Manama, Bahrain – 3 December 2023 – The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) celebrated Bahraini Women’s Day under the theme “Read – Learned – Participated” in the presence of the Governor, executive management and female staff.

This celebration commemorated Bahraini women’s achievements and contribution in comprehensive development, as the Governor stated: “The CBB is proud to witness the status of Bahraini women and their distinguished roles in all fields, which directly contributes to supporting the sustainable development of the Kingdom. This is a result of the initiatives and efforts made by the Supreme Council for Women under the leadership of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King President of the Supreme Council for Women.”

It is worth noting that women in CBB constitute 47% of total employees, with 47% in professional and ordinary roles, 53% in supervisory roles, and 44% in management positions.

The CBB also established an Equal Opportunities Committee in November 2022 to enhance and integrate women’s needs within CBB’s strategies and policies, consisting of representatives from various divisions of the CBB, with the aim of developing a framework for gender balance policies, contributing to the governance of equal opportunities.

On this special occasion, CBB hosted guest speaker HE Ms. Hadyah Mohammed Fathalla, Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and member of the Board of Directors of Bapco Energies, whereby she shared her experience of being on the boards of several organizations in the economic field.

HE Ms. Fathalla Hadyah holds an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School, concentrating on International Global Affairs and Security and an MA in War Studies from King’s College in London, and has 20 years of experience in a range of fields including: national and global security, policymaking, entrepreneurship, innovation and digital transformation.

HE Ms. Fathalla praised the great strides that were made under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa as Bahraini women have surpassed the stage of empowerment and participated in advancing the national economy, making them one of the main pillars of development. Fathallah further praised the Kingdom of Bahrain in preserving women’s rights and empowering, making it one of the pioneering countries at a regional and international level, given the distinguished presence of Bahraini women.