- Al Abraaj becomes Bahrain’s first public firm to add Bitcoin to its reserves through a U.S. partnership.
- The group plans a Shariah-compliant crypto strategy targeting investors in Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
- Bitcoin per share will serve as a performance metric for Al Abraaj shareholders following its IPO on the Bahrain Bourse.
Al Abraaj Restaurants Group, a Bahrain-based food and beverage company, has officially added Bitcoin to its corporate treasury. The company is now the first publicly traded entity in Bahrain to hold the digital asset as part of its financial reserves.
For this reason, Al Abraaj partnered strategically with 10X Capital that is based in New York. The investment firm aims to help Al Abraaj with advisory work on Bitcoin treasury management, capital budgeting, and asset planning. The deal will make it possible for them to secure additional funds for purchasing more Bitcoin.
Focus on Shariah-Compliant Bitcoin Investments
The new strategy is centred around creating an investment vehicle that meets Shariah standards. This program will allow Islamic investors from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman to invest in Bitcoin via a qualified and listed company.
Al Abraaj plans to use Bitcoin per share as a performance indicator for investors. This approach aligns the firm with global peers such as MicroStrategy in the United States and Metaplanet in Japan, which have adopted Bitcoin as part of their financial strategy.
Listed on Bahrain Bourse in Late 2024
The news arrived shortly after Al Abraaj finished its initial public offering. In December 2024, the company’s shares were added to the Bahrain Bourse and can be traded under “ABRAAJ.” The IPO was guided by SICO Bank, and it was a major step for the food and beverage business in Bahrain.
The move was observed by industry analysts as a sign that big institutions in the Gulf are gaining interest in Bitcoin. This trend suggests that more companies are beginning to use crypto assets together with more traditional financial products.
The Gulf region is interested in making use of blockchain and cryptocurrencies by working towards supportive rules and new products. The Bitcoin strategy of Al Abraaj is likely to make other companies in the region reconsider their investment options.
