INJAZ Bahrain successfully concluded its 16th annual Young Entrepreneurs Competition at the Gulf Hotel Bahrain. The event held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairperson of INJAZ Bahrain, showcased the entrepreneurial talents of more than 300 final contestants from local high schools and universities.
This year’s competition marked a record-breaking engagement with over 940 students participating throughout the stages of the Company Program. Among these, 475 students excelled in passing the Entrepreneurship Skills Program (ESP), highlighting the impact and reach of INJAZ Bahrain’s initiatives. ESP graduates will be provided with further growth opportunities, including exclusive CEO job shadowing, scholarships, internships, and KPMG life skills courses, aligning with the organization’s mission to prepare young people for success in a global economy.
The competition spanned two days, starting with assessments and concluding with an Inspiration Session and the much-anticipated Award Ceremony. Students competed for twelve major awards in categories such as the Best Social Impact, Product of the Year, and Company of the Year, across both high school and university levels. Additionally, this year the competition also introduced six signature awards to highlight exceptional achievements. These include the “Best Booth and Brand Award” by Al Salam Bank, “Innovation Award” by YK AlMoayyed & Sons, “Excellence in Technology Award” by AWS, “Excellence in ESG Award” by Bapco Energies, “Best Financial Performance Award” by BBK and “Rising CEO Award” by bni.
The event was sponsored by Alba, Boeing and Tamkeen as platinum sponsors, and Batelco as gold sponsors. Al Salam Bank, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Bapco Energies, Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK), Bahrain National Insurance (bni), and YK AlMoayyed & Sons as signature sponsors underscoring the strong corporate support for fostering entrepreneurial talent in Bahrain.
The judging committee for both the High School Track and the University Track, included Mr. Ahmed Al Sharaf from “Tamkeen”, Mr. Ahmed Bahar from “Alba”, Mr. Khalid Abdulla from “Bapco Energies” and Ms. Amal AlRayes from “KFH” in the High School Track; Mr. Ahmed Abdulghani from ”EDB”, Mr. Jassim Darwish from “GPIC”, Sh. Khalifa Al Khalifa from “Beyon” and Ms. Maha Juma from “HSBC” and in the University Track.
INJAZ Bahrain also hosted signature awards judges; Mr. Mahmood Qannati from “Al Salam Bank”, Mr. Nidal Al Basha from “Amazon Web Services”, Ms. Tahani Hussain from “Bapco Energies”, Ms. Zainab Al Halwachi from “BBK”, Ms. Eman Mojali, Mr. Rayan Al Mahmood and Mr. Ammar Al Raees from “bni” and Mr. Faisal Al Asfoor from “YK AlMoayyed & Sons”.
This year’s winners included:
“Jawk” from “Al Hekma International School” won the “High School Company of the Year 2024”, and “Jawkum” from “British University of Bahrain” won “University Company of the Year 2024”.
“Istamr” from “Ibn Khuldoon National School” won the “High School Product of the Year 2024”, and “Farz” from “American University of Bahrain” was presented with “University Product of the Year 2024” Award.
“Tanka” from “Al Jabiriya Secondary Technical School” won the “High School Best Social Impact Award 2024”, and “Gashieco” from “Bahrain Polytechnic” was presented with “University Best Social Impact Award 2024”.
“Jawkum” from “British University of Bahrain” won the “Best Booth and Brand Award” sponsored by Al Salam Bank.
“Smartflow” from “Jidhafs Secondary Technical Boys School” won the “Best Technology Award” sponsored by Amazon Web Services (AWS).
“Gashieco” from “Bahrain Polytechnic” won the “Excellence in Environmental Social and Governance” sponsored by Bapco Energies.
“Farz” from American University of Bahrain won the “Best Financial Performance” sponsored by Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK).
“Habiba Maher”, CEO of “Farz” from American University of Bahrain won the “Rising CEO Award” sponsored by Bahrain National Insurance (bni).
“Jawkum” from “British University of Bahrain” won the “Innovation Award” sponsored by YK AlMoayyed & Sons.
Commenting on this year’s successful edition of the national competition, Her Highness Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa stated, “INJAZ Bahrain is committed to empowering our youth, providing them a platform to express their creative and innovative ideas, thereby contributing to a knowledge-driven economy via our collaborative efforts and programs. We are immensely thankful for the consistent dedication and support from our respected partners, sponsors, volunteers, educators, staff, and alumni, all of whom are crucial to our mission’s success. Their steadfast commitment is essential in fostering the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of our young participants. We proudly congratulate the winners of this year’s competition and send them our best wishes for the forthcoming regional contest.”
The “Company of the Year” winning teams will be representing Bahrain at the upcoming regional Young Entrepreneurs competition organized by INJAZ Al Arab, set to take place in November 2024. This progression not only showcases their achievements but also the effectiveness of INJAZ Bahrain’s programs in real-world applications.
INJAZ Bahrain continues to be a pivotal force in shaping the futures of over 150,000 youths annually across more than 290 schools and 15 universities, supported by a diverse network of over 11,000 volunteers. Through its comprehensive approach combining financial literacy, work readiness, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy, INJAZ Bahrain is committed to empowering the next generation of business leaders and innovators.
