Manama: The Kingdom of Bahrain is featured in the GSER 2025 report, highlighting its strong performance across several key metrics. Bahrain's startup ecosystem generated $1.2 billion in Ecosystem Value, reflecting a 13% compound annual growth compared to the GSER 2023 period.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the Kingdom of Bahrain ranked among the Top 10 MENA Ecosystems in both Funding (early-stage funding and investor activity) and Performance (value created from exits and funding), and secured positions in the Top 15 MENA Ecosystems for Knowledge.
Startup Genome, the Global Entrepreneurship Network, and The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) have been working closely together over the past years to monitor and benchmark Bahrain's startup ecosystem, identifying challenges and opportunities that can inform strategic development plans to foster ecosystem growth.
Alya Alaali, Chief Strategy and Data Analytics Officer at the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), stated that Bahrain possesses a well-connected ecosystem, robust infrastructure, and highly skilled tech talent that provide a strong foundation for growth. She emphasized the commitment to fostering innovation by enabling skill development and providing access to funding for entrepreneurs through various programs and initiatives.
Samantha Evans, Managing Director MENA at Startup Genome, noted that Bahrain's consistent performance reflects a growing maturity and strategic focus on sectors like AI, Fintech, and Cybersecurity. The ecosystem offers startups a cost-effective, high-quality launchpad for early-stage innovation, underpinned by strong connectivity and accessibility. Evans highlighted Tamkeen's pivotal role in anchoring a supportive, entrepreneur-friendly environment that continues to strengthen Bahrain's innovation landscape and long-term competitiveness.
The report identified several sector drivers as crucial for startup growth, particularly in Fintech, Cybersecurity, and AI. These sectors are supported by proactive regulation and targeted training programs. In 2024, the country advanced open banking and crypto licensing and launched new infrastructure and education initiatives to scale AI-driven innovation.
Additionally, the report highlighted the factors making Bahrain an attractive destination for startup growth. The Kingdom offers a compelling entry point into the GCC and wider MENA markets, combining regional accessibility with comparatively low startup operational costs. The ecosystem is supported by targeted SME policies, active accelerators, and a steady stream of new initiatives, including over 130 startup events in 2024 and recent expansions by regional tech players such as Tamara.
The 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) provides an in-depth analysis of global and regional startup ecosystems, highlighting key trends, investment patterns, and policy strategies. Based on over a decade of research and contributions from more than 65 countries, the report ranks the Top 40 global and Top 100 emerging ecosystems, offering data-driven insights and practical guidance for policymakers, ecosystem leaders, and founders to support startup growth and economic development.
Widely regarded as the world's most comprehensive research on startup ecosystems, the GSER leverages the largest quality-controlled dataset in the industry, analyzing data from over 5 million companies across more than 350 entrepreneurial innovation ecosystems worldwide.