AGP Executive Report

GCC Environmental Cooperation: Ministers meeting in Manama discussed a GCC environmental performance index, wildlife protection, plastic pollution and maritime emissions. They asked the GCC Secretariat to study Oman’s proposal for joint mechanisms to respond to marine oil spills. Urban Green Space: Muharraq’s restored Casino Park has reopened after BD617,000 in upgrades, including more than 470 trees, a walking path and sports court. Waste-to-Energy: Bahrain’s Capital Trustees Board is seeking a feasibility study on turning discarded fruit and vegetables into biogas and organic fertiliser. Wetlands and Wildlife: A call to protect Bahrain’s wetlands aims to make the kingdom more bird-friendly.

Urban Green Space: Muharraq’s Casino Park has reopened after a BD617,000 revamp, with more than 470 trees planted alongside a walking path and sports court. Gulf Environmental Cooperation: Bahrain hosted the GCC environment ministers’ 28th meeting, where delegates discussed joint action, sharing expertise and advancing sustainability. Waste-to-Energy: The Capital Trustees Board has asked the ministry to study turning discarded fruit and vegetables into biogas and organic fertiliser, potentially diverting market waste from landfill.

Gulf Environmental Cooperation: GCC environment ministers met in Manama for their 28th meeting, discussing ways to strengthen joint action, share expertise and advance environmental sustainability. Waste-to-Energy: Bahrain’s Capital Trustees Board wants a feasibility study on turning discarded fruit and vegetables into biogas and organic fertiliser, potentially reducing landfill waste while producing renewable energy. Wetland Protection: Bird watchers are urging stronger safeguards for Bahrain’s wetlands, mudflats and coasts, warning that pollution and coastal development threaten vital stopover habitats for migratory birds. Greener Industry: A new financing partnership between the Industry Ministry and Bahrain Islamic Bank includes funding for solar projects and lower-emission technologies, alongside support for local manufacturers. Climate Finance: Bahrain’s central bank governor has highlighted climate change as a financial stability risk and reiterated the Kingdom’s net-zero target for 2060.

Green Industry: Bahrain’s Industry Ministry and Bahrain Islamic Bank have agreed to promote financing for manufacturers, with $32 million in packages covering solar projects, low-emission technology and supply chains. A separate ministry partnership with sustainability firm SAFA will help factories measure emissions and explore cuts to waste and water use. Sustainable Access: The Transport Ministry and Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities are assessing public-transport links and dedicated routes to heritage sites, aiming to improve access through more sustainable mobility. Wetland Protection: Bird watchers are urging stronger safeguards for Bahrain’s wetlands, mudflats and coasts, key stopovers for migratory birds. They warn that pollution, coastal expansion, oil and industrial waste are degrading habitats. Climate Finance: Central Bank of Bahrain Governor Khalid Humaidan has called for stronger regional cooperation on climate risks and sustainable finance, citing Bahrain’s 2060 net-zero target.

Sustainable Mobility: Bahrain is exploring public transport links and dedicated routes to make cultural and heritage sites easier to reach while supporting greener travel. Greener Industry: A new partnership with sustainability provider SAFA will help manufacturers measure emissions, cut waste and conserve water through the kingdom’s Green Factory Seal programme, which supports Bahrain’s 2060 net-zero goal. Wetland Protection: Bird watchers are urging stronger safeguards for Bahrain’s wetlands, mudflats and coasts, warning that pollution and coastal development threaten key stopover habitats for migratory birds. Climate Finance: Central Bank of Bahrain Governor Khalid Humaidan has called for stronger regional cooperation to prepare financial systems for climate risks and expand sustainable finance.

Climate Finance: Bahrain’s central bank governor called for stronger regional action on climate-related financial risks, highlighting the kingdom’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2060. Wetland Protection: Bird watchers urged greater safeguards for Bahrain’s wetlands, mudflats and coastlines, warning that pollution and coastal expansion are degrading vital stopover habitats for migratory birds. Greener Industry: A new pact will help manufacturers measure emissions and improve waste management and water conservation, while supporting Bahrain’s Green Factory Seal. Smarter Public Spaces: Bahrain is exploring AI, smart irrigation and ecological monitoring to improve parks and waterfronts. Global Heat: September 2026 was the world’s second-hottest on record, according to NOAA, NASA and Copernicus.

Climate: September was the planet’s second-hottest on record, with January–September temperatures also ranking second-highest, according to NOAA, NASA and Copernicus. Public Spaces: Bahrain is exploring smart irrigation, solar lighting, sensors and AI to improve parks, walkways and waterfronts, with a proposal to test the technology through municipal projects. Urban Nature: Bahrain’s push for sustainable urban development includes calls to expand the kingdom’s green footprint and a proposed mangrove belt behind the airport. Green Growth: Bahrain has also called for closer GCC industrial integration to support greener growth.

