing at solar panels roof – stock photo. / Getty Images

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BAHRAIN

BAHRAIN elected to UN Security Council for 2026–2027

The Kingdom of Bahrain has secured a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2026–2027 term, following a vote at the UN General Assembly in New York, where it received an overwhelming 186 out of 187 votes (99.5%).

Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, congratulated His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the people of Bahrain on this achievement. He noted that the near-unanimous support is a testament to the leadership of His Majesty the King and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and a clear recognition of global confidence in Bahrain’s foreign policy and its commitment to peace, cooperation, and international stability.

Dr. Al Zayani emphasised Bahrain’s dedication to upholding the UN Charter, promoting multilateralism, and engaging constructively with Security Council members to address global challenges.

He said that Bahrain’s approach during its Security Council term will be guided by its core values of dialogue, coexistence, mutual respect, and consensus building. He added Bahrain’s intention to serve as a voice for diplomacy, a bridge for understanding, and a champion of solutions that reflect the aspirations of peoples for a future of peace, stability, and prosperity.

Dr. Al Zayani also commended the Kingdom’s Permanent Mission to the UN, led by Ambassador Jamal Al Rowaiei, as well as all officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and members of the Mission, for their dedicated work in the spirit of “Team Bahrain.” He commended their tangible efforts and outstanding diplomatic work that contributed to this significant milestone and expressed gratitude to UN member states for their support.

Bahrain’s election was met with congratulations from Arab and international delegates, who extended best wishes for a successful term on the Council.

source/content: bna.bh (headline edited)

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BAHRAIN Wins the Golden Lion for Best National Participation at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s Heatwave exhibition , curated by architect Andrea Faraguna has been announced as the winner of the Golden Lion for the Best National Participation at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale.

The winner has been selected by an international jury comprising of Swiss curator, critic, and art historian Hans Ulrich Obrist as jury chair, South African architect, lecturer, and curator Mpho Matsipa, and Italian curator Paola Antonelli .

The awards ceremony is broadcast live from the headquarters of the Biennale at Ca’Giustinian. The pavilion stands out for addressing the pressing issue of extreme heat through a site-specific installation that showcases passive cooling strategies rooted in Bahrain’s climatic realities and cultural context.

The design of the pavilion explores passive cooling using geothermal wells and solar chimneys connected via a thermo-hygrometric axis, which links underground conditions to outdoor air. In exhibition settings where excavation isn’t possible, mechanical ventilation mimics this system. The modular structure features a floor and cantilevered ceiling supported by a central column, adaptable for various urban environments. The project highlights low-impact, climate-responsive design for outdoor workspaces in hot climates, emphasizing environmental responsibility, social fairness, and innovative architectural solutions.

The Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement and the Special Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in Memoriam have been previously announced to be awarded to American philosopher Donna Haraway and the late Italian architect and designer Italo Rota (1953–2024), respectively. Donna Haraway is participating via remote connection to highlight the wider implications of this edition’s biennale. “Intelligence is a word that bubbles with meaning of the power of discerning,” she declares. The Golden Lion in Memoriam is awarded in absentia to Italo Rota.

Two special mentions have been awarded to participants in the international exhibition. The first one goes to Alternative Urbanism: The Central Organized Markets of Lagos by Tosin Oshinowo, Oshinowo Studio. “This award is for the Global South,” Oshinowo declares in her acceptance speech. The second special mention for a project of a participant goes to Elephant Chapel by Boonserm Premthada.

For the national pavilions, a special mention is awarded to Opera Aperta, the Holy See’s Pavilion by Paul Tighe of the Department of Education and Culture of the Holy See. The project is a “construction site, an ongoing process, which everyone is invited to collaborate.” The pavilion is curated by Marina Otero Verzier, curator and researcher, and Giovanna Zabotti, artistic director of Fondaco Italia and former curator of the Venice Pavilion, in collaboration with the design studios Tatiana Bilbao Estudio of Mexico City and MAIO Architects of Barcelona.

