On 14 March 2025, demonstrators, including the February 14 Youth Coalition, held a protest march in Abu Saybi (Northern) against the Bahraini authorities for preventing the Friday prayers in Diraz.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing: Bahrain Peaceful Protests

1. Summary

On March 14, 2025, the February 14 Youth Coalition and other groups conducted peaceful protests in the Abu Saiba area of northern Bahrain, protesting against the prohibition of Friday prayers in the Diraz region. Currently classified as a 'Low' grade peaceful demonstration, immediate supply-chain threats remain limited.

2. Supply-chain impact

• Energy sector: Bahrain is a major crude oil and gas producer in the Persian Gulf, with potential indirect impacts on energy facility operations if protests continue to spread
• Logistics hub: Bahrain functions as a financial and logistics center in the Gulf region, with concerns over negative impacts on regional logistics network connectivity if political instability expands
• Aluminum industry: The country hosts major aluminum smelters including ALBA, with potential production disruptions if social unrest persists
• Maritime transport: As a Persian Gulf coastal state, direct impacts on maritime logistics are currently minimal, but regional maritime traffic could be indirectly affected if the situation deteriorates

3. Watch points

• Whether protest scale expands and spreads to other regions, particularly monitoring protest developments near industrial facilities
• Changes in the Bahrain government's response level and potential escalation of clashes between protesters and authorities
• Signs of political solidarity spreading among neighboring Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia