India and Bahrain enjoy excellent bilateral relations characterized by cordial political, economic, cultural and people to people contacts. Bahrain has genuine warmth towards India and this comes out in the interactions. Bahrain is keen on seeking greater economic engagement with India as Bahrain recognizes the importance and potential of the growing Indian economy and its Look East Policy in recent times has India as a major pivot. Presence of close to 332,000 Indian nationals who comprise nearly a quarter of the total population of 1.5 million in Bahrain is an important anchor of our bilateral relations.
2. Our bilateral trade and commercial exchanges go back about 5,000 years, tracing their origins to the period of Dilmun Civilization in Bahrain & Indus valley civilization. Ancient Bahraini traders are believed to have carried out flourishing trade of Bahraini pearls with spices from India with many of Bahrain's prominent figures having had close Indian connections. When Bahrain was a British protectorate, Indian Rupee was a legal tender in the country.
3. The bilateral relationship is marked by regular high-level visits and exchanges. PM’s visit to Bahrain in August 2019 following King Hamad’s visit to India in 2014 has elevated our bilateral ties to newer heights.
- EAM: EAM met FM Zayani on 09 September 2024 in Riyadh on the sidelines of India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue. EAM met FM Zayani in January 2024 on the sidelines of the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala, and in September 2023 during 78th UNGA held in New York.
(d) Bilateral Institutional Mechanisms
S. No. |
Mechanism |
Last edition held |
Level |
Remarks |
1 |
High Joint Commission (HJC) |
4th High Joint Commission, held on 09 December 2024, in Manama, Bahrain |
EAM, India
Foreign Minister, Bahrain |
India and Bahrain signed an Economic and Technical Co-operation Agreement in April 1981 during the Amir’s visit to New Delhi. India-Bahrain Joint Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (JCETC) established under this agreement met four times (1986-New Delhi, 1991-Bahrain, 1998-New Delhi and 2007-Bahrain). This mechanism has since been replaced by a “High Joint Commission” and upgraded to the level of EAM, after MoU on the establishment of HJC was signed during His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s visit to India in 2014. |
2 |
Foreign Office Consultations (FoC) |
6th Foreign Office Consultations, held on 30 May 2023 in Manama, Bahrain |
Secretary, MEA, India
Undersecretary for Political Affairs, MoFA, Bahrain |
Six rounds of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) have taken place so far- 1st in 16-19 November 2004 in Delhi; 2nd on 23 October 2011 in Bahrain, 3rd on 20 October 2014 in New Delhi, 4th on 14 November 2016 in Bahrain; 5th on 28 March 2022 in New Delhi; 6th round of FOC was held on 30 May 2023 in Bahrain. |
3 |
Security Dialogue (SD) |
2nd Security Dialogue, held on 21 October 2016, New Delhi, India |
Dy. NSA, India
National Security Advisor, Bahrain |
Bilateral Security Dialogue mechanism was set up based on the decisions taken at the 1st HJC meeting. |
4 |
Joint Steering Committee |
2nd meeting of Joint Steering Committee, held on 07 October 2021 |
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, India
Chief of Public Security Ministry of Interior, Bahrain |
Joint Steering Committee was constituted pursuant to the MoU on Cooperation in Combating International Terrorism, Transnational Organised Crime and Trafficking in Illicit Drugs, Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances and Precursors Chemicals, signed on 02 December 2015 between India and Bahrain. |
5 |
Joint Committee on Labour and Manpower |
1st Meeting of Joint Committee on Labour and Manpower, held on 08-09 February 2017, New Delhi |
Joint Secretary, Overseas Indian Affairs-I, Ministry of External Affairs, India.