The other special mention goes to the Pavilion of Great Britain: GBR: Geology of Britannic Repair, commissioned by Sevra Davis of the British Council and curated by Owen Hopkins, Kathryn Yusoff, Kabage Karanja, Stella Mutegi. The selected team of expositors comprises experts from the UK and Kenya, including Nairobi–based Cave _bureau,  aiming to open up difficult conversations about interconnected relationships between the two countries, decolonization, and the embedded relationships to the ground.

Golden Lion for Best Participant in the exhibition Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective

Golden Lion for Best Participant in the exhibition Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective is awarded to Canal Café by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Natural Systems Utilities, SODAI, Aaron Betsky, Davide Oldani. The installation is set up to use natural filtration systems to purify water from the city’s canals and make it info coffee that visitors of the Arsenale can enjoy.

source/content: archdaily.com (headline edited)

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BAHRAIN Wins 26th Gulf Cup (Khaleeji Zain 26) with 2-1 score against Oman in finals held in Kuwait, Jan 2025

Bahrain’s national football team won the 26th Gulf Cup, “Khaleeji Zain 26”, defeating Oman 2-1 in the final held at Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait.

This marks Bahrain’s second Gulf Cup title, showcasing a determined and inspiring performance throughout the tournament.

The victory came in an excitement-filled atmosphere reflecting the camaraderie of Gulf nations.

It highlighted Bahrain’s dominance in the pitch, with the team controlling the game to secure a well deserved win.

This edition of the Gulf Cup, hosted by Kuwait, was commended for its exceptional organisation, setting a benchmark for regional sports events.

source/headline: bna.bh (edited)

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MOROCCAN Ilyas Hajri Wins World Quran Recitation Prize (Hafiz Category), BAHRAIN’s Mohamed Sameer Mohamed Mujahid (Tajweed Category) & YEMEN’s Ahmed Mohamed Saleh Ahmed ( Junior Reciter) , in 4th edition of ‘Bahrain Online Quran Recitation 2014

Moroccan reciters performed well at the competition and demonstrated exceptional talent and proficiency in Quranic recitation.

Moroccan Ilyas Hajri has clinched the title of World Quran Reader in the Hafiz category at the fourth edition of the Bahrain Online Quran Recitation Competition. 

The Moroccan Quran reciter won the prize for his exceptional proficiency in reciting the Holy Quran.

This win adds to a string of previous successes, as Hajri has consistently shown excellence in Quranic recitation competitions. Last year, he won first place in the International Quran memorization competition in Astana, Kazakhstan.

In addition to Hajri, Moroccan Yassine El Kazzini secured the second position in the same category. 

Meanwhile, Moroccans Abdelbasset Ourach and Mustapha Zahid claimed third places in the categories of memorized recitation (Tajweed) and melodious recitation (Murattal) respectively.

The finals of the competition were conducted in-person in Bahrain’s capital city Manama, where the top performers competed to secure their positions in various categories of Quranic recitation.

The competition brought together over 5,000 participants from 74 countries. 

Meanwhile, Mohamed Sameer Mohamed Mujahid from Bahrain was crowned the World Quran Reciter in the Tajweed category, while Ahmed Mohamed Saleh Ahmed from Yemen secured the same title in the category of junior reciters.

Organizers of the competition highlighted its mission to promote and celebrate the recitation and memorization of the Holy Quran.

It also aims to serve the Quranic tradition by providing a platform for individuals of all ages and nationalities to showcase their skills and proficiency in reciting the Quran.

Moroccans have built a strong reputation for their excellence in Quran recitation competitions, consistently shining on the global stage.

Last month, Moroccan Elias Al-Mahiawi won first place at the 20th International Quran Competition in Tanzania.

source/content: moroccoworldnews.com (headline edited)

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BAHRAIN / MOROCCO / YEMEN

BAHRAIN : The Sharjah Award for Gulf Women’s Creativity in Literature & Arts chooses Bahraini Fawzia Al-Sindi, the ‘Cultural Personality 2024’, for its 6th session

The Sharjah Award for Gulf Women’s Creativity in Literature and Arts announced the selection of the Bahraini innovator and poet, Fawzia Al-Sindi, as the cultural personality for its sixth session for the year 2024.