Urban Planning: Bahrain has commissioned a National Strategic Structure Plan 2050 to guide sustainable development and land use over the next 25 years. The Kingdom has also partnered with UN-Habitat on sustainable urban development. Nature and Green Space: Calls to expand Bahrain’s urban greenery and a proposal for a mangrove belt behind the airport put natural buffers in focus, as plastic pollution threatens mangrove habitats. Green Growth: Bahrain is urging deeper GCC industrial integration to support green growth, while regional energy officials have stressed sustainable electricity and water systems. Waste Reduction: Bahrain Development Bank has joined Conserving Bounties and Gulf Hotels Group in an effort to reduce food waste.

Green Industry: Bahrain’s oil and environment minister called for closer GCC industrial cooperation to build greener, more resilient economies. Urban Planning: Bahrain has commissioned a national development plan for 2050, intended to guide sustainable land use and future growth. Marine Protection: Zain Kuwait received GCC recognition in Manama for its partnership with the Kuwait Dive Team to protect and rehabilitate the marine environment. Coastal and Urban Nature: Recent calls for a mangrove belt near Bahrain airport and a larger urban green footprint come amid warnings about plastic pollution in mangroves. Waste Reduction: Bahrain Development Bank and Gulf Hotels Group have partnered with local organisations to reduce food waste. Shipping: A tanker struck while travelling from Sitra to the UAE left 12 crew injured; authorities reported no marine pollution or environmental damage.

Sustainable Planning: Bahrain has commissioned a National Strategic Structure Plan 2050 to guide urban development and land use over the next 25 years. The kingdom also partnered with UN-Habitat on sustainable urban development. Green Industry: Bahrain’s Oil and Environment Minister called for closer GCC industrial cooperation to support green industries, link supply chains and retain more value in the region. Chemical Oversight: The Supreme Council for Environment cut processing time for amendments to approved chemical products from 20 working days to five, alongside fully digital service delivery. Waste and Nature: Bahrain Development Bank and Gulf Hotels Group have joined efforts to reduce food waste. Calls for more urban greenery and a proposed mangrove belt behind Bahrain airport also spotlight local nature priorities, while concerns over plastic in mangroves underline coastal pressures. Marine Safety: A projectile struck a vessel travelling from Sitra to the UAE; authorities reported no marine pollution or environmental damage.

Chemical Oversight: Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Environment has cut processing time for amendments to approved chemical products from 20 working days to five, with applications now handled fully online. Food Waste: Bahrain Development Bank, Conserving Bounties Society and Gulf Hotels Group recovered 154 safe-to-eat meals from a buffet and distributed them to 25 families. Sustainable Cities: Bahrain and UN-Habitat discussed cooperation on sustainable urban development, while local calls for more urban greenery and a mangrove belt behind Bahrain Airport highlight interest in nature-friendly planning. Clean Energy: Bahrain reconstituted the committee overseeing its national energy-efficiency and renewable-energy plans for a new three-year term.

Flood Preparedness in Bahrain: A Northern Municipal Council member warned that the 2026–2027 rainy-season plan is too vague, saying it amounts to “a list of pumps” without clear deployment locations, priorities, staff schedules, or how drainage will be kept clear—after past fines for improper water discharge. Sustainable Cities & Housing: Bahrain and UN-Habitat discussed sustainable urban development during the Social Housing Innovation Conference, while World Habitat Day 2026 spotlighted “adequate housing for all” as a climate-resilience and poverty-reduction priority. GCC Energy & Environment Coordination: Bahrain’s Oil and Environment Minister chaired the GCC Petroleum Co-operation Committee, calling for closer GCC alignment on oil and energy policies to protect energy security and market stability amid rapid change. Wildlife & Biodiversity: Oman released 60 rare Arabian sand gazelles in Wadi Marir as part of a rewilding push to restore native species and boost biodiversity. Food Waste Cuts: Bahrain Development Bank teamed up with Conserving Bounties Society and Gulf Hotels Group to package safe surplus food, preparing 154 meals for 25 families. Hospitality Skills: Vatel Bahrain and Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq signed an MoU to expand practical training and professional development for Bahrain’s tourism workforce.