Chief Executive Officer, Labour Market Regulatory Authority, Bahrain. |
Joint Committee on Labour and Manpower (JCLM) was established pursuant to the MoU on Labour & Manpower Development, signed between two countries in June 2009 to streamline the process of recruitment of Indian workers by the employers in Bahrain as well as addressing the issues/problems faced by the Indian workforce in Bahrain. |
6 |
India-Bahrain Joint Working Group (JWG) on Healthcare |
1st Joint Working Group (JWG) on Healthcare, held virtually on 22 February 2022
2nd JWG on Healthcare was held virtually on 21 January 2025 |
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health, India
Director, Acting Undersecretary for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Bahrain
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India
Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Health, Bahrain |
JWG on Healthcare was set up pursuant to MOU for cooperation in the field of Healthcare on July 2018. 1st India-Bahrain Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on healthcare cooperation was held virtually on 22 February 2022. The 2nd JWG meeting was held virtually on 21 January 2025. |
7 |
Joint Working Group (JWG) on Renewable Energy |
1st Joint Working Group (JWG) on Renewable Energy, held virtually on 04 February 2021 |
Joint Secretary, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, India
President, Sustainable Energy Authority, Bahrain |
JWG on Renewable Energy was held in pursuant to MoU for cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy between India and Bahrain signed in July 2018. First JWG under the MoU took place in February 2021. |
IV. Defence and Security cooperation
4. To further enhance bilateral defence cooperation, and for liaison and cooperation with US 5th fleet and NAVCENT, GoI appointed a Defence Attaché at the Embassy in July, 2020.
5. India joined CMF as Associate Partner in July 2022 and as a full member in 2023, which was announced in the Joint Statement of fifth Annual India – US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on 10 November 2023.
V. Trade and Economic Relations
6. Bilateral trade in 2023-24 has reached USD 1.7 billion in 2023-24 and USD 1.64 billion in FY 2024-25. India is among the top five trading partners of Bahrain. Bilateral trade figures are as under:
Year |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
2018-19 |
2019-20 |
2020-21 |
2021-22 |
2022-23 |
2023-24 |
2024-25 |
India's Export |
471.71 |
556.82 |
742.14 |
559.09 |
528.25 |
899.90 |
965.25 |
909.42 |
797.47 |
India's Import |
290.69 |
431.12 |
539.63 |
421.50 |
547.49 |
753.29 |
1014.50 |
829.44 |
845.41 |
Total |
762.40 |
987.94 |
1281.77 |
980.59 |
1075.74 |
1653.19 |
1979.75 |
1738.86 |
1642.88 |
(Source: Ministry of Commerce & Industry, GoI)
7. India’s main export items to Bahrain were: engineering goods worth USD 201.7 million, electronic goods worth USD 157.3 million and petroleum products worth USD 105.3 million followed by gems and jewellery worth USD 93.4 million and then rice worth USD 60 million and meat, dairy and poultry worth USD 51.7 million. India exported petroleum products worth USD 105.3 million, and imported petroleum products worth USD 102.59 million from Bahrain. The trade gap has dropped from 150 million in 2021-22 to USD 80 million in 2023-24.
8. Tourism: The number of Indian tourists to Bahrain increased by 44% between 2022 and 2023 crossing 1 million tourist arrivals.
VII. Indian investment in Bahrain
9. Two-way investments have increased 40% since 2019. From Q1 2023 to Q1 2024 there has been a 15% increase in investments in tune of USD 200 million from India to Bahrain bringing the total two-way investments to USD 1.56 billion. Financial services accounts for the highest investment value. Other important areas of investment are real estate, hospitality, health, IT and education.
10. Footprint of Indian Companies: As per data received from Bahrain Government, 38 Indian commercial agencies, 32 branches of prominent Indian companies and more than 7500 Indian owned/India Joint Venture companies registered in Bahrain as on October 2020.
VIII. Bahraini investment in India
11. Bahrain’s investments into India have also shown increasing trend recently. Total cumulative investment from Bahrain to India from is about USD 185 million (in December 2013, it was only at USD 31.55 million). The main sectors of Bahrain’s investment into India are real estate, information technology and engineering. Investcorp a leading Bahraini portfolio investment manager has shown considerable interest in the portfolio investment in India and has opened a branch office in Mumbai. (Investcorp has already made 17 investments worth around USD 1 billion in healthcare; financial services; social infrastructure including schools and urban housing & IT.)
IX. Indian Expatriate Community
12. While there were only 90,000 Indian nationals working in Bahrain in the year 2000, the number has since increased to over 332,000 comprising of 200,000 from Kerala, 50,000 from Tamil Nadu, 40,000 from Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, 25,000 from Karnataka and rest from Punjab, Rajasthan, UP, Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat. In addition to about 2/3rd being skilled and semi-skilled workers and labourers, there is a sizeable number of businessmen, CEOs, CFOs, doctors, nurses, engineers, chartered accountants, bankers, managers, teachers and other professionals who play a vital role in the Bahrain’s socio-economic development.