Al Sindi will be honored on April 23 at Al Jawaher Center for Events and Conferences in the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, as part of a ceremony honoring the award winners.

The award, which is organized by the Cultural Office of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, was created in special honor for the cultural figure among the creative Gulf women pioneering in cultural work.

Salha Ghabish, head of the Council’s Cultural Office, said: “This addition required many discussions with the award’s work team, including members of the jury, as we saw the importance of honoring female figures with distinguished creative, intellectual and professional contributions who are well-known in the Gulf and Arab cultural arena, and whose works have reached the international level through translation.” And communicating with cultural bodies in the world and participating in introducing Arab and Gulf culture through their productions.”

The Bahraini Fawzia Al-Sindi was chosen as one of the influential figures in Bahraini and Gulf society. She has literary and poetic works, and her works have been translated into English, French, Italian, Spanish and German. She has written many articles in Arab newspapers, including the Emirati Gulf, and has participated in many conferences, literary festivals and intellectual forums in the Arab world. And the world.

Regarding her winning the award, Fawzia Al-Sindi said: “I am pleased and honored to have been chosen as a ‘cultural personality’, which in its cultural and human depth represents a tribute and honor to my poetic and literary experience and to all Arab poetic experiences, with my gratitude to those in charge of the Cultural Office of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah for honoring poetic and literary experiences.

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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DUBAI, U.A.E / BAHRAIN / LIBYA: Sheikh Mansoor honours Winners of 27th Dubai International Quran Award 2024

Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum named Islamic Personality of the Year.

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, has honoured Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with the Islamic Personality of The Year award.

The award was coferred at the closing ceremony of the 27th edition of The Dubai International Quran Award in recognition of her efforts and contributions in supporting Islamic, humanitarian, charitable and social causes.

The award was received on behalf of her by Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during a the ceremony held at The Cultural and Scientific Association in Dubai.

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed also honoured members of the award jury alongside 10 awardees.

Mohammed Al Ammri from Bahrain took top honours during the awards ceremony, followed by Naji bin Sliman from Libya, while Sheikh Tijan Ambi from Gambia took third place.

source/content: gulfnews.com (headline edited)

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The grand ceremony of the 27th edition of The Dubai International Quran Award in Dubai.Image Credit: DMO/X

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / BAHRAIN / LIBYA

BAHRAIN Grand Prix Wins F1 Award for Innovation

• 2023 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix wins Event Innovation Award at F1 Promoter Awards in London, which recognises exceptional achievements of Formula 1 venues across the world.

• Award recognized several key innovations at Bahrain International Circuit, including the establishment of an industry-leading solar facility.

The 2023 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix has won The Event Innovation Award at the F1 Promoter Awards in London. The ceremony recognizes key achievements of F1 venues across the world, with Bahrain picking up the award for a number of industry-leading innovations over the last twelve months. These included key sustainability initiatives as well as technology developments in areas including race control and traffic management.

The awards themselves are arranged and judged by Formula 1, the commercial rights holder of the sport. Categories are open to all Formula 1 venues from across the world, with a shortlist of three circuits announced in advance of the awards ceremony. Arif Rahimi, Chairman of Bahrain International Circuit, collected the award on behalf of BIC, which was presented by F1’s Chief Commercial Officer, Emily Prazer. The awards ceremony was attended by other senior BIC management, as well as Formula 1 promoters and partners from around the world.

The Event Innovation award was presented to the F1 venue which demonstrated the most significant innovation in their event delivery, commercial product offering or infrastructure. Announcing The 2023 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix as the overall winner, the judges recognized several key innovations at BIC, including:

• BIC’s industry-leading solar production facility: In its first year of operation the solar park at BIC produced over 5 million KWH of clean energy, enough renewable energy to cover all the usage for F1 with significant capacity to spare, the equivalent of offsetting 3,108 tonnes of carbon.

