Legacy Forum 2025 to spotlight future of Arab family businesses

TDT | Manama

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With a focus on balancing tradition with innovation, the second edition of the Legacy Family Business Forum 2025 will be held in Bahrain on Wednesday at the AlMaha Ballroom – Downtown Rotana Hotel.

The event is organised by Expressions Media in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the National Center for Family Businesses in Saudi Arabia.

Held under the patronage and in the presence of Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, the forum will bring together leading family business figures, policymakers, and industry experts from across the region. This year’s theme, “Sustaining a legacy: the balance between tradition and innovation”, highlights the importance of long-term planning, governance, and transformation within family-run enterprises.

Family businesses in the Arab world account for around 90% of the MENA private sector, contributing 30% to GDP and employing nearly half of the region’s workforce. A recent Forbes Middle East list revealed that Gulf-based businesses made up 75% of the region’s most successful family enterprises, underscoring their dominance in regional economies.

Bahrain, historically recognised as a centre of trade and entrepreneurship, continues to serve as a hub for family-owned businesses. The Legacy Forum will open a vital dialogue between founding members and the next generation of leaders, addressing key topics such as business succession, innovation integration, and global expansion.