13. During the 6th FOC held in Bahrain in May 2023, both sides also agreed to work towards forming a Joint Consular Committee to discuss cooperation between MEA, India and MoFA, Bahrain in the Consular Affairs Sector. This was again discussed in the 4th HJC held in December 2024.
14. Subsequent to Mission starting the process of identifying and requesting Indian prisoners for pardoning, 96 Indian nationals were pardoned by His Majesty the King during Eid in April 2024, one of the largest in recent years.
15. Bahrain launched ‘Little India in Bahrain’ project in November 2015 to acknowledge and mark the contribution of Indian community to the history and progress of Bahrain. Under the project, exterior of various buildings were restored and renovated, as well as a small public space. The main event of the Golden Jubilee of Diplomatic relations was held at the renovated ‘Little India in Bahrain’ in October 2021. Bahrain also hosts a 200 year-old Shreenathji Temple in Bahrain at the heart of Manama which is the oldest Hindu temples in the region. PM Shri Narendra Modi had inaugurated the renovation of the temple during his visit in August 2019, which was earmarked as a special project by Bahraini Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning in September 2023. Bahrain has also approved allocation of land for a new BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in January 2022.
X. Culture, Education & Youth:
16. Culture: The Cultural and People to People relations between the two countries date back centuries. The 200 year old Shreenathji temple is a testament to this. A Cultural Exchange Programme 2019-2023 was signed between India and Bahrain during PM’s visit to Bahrain in 2019.
17. Golden Jubilee Celebrations: The Mission celebrated Golden Jubilee of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Kingdom of Bahrain in a befitting manner with a series of events in 2021-22.
18. Youth: The Minister of Youth and Sport Affairs of Bahrain has held two virtual meetings with Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports of India on 16 September 2021; and with Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of India on 23 December 2021. A 3-member youth represented Bahrain as a guest country in the Y-20 Summit held in Varanasi from 17-20 August 2023. Bahraini side has expressed interest in internships for young Bahrainis in leading Indian companies.
19. Youth City 2024: On 19 August 2024, Embassy of India, Bahrain in association with Odia community in Bahrain put up an exhibition stall at the ‘International Week’ of Youth City 2024 by Ministry of Youth Affairs, Bahrain. Ambassador accompanied by H.E. Ms. Rawan Bint Najeeb Tawfiqi, Minister of Youth Affairs, Bahrain visited the stall. The stall put up as part of ‘Focus State/Union Territories’ initiative of the Embassy, showcased products of Odisha Tourism and One District One Product. The event also showcased cultural performances by members of Odia community.
20. WAVES 2025: On 30 April 2025, Mr. Yousif Mohammed Albinkhalil, Undersecretary, Minister of Information accompanied by Ms. Noora Mahmood AlDoy, official from Ministry of Information visited India to attend the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) – 2025 which was held in Mumbai from 01-04 May 2025.
XI. Recent developments
21. Royal Pardon: HM the King pardoned more than 160 Indian Prisoners in the year 2024, which is a substantial increase from the usual numbers. On 27 March 2025, HM the King issued a royal decree pardoning 630 inmates, including 68 Indians on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr. On 05 June 2025, HM the King issued a royal decree pardoning 209 inmates, including 19 Indians on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha.
22. Release of Indian fishermen: A batch of 28 fishermen who were released from Bahraini jail after reduction of sentences on appeal from six months to three months, were repatriated on 18 December 2024. On 29 December 2024, three more Indian fishermen were repatriated after their release from jail (King Hamad issued a decree on 15 December 2024, granting pardon to release 896 inmates, including 30 Indians).
23. Official visit of All-Party delegation to Bahrain: An All-Party delegation led by Hon’ble Member of Parliament Shri Baijayant Panda paid an official visit to Bahrain from 24-25 May 2025 to put across India’s position in the context of recent terror attack in India and the subsequent related developments. During the visit, the delegation called on Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain, and met Chairman of Shura Council and First Deputy Speaker of Council of Representatives. The delegation also met prominent think tanks of Bahrain namely IISS and King Hamad Global Centre for Coexistence and Tolerance.
