First Public Restaurant Group in Middle East Adds Bitcoin to Treasury

In a regional first, Bahrain’s Al Abraaj Restaurants Group has become the Middle East’s first publicly traded company to allocate part of its corporate treasury to Bitcoin.

The move marks a significant milestone in the region’s evolving stance on digital assets, positioning the Gulf as a growing participant in global crypto adoption.

Al Abraaj’s decision signals a shift in perception—away from viewing Bitcoin as a speculative asset and toward recognizing it as a legitimate store of value. While corporate Bitcoin holdings have been largely dominated by U.S.-based firms like MicroStrategy and Tesla, this development brings the trend into new geographic territory.

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Though Bahrain has been pushing to brand itself as a fintech hub, the adoption of Bitcoin by a non-tech, consumer-facing company speaks volumes. Coming from a major player in the food services industry, the move suggests broader institutional confidence in crypto’s long-term potential, especially as a hedge against inflation and currency risk.

This could also set a precedent across the Gulf, encouraging other companies to diversify their reserves and explore digital assets as part of their financial strategy. As regulatory clarity continues to improve across the region, more firms may follow suit—bringing Bitcoin one step closer to mainstream acceptance in the Middle East.

Alexander Stefanov