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Preparatory Meeting for the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit Held in Riyadh

On Sunday, the preparatory meeting for the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit took place in Riyadh, focusing on reaching agreement on the draft final statement of the summit, which is expected to condemn the ongoing Israeli violations against the people of Gaza and Lebanon.
Expectations are that recommendations will be adopted to formulate a unified Arab-Islamic position in response to the continuing repercussions of Israeli escalation, as well as to emphasize the importance of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, while stressing the need for stability in Lebanon and finding solutions to calm the situation in Beirut.
The war in Gaza erupted after an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to figures based on official Israeli data, including those who died or were killed in captivity.
During the assault, the militants kidnapped 251 individuals, of whom 97 remain in Gaza, including 34 whom the Israeli army claims are deceased.
Since then, Israel has responded with devastating bombings and ground operations in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 43,603 people, the majority of whom are civilians, according to the latest figures from the Hamas health ministry.
The conflict extended to Lebanon when Hezbollah opened a front against Israel on October 8, 2023, in support of Hamas.
Since late September, Israel has intensified its airstrikes and begun ground operations in Lebanon, following nearly a year of cross-border shelling exchanges with Iran-backed Hezbollah in the context of the Gaza war.
Arab and Islamic leaders and their representatives arrived at the venue of the Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh to attend the follow-up meeting to discuss ways to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. This meeting comes as a continuation of the extraordinary joint Arab-Islamic summit that Saudi Arabia hosted on the same day last year.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan chaired the preparatory meeting for the summit, attended by the Palestinian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Mustafa, as well as Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib.
On the sidelines of the summit, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan welcomed Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Riyadh, where both sides discussed the latest developments in Gaza. The Saudi foreign minister also met with his Lebanese counterpart Abdullah Bou Habib to discuss the cessation of Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
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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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