Cementing Bahrain's standing as a regional investment powerhouse building on last year's momentum
MANAMA, Bahrain, Nov. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The third edition of Gateway Gulf 2025, hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), concluded on a high note with landmark partnerships and agreements valued at over USD 17 billion, stemming from more than 60 deals and announcements made over the two-day flagship investment forum.
Held at the Four Seasons Hotel, Bahrain Bay, between 2-3 November, the forum hosted over 200 ministers and global business leaders under the theme 'Rethinking Global Investment for New Trade Dynamics.' Delegates explored the vast investment opportunities in the Kingdom and the wider Gulf, as Bahrain continues to drive innovation and foster a digital-first, knowledge-based economy.
H.E. Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, inaugurated the event, while H.E Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, delivered welcome remarks, reiterating the island nation's role as a 'hub of innovation and opportunity,' and a 'bridge between East and West,' noting that the Kingdom is confidently stepping into 'the age of intelligence.'
Across the two days, the Four Seasons buzzed with activity as global speakers, delegates, as well as local and international journalists engaged in dialogue spanning global trade tariffs, cross-border investment, digital transformation, and the renewable energy transition.
A number of monumental deals were signed at the Forum, showcasing the event's status as a leading platform for investment. The agreements directly support in driving investment into Bahrain's five non-oil priority sectors: Financial Services, ICT, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Tourism, supporting the Kingdom's long-term development goals.
Also highlighted at the Forum was the Golden License initiative, which saw four strategic projects awarded Golden License status:
- Beyon and Oracle: A partnership between Oracle as a technology provider and homegrown technology group Beyon to launch a sovereign cloud data centre to host clients using Oracle applications.
- Binaa Al Bahrain: Shaping the future of urban living in the island nation with strategic developments, supporting Bahrain's broader ambitions for sustainable progress and modernisation.
- Arla Foods: Announced the new product line expansion of the Bahrain-based facility of Arla Foods - the multinational dairy company headquartered in Denmark. This milestone positions Arla as the second-largest dairy maker in the region.
- Foulath: An industrial holding company with major steel investments and the parent company of Bahrain Steel & SULB - for its expansion to an existing facility to develop a solar project by building a specialized shed structure.
Additionally, previously awarded projects like National Bank of Kuwait, announced the groundbreaking of its first international headquarters in the Kingdom, while Bahrain Titanium announced the commencing of construction of their titanium production facility.
Other key announcements made across the two days included:
- AirAsia: Capital A signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications to explore establishing Bahrain as AirAsia's Middle East hub, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership to build a major bridge between ASEAN and one of the world's fastest-growing aviation regions.
- Al Salam Bank: Celebrated the one-year anniversary of ASB Capital, launched at Gateway Gulf 2024, reporting a significant growth in Assets Under Management, and new investment products.
- Investcorp: Announced it has completed USD 1.2 billion investments in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026.
- SICO: Revealed expanded product suite and specialised mandates, including a Turkiye Fund, and a Gold Investment initiative.
- Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA): Formed a strategic partnership with Shandong Innovation Group (SIG), and BlueFive Capital, to optimize the global aluminium supply chain and strengthen the GCC-Asia trade corridor.
- Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club (REHC): Unveiled a multi-phased masterplan to develop a world-class sports and lifestyle destination, spanning three-million square meters.
- Arcapita: Announced plans to invest in logistics infrastructure, including warehousing and data centers across the United Kingdom and United States, over the next year.
- Beyon Sovereign HyperCloud: Beyon Solutions, and the Information & eGovernment Authority (IGA), are set to launch Bahrain's first AI-ready Sovereign HyperCloud, powered by Oracle.
- Beyon Solutions: Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gulf Air Group, and Oracle, to fast-track cloud-powered innovation and implement a unified ERP strategy.
- The Bahrain Tender Board: Announced awarding government tenders worth billions during the first nine months of 2025, a major investment in infrastructure development.
Reaffirming the shared vision of Gulf member states to enhance trade corridors, develop future-industries, invest in advanced technology, and raise non-oil GDP contribution, Gateway Gulf serves as a crucial platform to showcase Bahrain as an agile, business-friendly gateway to the wider region, while bringing together key decision makers and global leaders from around the world. The success of this year's forum and consistent annual participation of attendees indicates Bahrain's growing international appeal and firmly solidifies the Kingdom's position on the global stage.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Gateway Gulf 2025 Secures Over USD 17 billion in Announcements, Partnerships and Deals
Transaction Enhances MRO Scale, AOG Readiness, and Lubricants Market Leadership
ARLINGTON, Texas, Jan. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- GracoRoberts (gracoroberts.com) today announced the acquisition of Sky Mart (skymart.aero) to advance its international footprint in Latin America, leveraging the company's corporate headquarters in Miami as a gateway to the aerospace-rich Latin American region. The acquisition significantly bolsters GracoRoberts' reach into the $6.5B Latin American MRO market, scales its AOG capability, and offers its customers access to a considerable breadth of in-stock lubricants, amplifying the acquirer's already sound position as the largest, fastest, and most technically focused aerospace specialty chemicals distributor in the world.
