Bahraini Teens Explore Future Careers at 'The Takeoff' Expo in Riffa

Daily Tribune

28-06-2025

More than 120 high school students from across Bahrain took their first step toward building their future at 'The Takeoff' – a special career and university exhibition hosted by the AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation on Saturday.
Held at the foundation's new headquarters in Riffa, the event welcomed students aged 16 to 18 to discover career paths, explore local university programs, and attend hands-on workshops – all designed to help them make confident decisions about their academic and professional futures.
The event was held in the presence of Her Highness Shaikha Zayn bint Khalid Al Khalifa, Chairperson of the Foundation's Board of Trustees. Also attending were the Minister of Social Development, Osama Al Asfoor, and the Southern Governor, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa.
Foundation CEO Sabah Yousif Seyadi opened the event by welcoming guests and students, saying:
'This isn't just an exhibition – it's a launchpad for dreams. We want to help young people make informed, thoughtful choices as they plan their futures.'
She stressed how important it is to prepare students for a fast-changing job market, noting that many of the jobs they will one day take don't even exist yet.
'That's why events like this matter – they give students the knowledge and confidence they need to move forward,' she said.
Supported by the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), the exhibition featured three main areas:
Assessment Zone – In partnership with Education Zone, students took personality and career interest tests to help them identify fields that fit their talents.
University Zone – Eight Bahraini universities presented new academic programs and spoke directly with students about their options.
Workshop Zone – Students attended interactive sessions on in-demand topics like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, architecture, and digital banking. One popular session was led by Mubasher Capital.
Noura Shuraida from MKF Connect, the foundation's marketing partner, called the expo a milestone event:
'It was designed to be practical, inspiring, and informative – and from what we've heard from students, it delivered exactly that.'
Many students said they appreciated the clear, friendly guidance and real-world insights. For some, it was their first time speaking directly with university representatives or professionals in fields they hope to join one day.
As the day came to a close, students left with new ideas, clearer goals, and a renewed sense of excitement about the future.
'This event helped me feel more sure about what I want to study,' said one 17-year-old participant. 'It really opened my eyes to what's possible.'
'The Takeoff' marks the start of more youth-centered initiatives from the Foundation, all aimed at helping young Bahrainis take confident steps toward bright futures.
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