Founded in 1976 under the name Gulf News Agency, Bahrain’s state newswire was rebranded as the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) in 2001. Today, BNA serves as the country’s official source of government-sanctioned news and a key instrument of public communication. It disseminates content in both Arabic and English and acts as a central channel for national and international media to access Bahrain’s official positions.
Media assets
Bahrain News Agency
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
BNA operates under the Information Affairs Authority (IAA), the state’s regulatory body for media and communications. The IAA wields full authority over BNA’s internal organization and editorial direction. It appoints top executives and defines the agency’s mandate in line with government priorities. According to Bahraini journalists and regional media analysts consulted for this report, the Director-General of BNA holds a senior government rank and is appointed directly by royal decree, reflecting the agency’s embeddedness in the state apparatus.
The agency’s headquarters are listed at the address of the Ministry of Information, reinforcing the administrative overlap between the government and the agency.
Abdullah Khalil Mohammed Buhiji, a media professional, has served as Director‑General of Bahrain News Agency (BNA) since his formal appointment in 2019—initially in an acting capacity before securing the position by royal decree.
Source of funding and budget
BNA is entirely state-funded, with its operational budget derived from a government grant administered through the Ministry of Information. Both the ministry and BNA remain opaque regarding financial disclosures, and no public audit or annual report is made available.
However, according to a Bahraini journalist interviewed by the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC) in April 2024, the agency receives an estimated annual state subsidy of USD 14 million. This funding sustains BNA’s operational costs, including staff salaries, content production, and international newswire services.
There is no indication that BNA generates revenue from commercial activities or advertising, nor is there any evidence of attempts to diversify its funding model.
Editorial independence
BNA functions as a state-aligned media outlet with no editorial independence from the ruling authorities. Its news coverage consistently supports and amplifies official narratives, government programs, and royal initiatives. An informal content analysis conducted as part of this project in May 2024 found that more than 90% of BNA’s published output consists of articles portraying government figures and institutions in a positive light—particularly the King and Crown Prince.
BNA’s reporting rarely includes dissenting voices, independent verification, or critical perspectives. Rather, it adheres to a public relations style of journalism, promoting Bahrain’s image domestically and internationally in line with official priorities.
To date, there is no legislation, statutory framework, or independent oversight mechanism in Bahrain that guarantees BNA’s editorial autonomy. International watchdogs and regional media scholars have routinely classified BNA as a government-controlled outlet, integral to the country’s tightly regulated information environment.
July 2025