Beyon has signed an agreement with SubCom to develop Khaleej North, an 800-km submarine cable connecting Bahrain with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq. The project expands the Al Khaleej system and enhances Bahrain’s role as a regional digital hub, boosting data capacity, resilience, and connectivity across the Middle East.
In a major development for regional digital infrastructure, Beyon, Bahrain’s leading telecommunications and technology group, has announced a landmark agreement to build Khaleej North, an expansive 800-kilometre submarine cable system connecting Bahrain with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq. The initiative marks a significant expansion of Beyon’s existing Al Khaleej cable network and further reinforces Bahrain’s ambitions to become a regional digital hub.
The new cable system will be fully owned and operated by Beyon and developed in collaboration with SubCom, a global leader in subsea cable technology. SubCom is also the partner behind the ongoing development of Beyon’s Al Khaleej cable system. The agreement was officially signed during the state visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, to the United States, highlighting the strategic significance of the project at both national and international levels.
Khaleej North is poised to play a transformative role in the region’s digital landscape. By extending Bahrain’s connectivity footprint into neighboring Gulf countries, the project will not only boost data capacity and transmission speeds but also enhance the resilience and security of regional communication networks.
The new system will complement Bahrain’s involvement in the SEA-ME-WE 6 submarine cable, a 21,700-kilometre, high-capacity transcontinental system that links 15 countries across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Once completed, Khaleej North will enhance Bahrain’s connection to this global network, reinforcing its strategic position in the global digital supply chain.
Driving Bahrain’s Digital Economy
Speaking on the occasion, Beyon Chairman Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa emphasized the project’s alignment with Bahrain’s national vision for digital transformation. “This partnership with SubCom is both strategic and essential. As we continue to invest in infrastructure that connects Bahrain with the world, we are laying the foundation for a robust digital economy—one that supports innovation, economic growth, and the adoption of transformative technologies,” he said.
Shaikh Abdulla highlighted the importance of improved speed, capacity, and resilience in digital networks, noting that such advancements are crucial to Bahrain’s ambitions of becoming a leader in digital services and smart technologies.
Future-Proof Infrastructure for a Connected Region
SubCom CEO David Coughlan praised the continuing partnership with Beyon, noting that the Khaleej North initiative reflects both companies' shared vision for the future of connectivity in the Middle East. “This expansion reaffirms our joint commitment to providing future-ready, scalable, and reliable digital infrastructure across the region. Khaleej North is designed to meet the evolving needs of hyperscalers, cloud service providers, enterprises, and governments alike,” Coughlan stated.
Engineered to handle rapidly growing data demands, Khaleej North will bolster regional data exchange pathways and ensure greater network uptime and redundancy. The system is also expected to support a wide range of digital services critical to economic development, such as cloud computing, data storage, e-commerce, and cybersecurity.
A Strategic Leap Toward Digital Sovereignty
The expansion of Al Khaleej through Khaleej North also contributes to Bahrain’s pursuit of digital sovereignty—ensuring that data remains secure, accessible, and resilient in the face of increasing cyber threats and global disruptions. By reinforcing Bahrain’s role in regional data traffic flows, the project is set to attract international investment, enhance government digital capabilities, and stimulate the creation of tech-driven jobs.
As digital infrastructure becomes the backbone of global economies, initiatives like Khaleej North are crucial for ensuring that the Middle East remains competitive, connected, and capable of thriving in the digital age.
