Bahraini Women's Day is celebrated every year on December 1 in the Kingdom of Bahrain to mark the contributions and accomplishments of Bahraini women. This day is an initiative of Her Royal Highness (HRH) Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty the King of Bahrain.
This year's theme for Bahraini Women's Day is ''women, worthy partners in nation building''. It serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to continue encouraging an environment where women's achievements are celebrated, and their challenges addressed. The colours used for the celebrations are red and gold with the red being a prominent colour in Bahrain's national identity and the gold symbolising the success and prosperity of Bahraini women's progress.
Trowers & Hamlins is a firm embedded in Bahrain's professional landscape, having had a presence in the Kingdom for over 60 years, and we actively support the empowerment of women in the workplace. We wish you a happy Bahraini Women's Day!
To honour the celebration, we wanted to highlight some achievements of Bahraini women who have achieved remarkable progress across various fields, breaking barriers and setting examples for the region, and feature some of the accomplishments of Bahraini society and government in enhancing women's presence in the professional world.
The legal profession in Bahrain has witnessed a remarkable growth in women's representation over the years. In 2006, Bahrain appointed the first female judge in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Since then, there have been several women serving as judges, prosecutors and lawyers. Recently, Dr. Bahia Jawad Al Jishi, member of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) in Bahrain, and former Bahraini Ambassador to Belgium, won the Muslim World Rania Award 2024 for her contributions to the empowerment of women and diplomacy. In February 2024, Dr. Jehad Al Fadhel, Second Deputy Chairperson of the Shura Council, was elected chair of the Parliamentary Network of Women Parliamentarians in Africa and the Arab World, highlighting Bahraini women's growing influence in legislative affairs in the region.
The SCW and Bahraini women have played a key role in advocating for legal reforms to enhance women's rights in Bahrain including laws on family protection and workplace equality. In 2017, Bahrain passed a unified family law which provides clearer legal frameworks for issues such as marriage, divorce and child custody. There were amendments made to the labour law of Bahrain in 2018 which introduced further protections against workplace discrimination based on sex, origin, language and creed. The SCW continues to be instrumental in pushing for reforms as they advocate for policies that balance gender roles and increase women's participation in public life.
In business, women lead some of Bahrain’s largest companies and organisations and Bahraini women have taken bold steps in starting businesses across different sectors. Bahrain has the highest proportion of female entrepreneurs in the world, with 18% of entrepreneurial start-ups operating in the Kingdom founded by women, compared with London (15%) and Silicon Valley (16%). Around 43% of active Commercial Registrations (CRs) are owned by women, 17% of board seats in private companies are held by women and make up 35% of the total workforce in the private sector as well as hold 35 percent of managerial positions, according to the SCW. These really are statistics to be extremely proud of.
Bahraini women have made significant advances in the medical field as they hold leadership positions and contribute to various specialist fields in healthcare. Research shows around 60% of doctors and dentists in Bahrain are female. Recently her HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa congratulated Dr. Jaleela bint Al Sayyed Jawad Hasan, Minister of Health in Bahrain, for receiving the award for distinguished woman in the Arab healthcare sector in recognition of her contributions to healthcare. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Bahraini women played a crucial role in healthcare delivery research and public health management. The efforts of these women during this time were instrumental in Bahrain's effective pandemic response.
Bahrain was the first Gulf state to establish formal education for girls in 1928. Bahraini women occupy leadership roles in academia and education reform which shapes educational policy, research and innovation. The progress in female education can be seen with recent statistics showing a rise in the percentage of females completing educational levels. In 2020 females represented 52% of students in elementary school and 64% graduates in higher education.
These achievements highlight the growing prominence of Bahraini women in different areas and demonstrate their resilience, determination, and capacity to lead. They have become an integral part of the nation’s progress, shaping Bahrain’s reputation as a country that values and empowers women, which in turn will inspire a new generation of young women in Bahrain.
As we celebrate Bahraini Women’s Day, we reaffirm our commitment to empowering women within our firm and the wider community. Trowers & Hamlins remains dedicated to fostering a workplace culture that supports equality, nurtures talent, and celebrates the achievements of all its members.
We encourage continued dialogue and collaboration with our Bahraini colleagues and clients to ensure that the momentum for women’s advancement in the region remains strong.
Trowers & Hamlins in celebration of Bahraini Women's Day
At Trowers & Hamlins, we are proud to work alongside talented women who contribute to our success in Bahrain and across the region. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion aligns with the spirit of Bahraini Women's Day as we strive to create an environment where every individual can thrive. Below, we hear from two of our Bahraini colleagues about their experience working with us:
''I joined Trowers & Hamlins in 2020 as a paralegal in the International Banking and Finance team. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working across various teams, including International Disputes, Real Estate, and Corporate, which has allowed me to gain invaluable experience in multiple areas of law. Thanks to the incredible support and encouragement from my colleagues at Trowers Bahrain, I was able to secure a training contract with the firm and transitioned to the London office in September 2023.Trowers & Hamlins’ commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace is truly inspiring, especially their dedication to empowering women at every level. This ethos aligns closely with Bahrain’s national vision of advancing women in the workforce. As a Bahraini woman who has been very lucky to have been surrounded by strong and inspiring women, I feel honoured to continue on this path with a firm that champions such progressive values.'' - Noora Khan
''My career in law kicked off with Trowers & Hamlins when I first started in 2022. I was a Paralegal in the International Corporate team for almost 2 years in the Bahrain office. During my time there, I was inspired by the incredible women who exemplified how to balance life and work while consistently delivering excellence. Through the unconditional support that Trowers & Hamlins team offers, I was able to progress and obtain a training contract in the London office. Not only does Trowers focus on delivering excellence to its clients we also aim to give back to the community we work with, we have organised many voluntary works during the holy month of Ramadan, Christmas and celebrating Bahraini Women's Day. In recent years, Bahrain's legislative framework has significantly advanced women's rights by placing regulations that promote gender equality and women's empowerment which works in line with Trowers remarkable ability in celebrating diversity and promoting gender equality in the work field across all its offices – which makes me proud to be a part of the Trowers & Hamlins team as a Bahraini Woman.'' - Amina Al Wazzan
Visit our equity, diversity and inclusion page to learn more about our firm's initiatives.
