Veteran businessman and former Shura Council member Darwish Ahmed Al Mannai has released his comprehensive memoirs, ‘A Journey of Giving’, a landmark personal history chronicling the economic and legislative foundation of modern Bahrain.
In an exclusive interview with the GDN, Mr Al Mannai detailed why the book – now translated into English for global accessibility – is a crucial public record. The book, which he believes will appeal to business readers, documents his simultaneous service across government, economic, and social sectors. A significant portion details his work within the Shura Council, particularly his tenure on the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee. It highlights his role in shaping national economic policy and legislation by detailing specific proposals and debates he was involved in.
“I am a witness to the beginnings of the establishment of the modern Bahraini state,” Mr Al Mannai said, recalling his return home in 1971, the same year Bahrain joined the United Nations. He emphasised that his life’s philosophy is rooted in dedication to nation-building and combining professional expertise with ethical service.
Mr Al Mannai’s path was set early when he experienced the loss of his father at a young age, an event he says “did not stop me from continuing the path of success.” This personal determination led him to pursue higher studies in the UK, Egypt, and, later, National Economic Management at the World Bank in the United States during the early 1970s.
