Bahrain’s Lamea Partners with BIBF to Drive Youth Digital Skills Revolution

Malaz Madani

Last updated 9-09-2025

4 min

The Lamea Association and Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) have partnered to empower youth.

This partnership will offer specialised programmes in digital skills, communication, and project management.

Her Excellency Shaikha Dwa Al Khalifa emphasised building a comprehensive knowledge environment for youth.

BIBF CEO Dr Ahmed Al Shaikh highlighted their commitment to providing impactful learning experiences.

The initiative aligns with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030, aiming to nurture young leaders.

The spark of collaboration in Bahrain’s startup and youth sector just got a little brighter. The Lamea Association, a prominent local group focused on uncovering and empowering promising young talent, has sealed a knowledge partnership agreement with the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF). For many in the MENA region, BIBF rings a bell as the top dog in professional education and training – spanning everything from banking to digital skills.

At a recent signing ceremony, Dr. Ahmed Al Shaikh, BIBF’s Chief Executive Officer, and Her Excellency Shaikha Dwa bint Khalid Al Khalifa, Chairperson of Lamea Association, put pen to paper, surrounded by representatives from both sides. It’s all a bit formal, but behind the scenes, the atmosphere was buzzing with a sense that this partnership could be genuinely game-changing.

What’s on the table? As the official knowledge partner for the national “Lamea” project, BIBF will roll out specialised programmes in digital transformation, communication, and project management – not fluffy stuff, but practical skills designed to ready Bahrain’s youth for the fast-moving world they’re entering. You could say it’s spot on for the Lamea project’s goal of raising a new cohort of remarkable young Bahrainis who are up for leading their country’s future. Speaking personally, I reckon there’s something refreshing about organisations who put their money where their mouth is when it comes to youth empowerment; at Arageek we see a lot of talk, but not always this kind of hands-on approach.

Her Excellency Shaikha Dwa Al Khalifa shared her pride in the tie-up, noting how BIBF’s pivotal role in the Kingdom’s talent development would build a “comprehensive knowledge environment” – and, by the sounds of it, Lamea isn’t just ticking boxes. Their focus is on constantly adapting to what youth actually need, which is easier said than done. She emphasised that empowering young people sits right at the centre of the Association’s mission, nodding towards the Kingdom’s ambitious Economic Vision 2030.

Dr. Ahmed Al Shaikh didn’t mince words either, spotlighting BIBF’s long-standing commitment to equipping national talent and underlining the need to provide learning with a “tangible impact.” It’s that “tangible” bit that sticks with me – these days, if a scheme doesn’t help young people land on their feet, it’s, well… a bit of a faff, isn’t it?

For anyone unfamiliar, the national Lamea project only kicked off in 2021, but it’s under the high-profile patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The mission is straightforward but ambitious: find young people with real spark and give them what they need to thrive, be it personally or in their careers. That means engaging them not just in training, but in meaningful projects that have an impact beyond the classroom – something I’m always chuffed to bits to see in our region.

A quick word about BIBF itself. Started back in 1981, and operating under the Central Bank of Bahrain, the institute has a decent international reputation, offering professional training recognised across 64 countries. Their curriculum covers banking, Islamic finance, insurance, digital transformation and more – so they’re not just playing at this game.

All told, this partnership might sound like business as usual, but with Bahraini youth squarely in the spotlight and some heavy-hitters behind the wheel, there’s proper potential here. At Arageek, having championed so many stories of up-and-coming founders and innovators, it’s inspiring to see practical investment in skills that will serve the next generation – not just at home, but right across the MENA startup ecosystem. And believe it or not, sometimes these big announcements really do lead to something lasting.

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