His Excellency Dr. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bahrain Center for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat), affirmed the Center’s commitment to continuing its intellectual and research role, and its scientific mission in line with the comprehensive development process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the esteemed King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, may God protect him, and the guidance of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God preserve him.
This came during His Excellency’s chairing of the orientation meeting of the newly restructured Board of Trustees of Derasat, in accordance with Royal Decree No. (22) of 2025. The meeting was attended by Dr. Khalifa bin Ali Al-Fadhel, Vice Chairman of the Board, and members: Sheikh Abdullah bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Mr. Jassim Issa Al-Shirawi, Mr. Hisham Ahmed Al-Rayes, and Dr. Athra Sayyed Abbas Mousawi, in addition to Mr. Abdullah Mohammed Al-Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Derasat. The meeting took place at the Center’s headquarters in Awali, with some members participating virtually.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Minister and Chairman of the Board of Trustees expressed his highest thanks and appreciation to His Majesty the King for the royal trust in restructuring the Board, composed of individuals with political, academic, economic, and legal expertise, which will greatly contribute to supporting the Center’s future directions and advancing its scientific and research journey.
The Board reviewed during the meeting the key plans and work areas of Derasat, along with mechanisms for implementing its qualitative programs and renewed initiatives.
His Excellency noted the Center’s aspiration in the upcoming phase to expand frameworks for community partnership and strengthen its network of cooperation and knowledge exchange with global think tanks and research institutions, through official visits, and by organizing forums and intellectual dialogues. This will reinforce its position as a leading and influential research platform in knowledge production, policy-making, and in supplying the national system with competencies, insights, and constructive recommendations.
In conclusion, His Excellency emphasized the Center’s keenness to invest further in national research talents by organizing training courses and specialized workshops, and launching knowledge-based initiatives—within a framework of excellence, institutional integration, research innovation, and effective partnership—that support the goals of sustainable development and Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
