bahrainthismonth.com | NOVEMBER 2026 INTERVIEW 43 How would you describe relations between Bahrain and Germany and your main priorities for cooperation? The current state of play is really good. I would focus on three different paths: political relations, the economy and cultural ties. Politically, our relations are very close, and especially after February 28, following the blatant Iranian aggression on the Kingdom of Bahrain, they became even closer. German politicians, from the president and chancellor to ministers, showed a lot of solidarity. We also saw German cities and people expressing their solidarity with Bahrain. At the beginning of the war, bilateral trade was perhaps a little lower, but the latest figures are very encouraging for me now. Economically, the latest figures from the German Statistical Office show that, in the first six months of 2026, exports from Germany to Bahrain grew by 13 percent and exports from Bahrain to Germany grew by 6 percent. Altogether, we almost reached half a billion euros. That is really astonishing and demonstrates how close our economic relations are. There is also untapped potential where we can do more. Cultural ties and education are areas the embassy wants to build upon. I see many Bahrainis who want to learn German. Unfortunately, we do not have a German school or Goethe-Institut here. However, I hope we will soon have German language courses under the umbrella of a friendship society linking Germany and Bahrain, with German teachers teaching here in the country. How has the embassy responded to this year’s challenges and how have they affected you personally? I think the embassy did a great job. Nobody expected such a situation, so it was completely new for all of us. Within hours, we moved into crisis mode and had a very good crisis mindset. We have around 500 German citizens living in the Kingdom. We assisted vulnerable groups who wanted to leave the country, organising buses via the causeway to Saudi Arabia. We also had a crisis telephone operating 24/7. We received many calls, including from Germany, where people had watched television or heard radio reports and were concerned about their loved ones here. From the bottom of my heart, I would also like to thank the Bahraini authorities for what they did during those days, weeks and months. That includes the Bahrain Defence Force, civil protection services, people caring for food supplies, doctors, nurses and firefighters. The list is long, and I really would like to thank everybody. Personally, it was something completely new. It was good to receive smartphone alerts, but sometimes you had just fallen asleep and were woken again at one, three or five in the morning. That was challenging for everybody, as was the move to remote schooling for families with children. With rockets and drones flying, you are not completely safe and secure. However, given the circumstances, I never felt in immediate danger of being killed. Maybe that was a little naive, because there were casualties, which is very tragic for their families and for those injured. Some of those injured may still be in hospital. I hope we will not experience this again. What opportunities exist for cooperation in technology, artificial intelligence and renewable energy? Germany has state-of-the-art technology and innovation, including artificial intelligence. We always speak about the US and China, but in industrial AI and engineering AI, Germany has many hidden champions. There are also top companies in defence and security. I think both countries can really benefit from one another. Germany is also keen on green technology and is among the countries leading in this field. We need to diversify. We still have oil and gas; their use has been reduced, but they are still there. Bahrain can offer a lot in green and clean technology, whether through wind farms or solar panels. I know it is a small island, without the vast territory of neighbouring countries, but I think we can do a lot. Bahrain also has many skilled workers who are very good in their specialist fields. I would like to see German companies, professors, experts and scientists working with Bahraini universities, including the Applied Science University and the University of Bahrain. These are just examples, but I see many possibilities and opportunities. What are your priorities for the next three years, particularly in tourism and cultural exchange? I will stay for another three years and look forward to that time. Starting with tourism, Gulf Air will have new aircraft in the coming years, opening possibilities for flights to Europe and Germany. Under our bilateral aviation agreement, Bahrain can serve three German destinations. Currently, Frankfurt and Munich are served daily. Let us hope a third destination comes within these three years. Bahrain offers so much for tourists. I remember Muharraq Nights and strolling along the Pearling Path, as well as Hawar. There are beaches, swimming and a well-developed hospitality sector, from the very top end to affordable prices for families. German and European families can enjoy the Tree of Life, camel tours and many other activities. Politically, we should build our relations further through ministerial meetings. Telephone calls and meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly also offer opportunities to deepen our political contacts. Bahrain’s transport and telecommunications minister visited Berlin in June for the international airshow. We should establish cooperation between ministries in transport, health, agriculture and education. My goal is to see a twin partnership between a German city and a Bahraini city. German cities have many partnerships with British, American and French cities, but we do not have a single German and Bahraini partnership. I would be so happy to see the mayor of a German town coming to a Bahraini town to officially open such a partnership. That would mean school exchanges, with pupils visiting each other’s countries, perhaps a German market or German week in Bahrain and a Bahraini week in the German city. These are opportunities for people to come together. Politicians are important, but in the end it is the people who make such a relationship.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==