1. Role of Bahraini Women in Kingdom of Bahrain
By: Ahlam Janahi
President
Bahrain Businesswomen Society
Board Member
Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Head of Exhibitions Committee
Ambassador of Entrepreneurs – United Nations (ARCEIT)

2. During the era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
He supported women empowerment in various field - Political, Economical and Social with
the support of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin SalmanAl
Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin HamadAl-Khalifa, Crown Prince,
Deputy SupremeCommander and First Deputy Prime Minister.
His Royal Highness Prince
Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa
Prime Minister of the
Kingdom of Bahrain
His Majesty King
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
King of the
Kingdom of Bahrain
His Royal Highness Prince
Salmanbin Hamad Al Khalifa
Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme
Commander and
First Deputy Prime Minister of
Kingdom of Bahrain

3. INTRODUCTION:
• Bahrain Businesswomen Society established in year
2000 as the first Businesswomen Society ( BBS) in the
Gulf region.

4. OBJECTIVES:
 Empowering women in their business activities, locally ,
regionally and internationally.
Developing and promoting social and economical relations
among business women.
Promoting and strengthening the role of Bahraini women and
their participation in all commercial, economical, investment,
and developmental activities in the country.
Targeting for Bahrain Businesswomen to be in board of
Chamber of Commerce, banks and investment companies.
 Ensuring Bahraini Businesswomen participation in
conferences and working to achieve cooperation and exchange
of experiences and ideas with Gulf, Arab Countries, and the
world in general.

5. Bahrain EconomicVision
Bahrain’s Economic Vision focuses on shaping the vision
of the government, society and the economy, based
around three guiding principles; sustainability, fairness
and competitiveness.

6.  In 2010, Bahraini Businesswomen Society and 9 other
Businesswomen Societies in the Middle East and North Africa,
incorporated in Bahrain the MENA Businesswomen Network
established in 2010.

7. First Mena BWN Forum Dubai, April 2012

8. First Mena BWN Forum Dubai, April 2012
MENA BWN member countries
(Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan,
Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar,
Tunisia, and the UAE)

9. Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Wife of His Majesty the
King President of the Supreme Council for Women has been the honorary President of
the Society until 2005. Since then, HRH continues to support strongly Bahrain
Businesswomen Society.
Presently, HRH Shaihka Thajiba Bint Salman Al Khalifa is BBS honorary
President and plays a major role in supporting BBWS. ( Bahrain Businesswomen’s
Society)

10. Vice-President of the Supreme Council for Women meets with UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights
The Kingdom of Bahrain joined the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 18/6/2002 and it came into force on
on 18.07.2002.

11. Through it’s various activities conferences, Seminars, Workshops, Panel Discussions
Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society successfully managed to engage the Society at large.
BBS gained high status and recognition from Civil Society as well as the government in
Bahrain.
With Supreme council , BBS has continue to achieve their goals in empowering
women The Council was established in 2001 by a decree from HRM the King of Bahrain
and headed by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Wife of HM
the King President of the Supreme Council for Women.

12. Bahrain Businesswomen
Society organised a number
of events, workshops and
conferences with
cooperation of Bahrain
Chamber of Commerce and
Industry
(BCCI) trough
Businesswomen Committee
BCCI.
Bahrain Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
continues its support to
Bahraini Business women
since its establishment till
present.Event: Workshop on Entrepreneurship “ Innovation : From idea to

13. Event :Leadership Meeting

14. “The participation of women
entrepreneurs has increased by 59 per cent
in the last one year,” UN Industrial
Development Organization (Unido)
director Hashim Hussein told the GDN.
“The success rate of women is higher
than men’s.“Also, the Bahrain Model for
Entrepreneurship Development and
Enterprise Development, which is
implemented in more than 68 countries,
draws its core support from women.
“Four Bahraini women were chosen as
entrepreneur ambassadors at the
general conference of UNIDO last year,” he
added during a visit to the Bahrain
Businesswomen Society (BBS).
GDN interview July 25,
2012

15. UNIDO has played a big and strong role in BBS objectives in Promoting
and strengthening the role of Bahraini Businesswomen and their participation in
all commercial, economical, investment, and developmental activities in the
country.

16. Members of Bahrain Businesswomen Society with His
Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa,
Crown Prince and Chairman of Bahrain’s Economic
Development Board.

17. BBS appreciates Tamkeen ‘s
programmes in supporting
Businesswomen at all levels .
Bahrain Businesswomen
are capable of taking up
challenging roles in all fields
and sectors.

18. Bahrain Businesswomen Society has achieved goals during the last
14 years.
Bahrain Businesswomen Society will be celebrating its 14th
Founding Anniversary on May 23rd , 2014.
Today, drafts of Government Laws are presented to Bahrain
Businesswomen Society for BBS input and recommendation.
BBS is already represented in the most of the government /private
sector committees and their participation are strongly requested in
most of the official events.
BBS continuity in cooperating and communicating has been always
the keys through success, with the support of its members.

19. Women members of Parliament and Shura Council actively
participated in the National Dialogue that was launched on 2nd
July 2011 to address the concerns of all Bahrain stakeholders in
the progress of Bahrain

20. ACHIEVEMENTS

21. Four women on BCCI's board -
Shaikha
Hind bint
Salman Al
Khalifa
Ahlam Janahi
Deema
Al-Haddad
2014
Afnan Al Zayani

22. Bahrain women MPs set to make a difference in Parliament.
Since parliamentary elections in 2002, several women are
represented to play a role in political decision-making.

23. Women Gateway, which was
established in 2002 is fully owned by
the Bahrain Businesswomen Society
(BBS) -a bilingual portal designed to
aid businesswomen by providing
them with information, business and
trade opportunities with the focus
being on women issues and women
empowerment in the region. Women
Gateway has evolved from being a
portal initially aimed at
businesswomen of Bahrain , to one
that provides a more horizontal
vision of attracting women from all
walks of life in order to encourage
women’ s empowerment.
BBS one of the greatest
Achievement

24. Thank you