Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company has entered into a strategic partnership with French investment firm TRAIL to expand investment opportunities across emerging sectors and strengthen economic ties between Bahrain and France.
Under the agreement, Mumtalakat will become an investor in SLAM, the world’s first private equity fund dedicated exclusively to the sport, luxury, arts, and music sectors.
The partnership was announced during the participation of both parties in the Choose France Summit, the French government’s flagship international investment event.
The agreement was signed in the presence of HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy and Chairman of Mumtalakat Holding Company, and HE Nicolas Forissier, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness of France, underscoring the strategic importance of the collaboration for both countries.
The partnership combines TRAIL’s sector-specific expertise and investment capabilities with Mumtalakat’s regional reach and long-term investment strategy.
Together, the two organizations will work to develop opportunities across the Sport, Luxury, Arts and Music sectors in Bahrain and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region through direct investments and by supporting the regional expansion of companies within the SLAM portfolio.
As part of the agreement, TRAIL will establish an office in Manama, which will serve as its GCC headquarters.
The new office is expected to facilitate the growth of portfolio companies across the region while supporting regional fundraising activities and strengthening investment connectivity between Europe and the Gulf.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa said that the partnership reflects Bahrain’s growing reputation as a destination for high-quality investments and strategic international partnerships.
Al Khalifa noted that the investment in the SLAM Fund aligns with the Kingdom’s efforts to diversify investment opportunities and capitalize on the growth potential of emerging industries that can contribute to long-term economic development.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa added that the collaboration represents an important step toward attracting global expertise and investment to Bahrain, further reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a regional business and investment hub while supporting the objectives of Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 through diversification and sustainable growth.
HE Shaikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Khalifa Mumtalakat CEO
“At Mumtalakat, we continue to grow our portfolio through partnerships with investors who share our long-term perspective. Our collaboration with TRAIL introduces the SLAM sectors as a new asset class to Bahrain and the wider GCC, reflecting our commitment to diversifying our portfolio and unlocking new avenues for value creation. This partnership is designed to deliver sustainable long-term financial returns while contributing to tangible economic impact for the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
Xavier Marin, President of TRAIL, highlighted that “The convergence of sport, luxury, arts, and music is creating one of the most compelling value-creation opportunities of the coming decade, and SLAM was built to capture it. We are convinced of the considerable development potential of the GCC region in the SLAM sectors, and we are delighted to form this strategic partnership with Mumtalakat.”
