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The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities participated in the 58th Seminar for Arabian Studies, hosted by Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi. The Authority was represented by Dr. Salman Ahmed Almahari, Director General of Archaeology, alongside a number of Bahraini researchers and members of foreign archaeological missions currently working in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This participation reflects decades of successful scientific partnerships with leading institutions from Denmark, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and New Zealand, in addition to the significant contributions of national expertise.

The session dedicated to the archaeology of Bahrain opened with a lecture by Dr. Salman Ahmed Almahari, who delivered a comprehensive overview of the Kingdom’s efforts in safeguarding its archaeological sites and ensuring their sustainable management. He also highlighted key findings from recent archaeological studies and international cooperation programmes with scientific missions from around the world. Dr. Almahari further addressed national initiatives aimed at protecting cultural heritage, developing archaeological sites, and enhancing their readiness for visitors, underscoring Bahrain’s pivotal role in presenting its deep-rooted history and strengthening its presence on the global cultural map.

Participating research missions presented a range of studies on Bahrain’s history, from the Dilmun and Tylos civilisations to the Islamic periods, employing the latest scientific methodologies. The presentations highlighted newly discovered archaeological features in areas such as Samaheej and A’ali, as well as three-dimensional documentation of Islamic monuments and Bahrain’s role within ancient trade networks.

In this context, H.E. Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, expressed his hope that this significant international participation would support high-quality research projects and foster new international partnerships, ensuring the sustainability of archaeological work and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a leading scientific platform for the study of Gulf civilisations and the ancient Near East. He also emphasised the vital role played by national expertise, in collaboration with international missions, in achieving outstanding results and important discoveries that have reshaped understanding of the region’s history and its pioneering role.