The establishment of the Academy came as the culmination of a decades-long endeavour in the development of modern Bahraini diplomacy.
HH Shaikh Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, served as the nation’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs. In that capacity, HH Shaikh Mohamed bin Mubarak played a pioneering role in laying the institutional groundwork for the Kingdom’s diplomacy since the founding of the Foreign Affairs Directorate in 1969.
In 2019, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa honoured HH Shaikh Mohamed bin Mubarak for his outstanding service to Bahraini diplomacy by establishing the Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Academy for Diplomatic Studies.
In 2005, HH Shaikh Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa was succeeded in his duties as Foreign Minister by HE Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohamed Al Khalifa. In the decade and a half since, Bahraini diplomacy has made new strides, building on the foundations laid down in its formative era. As of February 2020, HE Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani has held the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The establishment of the Diplomatic Institute in 2016 and the Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa Academy for Diplomatic Studies in 2019 is a further step in the institutionalisation of diplomatic training, which strives to achieve sustainable and effective outcomes for the national interests and global standing of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Special Representative of His Majesty the King
His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa received his primary education in Bahrain and completed his secondary education at the International School of the American University in Beirut. He continued his higher education in “International Relations and Law” at London University in the United Kingdom.
During his career, he served, among others, as judge, director of public relations, director of media and head of foreign affairs during its establishment in 1969.
He also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Information as well as a member of the Supreme Ruling Family Council, Supreme Defence Council, Economic Development Board and its executive committee. He also heads the Board of Trustees of Isa Award for Human Sciences.
His Highness played a key role in the 1970 discussions and negotiations with the United Kingdom and Iran, as well as the United Nations’ delegation, which led to the independence of the State of Bahrain. This in turn paved the way for Bahrain’s membership in the United Nations and the Arab League. He also played a prominent role in helping settle the border dispute between Bahrain and Qatar.
His Highness took part in several international and regional conferences and meetings, the most important of which were Arab summits, Arab League Foreign Ministers’ meetings, sessions of the United Nations General Assembly, Security Council meetings, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Conference, and the Summits and ministerial meetings of the GCC.
Advisor to HM The King for Diplomatic Affairs
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa appointed HE Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa as Advisor to HM the King for Diplomatic Affairs on 11 February 2020. Previously, HE Shaikh Khalid succeeded HE Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa in 2005, becoming the second to hold the office in the nation’s history until 2020.
HE Shaikh Khalid joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1985. Between 1985 and 1994 he worked at the Kingdom’s embassy in Washington D.C., where he was in charge of political, congressional and media affairs.
From 1995 until 2000, HE Shaikh Khalid worked as Chief Liaison Officer at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, where HE played a key role in the Maritime Delimitation and Territorial Dispute between Bahrain and Qatar at the International Court of Justice in the Hague, among other roles.
In 2000, HE Shaikh Khalid assumed the position of Director of Public Relations and Information at the Court of HRH the Crown Prince. In 2001, he was appointed Ambassador to the United Kingdom, while also representing the Kingdom to the Netherlands, Ireland, Norway and Sweden.
HE Shaikh Khalid holds a BSc in History and Political Science from St. Edward’s University in Texas, the United States. During his university studies he served as a volunteer in a number of election campaigns, including Jimmy Carter’s 1980 presidential campaign. His excellency speaks four languages -Arabic, English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
His Excellency Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs by royal decree on 11 February 2020 succeeding His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa.
Prior to becoming the Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani served as the Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) from 2011 to 2020. During his time as Secretary General His Excellency led GCC mediation efforts to resolve the Yemeni crisis that ultimately led to the signing of the GCC Initiative in 2011.
His Excellency held various high-profile roles in the Bahrain Defence Force and the Ministry of Interior, most notably the Chief of Police Security, before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an Advisor in the rank of Minister in 2010. His Excellency the Minister held multiple academic roles as a Professor of Mathematics, Statistics, and Quantitative Methods at the University of Bahrain, University of Maryland in Bahrain, and in the Arabian Gulf University.
His Excellency Dr Al Zayani is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1973 and a graduate of the Aeronautical Engineering Program in Perth, Scotland in 1978. In 1980, His Excellency received a Master’s degree in Logistics Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Ohio and in 1986 he attained his PhD in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School, California.