• Innovative energy saving measures: In 2023, BIC undertook a number of measures to reduce energy consumption. This has included a new building management system that efficiently monitors and manages light and air conditioning provision, an upgrade to more efficient air conditioning chillers and the replacement of all street and building lighting to LED lights. BIC’s combined energy saving measures saved over 30% in energy use over the year.

• Innovative technology in race control: In 2023, BIC installed a first of a kind system in the world that links flag digital panels on track to cameras in race control – with the specific camera automatically highlighting the relevant flagged area of the circuit. This saves officials in race control crucial time when looking into incidents.

• Digitalization: BIC introduced digitalized directional signage for fans coming into the circuit, enabling better proactive and efficient management of traffic, which reduced overall traffic queues and alleviated the need for printing materials for temporary signs.

source/content: bahraingp.com (headline edited)

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Promoter Awards

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BAHRAIN

EGYPTIAN-BRITISH: Deena Rahman: Bahrain’s record-breaking trailblazer

Rahman was one of the first women to be paid to play football in Europe – and set a host of records!

  • Deena Rahman owns five Guinness World Records
  • She was one of the players who got contracts when Fulham became professional in 2000
  • Rahman represented Bahrain in 40 matches, and scored 23 goals

In 2000, almost a decade before the English Football Association awarded the first central contracts to women, Fulham Ladies, at the insistence of club chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed, turned fully professional. It was a watershed moment in the history of women’s football. One of the 16 players paid to play professional football, a first in Europe, was Deena Rahman.

Deena Rahman’s career has since become one of football’s enduring legacies. She has played for the England women’s age group teams, then Bahrain national team. A midfielder during her playing days, the 39-year-old now works to promote gender equality in football while also creating a host of world records. The former Fulham midfielder currently holds five Guinness World Records!

Born to an Egyptian father, Deena Rahman rose through Fulham’s youth ranks, then joined the Arsenal Academy. But she returned to Fulham, and became a member of the team which completed a treble of Premier League National Division, FA Cup and League Cup in 2003. The club became semi-professional soon enough, after three years.

At 15, Rahman made her England U-18 debut. She also represented the country of her birth in two UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championships. However, she retired as a Bahraini player, having scored 23 goals in 40 matches after making her debut in 2011. She is regarded as one of the greatest to have played for the Reds, the nickname for the team from the small Western Asian kingdom.

In her journey – from Fulham to Manama with a brief stoppage in Cairo – Deena Rahman has witnessed a whole gamut of human experience. As a prodigious talent in England, she was a regular at the all-conquering Fulham. But injury and the disbandment of the Cottagers in 2006 forced her to move to Egypt, where she played for Wadi Degla for a brief spell. Another injury sidelined her, and she was back in England.

Then Bahrain came calling, thanks to her association with Arsenal. In 2010, Rahman arrived in the Gulf to work as a coach at Arsenal Soccer School at Soccer City in Janabiya. After five years there, she and her husband Paul Shipwright established their own academy, Tekkers Academy.

Meanwhile, Rahman was also busy creating her own legacy. In 2017, she, along with 32 women from 20 countries, set the Guinness World Record for the highest game of football ever played. And the setting was 18,760 feet above sea level, atop Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania – the highest mountain in Africa.

The following year, Deena Rahman played her part in setting another Guinness World Record, this time for a game of football at the lowest point in the world, the Dead Sea in the Jordan Rift Valley, at 1,412 ft below sea level.

In 2019, Rahman clocked two more Guinness World Records by taking part in a match featuring 822 players during the biggest five-a-side game at Olympic Lyonnaise Training Academy in Meyzieu, Lyon. Then in an exhibition match on the sidelines of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, she got her fourth Guinness World Record as a part of the match with the most nationalities – 114 participants, representing 53 nationalities. In 2020, Rahman secured her fifth record by hammering 7,876 penalties in 24 hours at the Kick Off Academy in Saar.

source//content: fifa.com (headline edited) / Jayanta Oinam

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BRITISH / EGYPTIAN / BAHRAIN