24. Visit of Minister of State for Law & Justice and for Parliamentary Affairs: Minister of State for Law & Justice and for Parliamentary Affairs Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal visited Bahrain from 28-30 May 2025 and held meetings with CP/PM, Minister of Legal Affairs and Minister of Justice & Islamic Affairs, and also with officials of Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution.
25. International Solar Alliance (ISA): Bahrain joined ISA as its 86th Member on March 2022 as it deposited the Instrument of Accession on the sidelines of the 5th Foreign Office of Consultations held in New Delhi on 28 March 2022.
26. MoU on cooperation between CAG, India and NAO, Bahrain: During the official visit of CAG of India, Shri Girish Chandra Murmu from 25-28 August 2024, an MoU on cooperation between office of CAG of India and NAO, Bahrain was signed on 27 August 2024.
27. Joint Action Plan: : On 13 November 2023, Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, Government of India and Bahrain Customs signed a Joint Action Plan (JAP) regarding Mutual Recognition Arrangement of the respective Authorised Economic Operators Programmes.
28. COVID Cooperation: Both countries have had excellent cooperation in dealing with COVID and its aftermath. The Govt. of Bahrain provided food, medical and other necessary support to the Indian community, besides providing free COVID 19 vaccination to all in Bahrain, including the Indian community. Bahrain provided 40 MTs of liquid medical oxygen and facilitated COVID-19 related supplies to India in the month of May 2021, during the second COVID wave. The Govt. of India gifted 100,000 doses of ‘Made-in-India’ COVISHIELD vaccines to Bahrain on 28 January 2021. Govt. of India also provided 1.5 million Hydroxychloroquine tablets on commercial basis and facilitated travel of nurses and medical professionals to Bahrain, besides keeping supply lines open for Bahrain and other GCC countries for essential trade, food products and medicine etc.
XII. Bilateral Agreements / Memorandums of Understanding / Statements of Intent
29. Following Agreements / MOUs / Statements of Intent have been signed between the two countries:
- Air Service Agreement (April 2000)
- MoU on Cooperation between Ministry of External Affairs, India and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Bahrain (January 2004)
- Agreement on Juridical and judicial Co-operation in Civil and Commercial Matters (January 2004)
- Extradition Treaty (January 2004)
- Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (January 2004)
- Agreement for Media Co-operation between Prasar Bharati and Bahrain Radio & TV Corporation (March 2007)
- MoU on Labour and Manpower Development (June 2009)
- Agreement regarding Exchange of Information with respect to Taxes (May 2012)
- MoU on Cooperation in the field of Information and Communication Technology (May 2012)
- MoU on the establishment of a Joint High Commission (February 2014)
- MoU on cooperation between the Foreign Service Institute, Ministry of External Affairs, India and the Diplomatic Institute, Bahrain (February 2014)
- MoU for cooperation in the field of youth and sports (February 2014)
- MoU between Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre and Bahrain Economic Development Board (September 2014)
- MoU between Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre and the Bahrain India Society (September 2014)
- MoU on Water Resources Development and Management (February 2015)
- Agreement on Cooperation in combating international terrorism, transnational organized crime and trafficking in illicit drugs, narcotics and psychotropic substances and precursors chemicals (December 2015)
- Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons (January 2016)
- MoU for cooperation in the field of Healthcare (July 2018)
- MoU for cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy (July 2018)
- Agreement on Exemption from Short Stay Visa for Holders of Diplomatic and Official/Special Passports (July 2018)
- MoU on Cooperation in the exploration and uses of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes (March 2019)
- Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 2019-2023 (August 2019)
- MoU between BENEFIT and NPCI for Launch of ‘RuPay Card’ in Bahrain (August 2019)
- Statement of Intent on collaboration of Kingdom of Bahrain with International Solar Alliance (August 2019)
- Statement of Intent on collaboration between Indian Space Research Organisation and National Space Science Agency in the area of Space Technology (August 2019)
- MoU between National Audit Organization, Bahrain and Comptroller & Auditor General, India (August 2024)
Useful References:
Website:- https://eoi.gov.in/bahrain/
Twitter:- https://twitter.com/IndiaInBahrain
Facebook:- https://www.facebook.com/IndiaInBahrain
Instagram :- indiainbahrain
***
June 2025
