Fostering Friendship | Connecting Community
For almost 60 years, members of the Bahrain Society continued to nurture the bridge of friendship between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom. The Society acts as a catalyst enabling former and present residents of Bahrain to stay in touch with each other and the history & culture shared by the two nations.
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
From our inception in 1965, six years before Bahrain became independent from the United Kingdom, the ruler of Bahrain is the Patron of the Bahrain Society. In 1999, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa honoured the Society with his patronage. Our first patron was King Hamad’s father, His Highness the Amir Shaikh Isa bin Sulman Al Khalifa.
His Excellency Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohamed Al Khalifa
The Society’s first founding President was Shaikh Sulman bin Daij Al Khalifa. Since independence in 1971, Bahrain’s sitting ambassador to the United Kingdom has assumed the presidency. His Excellency, Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, has served as the Kingdom’s Ambassador to the UK, and as the Bahrain Society’s President since 2015.
Heather Harper, MBE
The tradition is our Chairman has lived & worked in Bahrain. During the ‘80s, Heather was a broadcast journalist with Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation’s second channel, Channel 55. She was founding producer & anchor of ‘It’s 55’. She also worked tirelessly with her late husband, Brian, with the pioneering Solar Energy Company keeping very close ties with Bahrain – both business & friendship. Heather continues to champion Britons living and working overseas.
Upcoming Events
We are planning a visit to the archipelago we love – Bahrain. Our 2026 trip was cancelled. Marking the 60th year of bahrain society, a new date will be announced and is likely to be around April 2027. More information will follow.
Please contact events@bahrainsociety.uk for more information.
Save the Date: Likely in Autumn 2026 to celebrate sixty years of flying the beacon of friendship.
News & Announcements
March 2026
Bahrain Society Members’ Reception with AGM:
A Members’ Reception with AGM was held on March 24, 2026, in the Drawing Room, Army & Navy Club, 36-39 Pall Mall, London.
November 2024
Silver Jubilee celebration:
King Charles warmly welcomed King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, when he recently visited London to mark the year of his Silver Jubilee.
October 2024
Gala Dinner:
The Bahrain Society’s Gala Dinner 2024 was held on October 29 in London at the award-winning Four Seasons Hotel, Park Lane. The event was attended by more than 115 guests and supported by our President, HE Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohamed Al Khalifa.
The evening’s speakers, Sir Liam Fox, and pioneering Bahraini businessman, Khalid Rashid Al Zayani OBE were introduced by the Society’s Chairman, Heather Harper MBE, each delivering wonderful presentations, filled with experiences and insights. Feedback confirms the guests, representing members, friends, and business supporters, enjoyed the evening’s agenda, from the sparkling reception, to the sumptuous dinner, through to the facts and stories shared by the speakers.
Sir Liam is the former Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom and, among other responsibilities, Khalid is also the founding chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce, Bahrain as well as the Bahrain Vice President of the Bahrain Society, alongside Sir John Shepherd as the UK VP. Read More
New Website:
The Bahrain Society’s new website went live on October 29, 2024 to mark the Gala Dinner in London, following the pre-launch in August when the site design and map were presented at the AGM by the founder and publisher of our Corporate Member and Supporter, Bahrain-based Red House Marketing. George Middleton (no relation, we do not think, to our second Bahrain Society Chairman, Sir George Middleton). George stressed the importance of digital channels of communication. George and his team gifted the new site to the Society.
October 2023
Gala Dinner:
In the autumn of ‘23, more than 150 members and friends gathered in London for The Bahrain Society’s Gala Dinner, held at the very special, Four Seasons Hotel, Park Lane. Hosted with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Society members travelled from all over the UK and Bahrain to celebrate the close connection with the Kingdom forged through many years resulting in a vibrant British expatriate community. The evening was engaging as much as it was enjoyable, featuring speakers, and a wonderful dinner.
April 2023
Visit Bahrain:
More than a year has passed since the Society’s trip to the Kingdom of Bahrain in April 2023, yet many of us continue to share stories and photos of the memorable, fun-filled time spent. We stayed at the Gulf Hotel, which over the decades, has become somewhat synonymous with the Kingdom. It is Bahrain’s first five-star hotel, opening in 1969, elegantly re-shaping over time to be the majestic icon it is today.
We visited as many of Bahrain’s historic sites and attractions as we could including the Bahrain National Museum which was opened on December 15, 1988, to mark the nation’s 17th National Day. It’s interesting to note that Bahrain Society’s fifth Chairman from 1999-2011, Michael Rice played a key role in the planning of the Museum.
He was also instrumental in the early archaeological explorations and research in Bahrain, which greatly contributed to the museum’s establishment and its opening collection. Michael wrote the book, ‘Bahrain Through The Ages: The Archelogy, co-authored by Shaikha Haya bint Ali Al Khalifa.
Gallery
Bahrain Society Hosts Landmark Event
Videos
