Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operator and managing body of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), welcomed the arrival of Gulf Air’s first Airbus A320neo, which landed on Aug. 18 at the airport following its inaugural flight from the Airbus production facility in Toulouse, France. The aircraft received a water cannon salute as it taxied to the terminal.
In addition to its wide single aisle cabin, the A320neo incorporates the latest technologies including new generation engines and fuel-saving wingtip devices known as Sharklets, which together reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by approximately 15 percent. The narrow-body aircraft has a range of 6,300 km in a typical two-class configuration of 165 seats.
BAC Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Yousif Albinfalah, said: “BAC extends its congratulations to Gulf Air on the arrival of this new aircraft, which is an important milestone for the airline and the country’s aviation sector as a whole. With its high seat capacity and impressive fuel efficiency, the Airbus A320neo will enable Gulf Air to fly further and more economically.”
He added: “BAC is delighted with the continued growth of Bahrain’s flag carrier, which plays an important role by stimulating trade, boosting tourism, and promoting the Kingdom’s national identity around the world. As Gulf Air’s hub, BIA is looking forward to welcoming its other incoming aircraft orders later this year. The Airport Modernization Program will not only elevate the infrastructure and services at BIA, it will also help to establish a solid platform for Gulf Air’s commercial aspirations, which include maximizing the aviation sector’s contribution to the national economy in line with Bahrain’s Vision 2030.”
Gulf Air’s first Airbus 320neo arrives at BIA
Gulf Air’s first Airbus 320neo arrives at BIA
25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum
The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.
Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts.
The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies.
The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment.
The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development.
The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored.
It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track.
In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.
As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs.
This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.
The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts.
The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.