GCC Industry Push in Bahrain: The inaugural “Made in GCC Forum and Exhibition 2026” opened in Sakhir, with Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa backing deeper Gulf industrial integration, tech innovation and a stronger manufacturing push. Energy & Environment Coordination: Bahrain hosted the 37th GCC Petroleum Co-operation Committee meeting, where ministers called for closer alignment on oil and energy policies to protect market stability while balancing growth with climate and environmental needs. Water, Wildlife & Biodiversity: Oman released 60 rare Arabian sand gazelles into the wild in Wadi Marir, advancing the “Al Reem 2” rewilding effort to restore native species and boost biodiversity. Renewables + Nature Experiment: A Saudi-Bahrain EDF Group initiative, “ReWildingVoltaics,” introduced sand gazelles into a solar plant to test how utility-scale renewables can coexist with wildlife restoration. Flood Readiness Questioned: A Northern Municipal Council member warned Bahrain’s rainy-season plan is too vague, saying it amounts to “pumps and machinery” without clear deployment, drainage clearing and staffing details. Data Security Risk: AWS said Iranian drone strikes caused permanent loss of some customer data stored in Bahrain and UAE facilities, underscoring how physical infrastructure damage can break cloud resilience.

GCC Energy Coordination: Bahrain’s Minister of Oil and Environment, Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Dinah, chaired the 37th GCC Petroleum Cooperation Committee in Manama, urging closer GCC alignment on oil and energy policies, cleaner technologies, and a fair, balanced transition while reviewing emergency plans and European rules affecting the sector. Electricity & Water Security: Bahrain also hosted the 31st GCC electricity and water cooperation meeting, with ministers stressing GCC interconnection as a strategic pillar for resource sustainability and readiness for future challenges. World Habitat Day 2026: UN leaders marked World Habitat Day with a push for “adequate housing for all,” linking housing to dignity, poverty reduction, inequality tackling, and climate resilience. Sustainable Housing in the Gulf: Bahrain highlighted its evolving housing model at Urban October in Oman, while GCC housing initiatives continued to gain recognition, including Qatar Charity’s housing work honoured during Gulf Housing Week in Bahrain. Biodiversity + Clean Energy: Saudi Arabia’s first-of-its-kind “ReWildingVoltaics” project is using a solar park to breed threatened sand gazelles, aiming for a biodiversity “double-green dividend.” Aviation Emissions Move: Gulf Air’s Sepang fly-past in Malaysia included a sustainability angle via a Sustainable Aviation Fuel book-and-claim purchase. Industrial Sustainability Forum: Safa (Mumtalakat portfolio) will host a session on industrial sustainability at the Made in GCC Forum and Expo 2026, focusing on turning environmental goals into investable projects.

GCC Energy & Water Security: Bahrain hosted the 31st GCC electricity and water cooperation meeting, with ministers stressing stronger interconnection, clearer energy exchange frameworks in emergencies, and sustainable resource security. Oil, Environment & Transition: The 37th GCC Petroleum Cooperation Committee meeting in Bahrain also focused on energy security and the transition to cleaner technologies, balancing growth with environmental priorities. Urban Greening Push: A new proposal would require rooftop gardens on buildings of 10 storeys or more, aiming to add greenery without taking extra land in Bahrain’s dense urban areas. Green Walkways & Housing Day: Ahead of World Habitat Day, Bahrain highlighted completion of 20+ walkways and ongoing afforestation targets to boost trees by 2035. Heritage & Land-Use: Old Muharraq’s historic zone is set for investment-led revival, with plans to relocate garages and vehicle repair workshops to protect the district’s tourism and architectural character. CSR With a Sustainability Angle: Applications are open for the Indian Ladies Association’s CSR Excellence Awards, including a category for sustainable environment initiatives. Marine Life Warning (Regional): Oman fined and jailed tourists for disturbing nesting sea turtles at Ras Al Hadd, underscoring stricter enforcement against wildlife harassment. Aviation Emissions Note: Gulf Air’s first-ever F1 fly-past outside Bahrain in Malaysia said it used a Sustainable Aviation Fuel “book-and-claim” approach to cut emissions.

Urban Greening Push: Bahrain could add more greenery fast, with a proposal to require rooftop gardens on buildings of 10 storeys or more, turning unused rooftops into shared green spaces. Walkways & Housing Day Focus: Ahead of World Habitat Day, Bahrain’s Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry highlighted completion of 20+ walkways and more neighbourhood parks, linking urban infrastructure to greener, healthier communities. Mangrove Protection: Researchers are urging stronger monitoring of microplastics in Bahrain’s mangroves, warning that even low-to-moderate risk levels still threaten long-term coastal health. Industrial Sustainability Forum: Safa, backed by Mumtalakat, will host a GCC-wide session on industrial sustainability at the Made in GCC Forum and Expo 2026, aiming to move environmental goals into investable manufacturing projects. Marine Threats from Conflict: A new study warns Iran-linked attacks and oil spills in the Persian Gulf are compounding climate and pollution pressures, damaging coral, mangroves and seagrass and undermining fisheries and ecotourism. Regional Trade Rules: Saudi Arabia is tightening fruit and vegetable import procedures, requiring permits before shipments and stricter pesticide and quarantine compliance. Sea Turtle Case: Oman fined and jailed two tourists for disturbing nesting turtles at Ras Al Hadd after footage sparked outrage.