Awali: The Board of Trustees of the Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat) held its inaugural meeting following its restructuring under Decree (22) of 2025. The meeting, chaired by Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, took place at the Derasat headquarters in Awali. Attendees included Dr. Khalifa bin Ali Al Fadhel, Vice Chairman; board members Shaikh Abdullah bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Jassim Isa Al Shirawi, Hisham Ahmed Al Rayes, Dr. Athra Sayed Abbas Al Mousawi; and Abdulla Mohammed Al Ahmed, Executive Director of Derasat, with additional participation via videoconference.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed emphasized Derasat's dedication to advancing its research role and supporting Bahrain's development under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. He expressed gratitude to His Majesty the King for the trust in reconstituting the board with members possessing extensive expertise.
The board reviewed Derasat's strategic priorities, workstreams, and implementation mechanisms for its specialized programs and forward-looking initiatives. Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed highlighted the centre's aim to expand societal partnerships and enhance collaboration with international think tanks and research institutions. Through official visits, policy dialogues, and forums, these efforts are intended to elevate Derasat's standing as a leading platform for knowledge production and policy development, contributing to national progress through expertise and constructive recommendations.