The UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Bahrain (UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain), in partnership with the RAK Art Foundation and the International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ICEI), announced the launch of the International Centre for the Creative Orange Economy, an initiative that positions Bahrain as a regional and global hub for cultural innovation, creative entrepreneurship and knowledge exchange.

The Centre aims to empower creative entrepreneurs through advanced research, capacity-building programmes and international cooperation, offering artists, designers and cultural practitioners the skills and opportunities needed to succeed in the expanding global creative economy.

It will serve as a hub for innovation, featuring co-working spaces, exhibition halls, digital fabrication labs and facilities supporting start-ups and creative professionals across various disciplines.

As Bahrain continues to invest in the creative sectors as drivers of sustainable development, the Centre reflects a long-term commitment to fostering youth employment, gender inclusion and cross-cultural exchange.

These efforts support the Kingdom’s broader vision to cultivate dynamic, future-ready industries that integrate culture, commerce and technology.

Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Founder of the RAK Art Foundation, emphasised the importance of the milestone, noting that the creative economy is among the most promising engines of sustainable growth.

He said the establishment of the Centre reflects a commitment to empowering creative talent and building an innovation-driven cultural ecosystem in Bahrain.

Dr. Hashim Hussein, Head of UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain, reiterated the organisation’s dedication, stating that the Centre represents a strategic step in strengthening Bahrain’s position in the global creative economy. He noted that linking research, innovation and entrepreneurship will expand opportunities for youth, promote gender equality and help local creative industries access international markets.

The International Centre for the Creative Orange Economy marks a new chapter in Bahrain’s creative landscape, reinforcing the Kingdom’s role as an emerging hub of cultural diplomacy, innovation and creative entrepreneurship in the region and beyond.