
Bahrain Participates in Global Meeting on Financial Intelligence in Luxembourg
The meeting marked the 30th anniversary of the Egmont Group and focused on strengthening the independence and operational efficiency of FIUs, securing sufficient resources to combat illicit finance, and improving the group's secure information exchange network.
In a significant move, the Egmont Group announced that June 9 will now be observed annually as International FIUs Day—a global recognition of the critical role these units play in fighting financial crimes and promoting transparency worldwide.
At the close of the meeting, the Egmont Group extended its appreciation to Shaikha Mai for her outstanding contributions during her term as the group's Deputy Chair and Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa. Her leadership was praised for enhancing international cooperation and supporting the group's mission to build stronger global financial intelligence networks.
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Daily Tribune
14-07-2025
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Participates in Global Meeting on Financial Intelligence in Luxembourg
Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chief Executive of Bahrain's National Financial Intelligence Centre, led the Kingdom's delegation to the 31st Egmont Group Plenary Meeting, held in Luxembourg from July 6 to 11. The high-level event brought together representatives from 181 financial intelligence units (FIUs) around the world. The meeting marked the 30th anniversary of the Egmont Group and focused on strengthening the independence and operational efficiency of FIUs, securing sufficient resources to combat illicit finance, and improving the group's secure information exchange network. In a significant move, the Egmont Group announced that June 9 will now be observed annually as International FIUs Day—a global recognition of the critical role these units play in fighting financial crimes and promoting transparency worldwide. At the close of the meeting, the Egmont Group extended its appreciation to Shaikha Mai for her outstanding contributions during her term as the group's Deputy Chair and Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa. Her leadership was praised for enhancing international cooperation and supporting the group's mission to build stronger global financial intelligence networks.


Biz Bahrain
24-06-2025
- Biz Bahrain
Infracorp signs MoU with Bahrain Bayan School to enhance practical training and support educational technologies
Infracorp, a leading specialised company in investing in the infrastructure and sustainable development sector, has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bahrain Bayan School aimed at fostering a strategic partnership and providing enhanced learning and training opportunities for students. The signing ceremony took place at the Bahrain Bayan School, where the agreement was signed by Dr. Shaikha Mai bint Sulaiman Al Otaibi, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at Bahrain Bayan School, and Mr. Majed Al Khan, Chief Executive Officer of Infracorp, in the presence of senior officials and executives from both parties. Under the terms of the agreement, students in Grades 10 and 11 will benefit from hands-on training opportunities across various departments within Infracorp, including project management, accounting, marketing, human resources and others. The programme will also feature specialised workshops on sustainability and project management, as well as site visits to Infracorp's development projects, offering students valuable exposure to advanced technologies and operational practices. In addition, Infracorp will sponsor the procurement of various tech tools and equipment to support the school's educational objectives. These will include mobile devices, tablets, interactive screens, educational software and networking hardware. This initiative reflects the company's ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility, the promotion of sustainable development goals in the Kingdom, and its belief that investing in human capital is fundamental to the prosperity of future communities. Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Shaikha Mai bint Sulaiman Al Otaibi, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at Bahrain Bayan School, stated: 'We deeply value this generous initiative by Infracorp, which reflects a true spirit of community partnership. It opens new educational and training horizons for our students, laying a strong foundation for developing their skills, enhancing an interactive and innovative learning environment, and supporting our holistic mission to cultivate tomorrow's leaders and empower society with promising talent.' On his part, Mr. Majed Al Khan, CEO of Infracorp, said: 'We are delighted to expand our collaboration with Bahrain Bayan School. Supporting the education sector is a key pillar of our mission to advance sustainability and contribute to societal development. Through this partnership, we aim to help students connect theoretical knowledge with practical experience, broaden their understanding of infrastructure and green investment, and prepare them to be the creative and responsible leaders of a prosperous and sustainable national economy , in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the directives of our wise leadership.'


Gulf Insider
03-05-2025
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Bahrain: Gold, Girls and Getaway Cash: BD175,000 Laundering Ring Busted
From an ordinary-looking flat, a woman masterminded a money laundering operation that channelled over BD175,000—proceeds from prostitution and human trafficking—through currency exchanges, remittances, and bulk gold purchases. She and three accomplices were each sentenced to five years in prison and fined BD100,000. Three of the four will also be deported. Investigators said the ringleader ran the illicit business with cold efficiency, exploiting women while carefully moving funds out of Bahrain. The money trail—masked through jewellery purchases and foreign transfers—was traced back to illegal sex work. The second defendant transferred BD25,815 to an Asian country and exchanged nearly BD39,000 in foreign currencies. A third handled BD44,000 in similar operations. All financial paths pointed back to the same woman. A First Lieutenant from the National Financial Intelligence Centre led the investigation. He quietly pieced together the transactions, analysed account patterns and connected the dots between the suspects' movements and their money. One defendant admitted she was tasked with overseeing the exploited women, handling client calls, collecting payments, keeping records, and managing currency exchanges. Another said he acted as a driver, picking up envelopes from hotel front desks and making deliveries to exchange shops. Prosecutors revealed that BD175,557.882 was proven to be the proceeds of human trafficking and prostitution, funnelled through different channels in an attempt to appear legitimate. The court concluded the group worked knowingly and deliberately to disguise the source of the funds, converting cash into gold bars, jewellery, and foreign currencies to cover their tracks.