During the first quarter of 2021, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) accounted for almost half of all GCC trading with Bahrain. According to the most recent estimates issued by Bahrain's eGovernment and Information Authority, non-oil trade between the two countries hit SR2.96 billion ($789 million), indicating both Kingdoms' contribution to continued economic diversification.

The seamless transport of commercial goods between the two countries through the King Fahd Causeway is primarily essential for the uninterrupted flow of trade. The launch of new logistics technologies and the Approved Economic Operator (AEO) scheme, which facilitates processing for multinationals located in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, has reduced truck wait times from an average of four hours to 20 minutes.

“Bahrain's trading relationships continue to expand strongly,” said Ali Al Mudaifa, executive director of Bahrain's Economic Development Board, while discussing trade statistics between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Bahrain has the region's lowest operating expenses and superb accessibility — just a 40-minute drive away from the region's largest consumer — which, along with the launch of the AEO and modern logistics technologies, has enabled to push expanded trade. It is encouraging to see both Kingdoms striving together to pursue innovative ways to keep trade going through our borders.”

The overall volume of trade between both the GCC and Bahrain hit SR6.6 billion ($1.76 billion), a 6% increase from the first quarter of 2020. The UAE came in second in GCC trade with Bahrain, with SR2.4 billion ($639 million), a 15% gain from the first quarter of 2020. Trade with Oman increased significantly too though, hitting SR862 million ($230 million), a 27 percent improvement from Q1 2020. Oman was followed by Kuwait, which reported SR 367 million ($98 million) in bilateral trade in the first quarter of 2021.

Global imports rose by 4% in the first quarter of 2021, touching SR13.2 billion ($3.52 billion). Bahrain's exports of locally manufactured goods rose by 18%, touching SR6.75 billion ($1.811 billion) globally. The manufacturing sector is a major element of the Kingdom's economic diversification and a major and steady addition to Bahrain's economy, accounting for 14.5 % of GDP.