The addition of Sky Mart to the GracoRoberts' portfolio expands its technical sales coverage throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Florida, and portions of the US, while adding an additional 42,000 square feet of fulfillment centers in Miami, FL, San Antonio, TX, and Indianapolis, IN, and offering a rich stocking position for oils, greases, and fluids. Additionally, Sky Mart customers will benefit from access to GracoRoberts' extensive breadth of adhesives, composites, paints and coatings, a robust ecommerce presence for immediate product access, and a global technical sales team. These enhancements, coupled with a mutual focus on world-class quality, will add meaningful value to both companies' customer and supplier partners.
Jason Caldwell, President and CEO of GracoRoberts, commented on the acquisition. "We are thrilled to welcome the team from Sky Mart to the GracoRoberts' family of companies. This partnership strengthens our ability to serve the global aerospace community, especially in the important Latin America and Miami markets, with an enhanced stocking position, broader product offerings, and a scalable bolt-on ecommerce presence and AOG platform for an industry that requires speed and dependability."
Juan Gregorio Robbin, Co-Founder and President of Sky Mart, also commented on the integration, and the decision to partner with GracoRoberts after four decades of family-owned operation. "At Sky Mart, our operating philosophy is simple and unwavering: stock the right products, deliver exceptional service, and get it right the first time. This guiding principle has earned us the trust of a loyal Latin and North American customer base, and by joining the GracoRoberts' family, we can deliver even more value to our customers."
Ana Maria Robbin, Co-Owner and Executive Vice President of Sky Mart, offered her perspective on the acquisition. "2025 marked Sky Mart's 40th year in a business founded by our parents – our heroes – Gregorio and Lucy Robbin. They raised us to believe in the power of a vision, endless determination, and a deep spirit of service that defines our culture today, and I see these qualities in the team at GracoRoberts. I know the Sky Mart legacy will be upheld with care and purpose."
The leaders of both companies will collaborate to deliver a seamless, customer-focused transition that preserves each organization's culture and ensures no disruption to the business.
The acquisition of Sky Mart is supported by CM Equity Partners, the private equity sponsor of GracoRoberts and long-standing partner to its Executive Leadership Team (ELT). Under the leadership of President and CEO Jason Caldwell, the GracoRoberts ELT has significantly expanded the company's global footprint and accelerated its digital growth strategy through six acquisitions over the past seven years – E.V. Roberts, Able Aerospace Adhesives, Silmid, SkyGeek, Pacific Coast Composites, and now Sky Mart – each enhancing value for its enterprise partners and the broader aerospace industry.
About GracoRoberts
Headquartered in Arlington, TX, GracoRoberts (www.gracoroberts.com) is the single largest, fastest, and most technically focused specialty chemicals distributor to serve the global aerospace market and is fully AS, ISO, and CMMC II certified. We serve the aerospace OEM, MRO, and defense segments, composites, electronics, and other advanced manufacturing industries. As a family of brands including Silmid, SkyGeek, and Pacific Coast Composites, we are authorized to distribute 3M, Airtech, Aeroshell, AkzoNobel, Eastman, Henkel, Hexcel, Huntsman, Isovolta, Momentive, PPG, Resin Formulators, Royco, Scott Bader, Sika, American Fiber & Finishing, Armite Lubricants, Arrow Solutions, B&J Rubber Products, Castrol, Chemetall, Contec, Deb Stoko, ITW Performance Polymers, Mask-Off, Master Fluid Solutions, Permabond, Reabrook Ltd, Rocol, Royal Adhesives, Socomore, and Zip-Chem, and can source thousands of other providers upon request. We differentiate by adding value: services include world-class ecommerce available through three websites (www.skygeek.com, www.silmid.com, and www.gracoroberts.com), global distribution, custom formulation, specialty packaging, vendor managed inventory, intermix and kitting services, defense logistics and compliance, export management services, and an on-staff Chemist, lab, and testing facility. GracoRoberts prides itself in delivering superior engineered materials with impeccable support to thousands of customers from more than 65 countries around the globe.
About Sky Mart
Headquartered in Miami, FL and founded in 1985 by Gregorio and Lucy Robbin with Co-Founder and President Juan Gregorio Robbin, Sky Mart (www.skymart.aero) has grown into an industry leading and well-recognized aerospace chemical, lubricant and specialty fluids stocking distributor. Sky Mart is now a second-generation Robbin family business serving thousands of customers across Latin America and North America. With over 40 years of global distribution experience, the company's philosophy is straight forward: stock the products, quote quickly, and offer fast, accurate, and on-time shipping. Today Sky Mart continues to invest in online and EDI trading platforms, and offers reliable and effective after-hours AOG service for the airline, MRO, and other aviation communities.
About CM Equity Partners
CM Equity Partners (www.cmequity.com), based in New York, NY, provides capital to the Federal services and aerospace and defense industries. For 30 years, CMEP has partnered with management teams to build enduring value by leveraging its industry knowledge, relationships, operating experience, and its corporate finance, M&A, and private equity expertise. CMEP employs an active and collaborative management approach, developing long-term strategic plans and guiding decisions on re-investment of profits to grow and broaden a company's revenue base and capabilities. CMEP's investments are structured with flexibility across a broad spectrum of the capital structure, including equity, structured equity, and mezzanine debt.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
GracoRoberts Acquires Sky Mart to Accelerate Latin American Expansion, Anchored by Miami Hub
