MANAMA: Bahrain Bourse announced a strategic partnership with Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), outlining the intention to collaborate on the establishment of a BHD 40 million Market Making Fund, in the presence of His Excellency Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Minister in Charge of Bahrain Bourse and Yusef Al-Yusef, Chairman of Bahrain Bourse. The BHD 40 million Fund will be managed by Al Ramz Capital. The announcement was made on the sidelines of Gateway Gulf 2026 in the presence of senior officials and representatives from the seed investors.
The BHD 40 million Market Making Fund will be established to support a key initiative under Bahrain Bourse’s Capital Market Development Plan 2026–2028, “Elevate,” aimed at strengthening market liquidity and enhancing market efficiency. The Fund will focus on a select basket of securities, providing dedicated capital to facilitate continuous buy and sell orders, narrow bid-ask spreads, and support fair and efficient price discovery. By enhancing liquidity and enabling more consistent trading activity across the selected securities, the Fund is expected to contribute to a deeper, more active, and efficient market. Over the longer term, the initiative aims to enhance Bahrain’s capital market, attract listings and a broader investor base, and support its readiness for potential advancement within global indices and market classifications.
“Enhancing liquidity is central to building a deeper, more competitive and resilient capital market. Through this Fund, we are bringing together key market participants to enhance market activity. This collaborative approach will support the long-term development of Bahrain’s capital market and further enhance its role in contributing to the Kingdom’s economic growth,” Shaikh Khalifa bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, CEO of Bahrain Bourse, commented said.
“As Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, we are committed to supporting initiatives that contribute to the Kingdom’s long-term economic growth. Our proposed participation in the Market Making Fund supports this commitment and the continued development of a deeper and more competitive capital market,” Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of Mumtalakat, said.
“A well-functioning capital market helps attract investment and gives investors’ confidence in allocating capital. As both a listed company and a seed investor in the Market Making Fund, NBB recognises the importance of greater liquidity and more effective price discovery for companies and their shareholders. Our participation reflects a tangible commitment to strengthening Bahrain’s capital market with a broader investor base, while supporting the Kingdom’s readiness for global index inclusion. We look forward to working alongside Bahrain Bourse and our fellow partners to advance these shared objectives,” Usman Ahmed, Group Chief Executive Officer of NBB, said.
The Fund marks an important milestone in Bahrain Bourse’s efforts to advance the Kingdom’s capital market, in line with its Capital Market Development Plan 2026–2028. By strengthening market participation and supporting a more dynamic and liquid market, the initiative reinforces the role of capital markets as an important driver of economic growth and enhances their contribution to the Kingdom’s economy, in line with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.