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America’s biggest win from Biden’s Middle East tour

Reporting from inside the Middle East, I can confirm that the long-awaited visit of President Biden to the region, last week, was successful beyond expectations. To compensate for his eighteen months of absence, Biden has successfully hit open more than one box on his first Middle East tour to show that the United States is still the most important partner to the countries of the region. Before accusing me of exaggeration, try to see the full picture after turning down the loud noises aroused by biased media – including the pro-Russia news platforms that have been targeting the Arabic speaking audience for a while, as well as the American and western media, which unfairly serves the polarized positions of the far right or the far left.
First and foremost, by having the courage to admit that his administration’s initial policy “to pivot away from the Middle East had been a mistake,” President Biden restored, in a heartbeat, the glorious image of the United States in the hearts and minds of the people of the region, especially the youth who still admire the American values of democracy and liberalism and still aspire to copy them to their own countries. For the past six years, the absence of the democratic America that we know, and the rise of the Russian and Chinese influence on the region as a result of this absence, have killed the momentum of democratization that over-swept the region a decade ago. Biden’s successful homecoming to the region, last week, paves the way for the return of the issues of human rights, civil freedoms, and democracy back to the forefront.
That is, I believe, is America’s biggest win from Biden’s Middle East tour. Also, this is the best practical response to those who claim that Biden is abandoning human rights to please the Arab leaders. Contrary to the claims, the new relationships that Biden has built with Arab leaders will enable him to work better with them on improving human rights conditions and taking actual, rather than artificial, steps towards allowing democratization to progress in their countries. Indeed, Biden is a democratic president, which makes questioning his unconditional commitment to human rights and democratization a silly joke.
“I know that there are many who disagree with my decision to travel to Saudi Arabia. My views on human rights are clear and long-standing, and fundamental freedoms are always on the agenda when I travel abroad, as they will be during this trip;” wrote Biden in an opinion article, published in the Washington Post one week before coming to the Middle East.
The far leftist American voters, who comprise the majority of Biden’s electoral constituency, have been very critical to Biden’s visit to the Middle East, since the moment he announced the intention to make it happen. Some of them went as far as describing Biden’s willingness to go to Saudi Arabia and particularly meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, as a “betrayal.” Sadly, they lobbied to keep the U.S. Administration aloof from the Middle East for whole eighteen months, wasting a lot of opportunities of fruitful cooperation with the region, for the good of the U.S. and the entire world. Such groups are ridiculously blinded by a theoretic rhetoric that is too idealist and too detached from the reality of the Middle East.
Yet, the good news is that President Biden and his team have, finally, decided to shake off this unprofitable approach towards the countries of the region, and rather focus on re-engaging and re-collaborating. “From the start, my aim was to reorient – but not rupture – relations with [Saudi Arabia] that’s been a strategic partner for 80 years;” wrote Biden in the Washington Post op-ed.
Another successful hit by U.S. President Biden was effectively laying a solid foundation for the ‘personal diplomacy’ dynamic that works perfectly with the mindset of the leaders of the region, especially the Arabs. The global energy and food crises, the threat of Iran on Arabs and Israel, and the U.S. rivalry with Russia and China, must have been unavoidable topics on the agenda of the GCC+3 Summit, in Jeddah. However, it was clear that Biden’s main goal from the visit was to regain the trust of the regional leaders in his administration, and thus win them to his country’s side, so the west can benefit from what they can offer to solve the current world troubles, especially the soaring energy crisis. That was, particularly, clear in the friendly one-on-one conversations that Biden convened with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Egypt, Israel, and even the Palestinians.
In his speech at the GCC+3 Summit, President Biden highlighted that the United States will continue to engage as the most important partner to the Middle East. “As the world grows more competitive and the challenges we face more complex, it is only becoming clearer to me that – how closely interwoven America’s interests are with the successes of the Middle East;” Biden emphasized to the participants of the GCC+3 Summit. “We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia, or Iran. And we’ll seek to build on this moment with active, principled American leadership.”
Biden’s Middle East tour has left behind much positive energy and optimism. The United States has always been the closest and most trusted partner to the states and the peoples of the Middle East. Personally, I am so delighted to see the United States coming back on the right track in terms with its relationship with the region. I am sure there are many people who share the same sentiments in Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, and elsewhere. After eighteen months of complaining about the unjustifiable absence of the U.S. administration, today we can finally say to the United States that we know and love: Welcome back!
BY: Dalia Ziada
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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