Building the Benchmark
by: BTM - Wed, 11 Mar 2026
Bahrain International Circuit CEO Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa reflects on sustaining momentum, growing demand, evolving fan experiences and sustainability progress as the venue plans capacity upgrades and broader year-round programming.
Bahrain International Circuit has built a reputation for consistent delivery year after year. As CEO, what do you see as the key decisions or disciplines that have sustained that momentum and kept the venue commercially strong?
It comes down to the people we have at BIC and our mantra of: “Pride, Passion and Performance”. I am fortunate to have an experienced, highly driven team. Our values sit at the heart of everything we do and they motivate us all year round.
There are also external factors. Motorsport has never been more popular. We have a strong generation of young fans in Bahrain who grew up with the sport over the past two decades and now bring their own children.
The so-called Netflix effect and the recent F1 Movie have supported the sport’s expansion. That broader fan base benefits events everywhere, including Bahrain.
Demand for major race weekends and wider track activity seems to rise each season. What trends are you seeing in ticketing, hospitality and corporate interest and how are you planning capacity and fan experience around that growth?
In 2025, we hosted 420 events across the calendar year. Of those, 116 were retail events, 47 were racing, 86 were dedicated to private track hires and 99 were karting. We also hosted 72 non-motorsport events, which we see as a major growth area.
For F1, the trends are clear. We have sold out for the last three years and, for 2026, we expect to sell out earlier than ever. We see strong potential for growth across hospitality and grandstands and we are working on a long-term plan to accommodate additional capacity.
Another important trend is the increase in international fans travelling to Bahrain for race weekend. Last year we welcomed around 12,000 and we expect a similar number for 2026. Alongside growth in traditional European markets and key GCC markets, we are also seeing more visitors from markets such as India.
From an F1 perspective, what are Bahrain International Circuit’s strongest hosting capabilities today and where do you still want to push the benchmark higher?
Given the way the sport is run now, it is critical to be strong across all areas. There is no room for weakness. We work closely with F1, the FIA and the Bahrain Motor Federation on operations before, during and after the Grand Prix.
We also coordinate with logistics partners and government offices to support smooth movement of cargo and people. At the same time, we continue to develop the fan experience across the full journey, from traffic management to on-site experiences. The benchmark keeps moving, so our focus is constant improvement.
Beyond F1, how important is the calendar mix for long-term success and what balance are you aiming for in the next few years?
It is essential to have that balance, not only for us as a circuit but also for Bahrain’s motorsport community. From international race weekends to national championships, track experiences and our non-racing events, there is a lot on offer at BIC, January to December.
We will continue to grow our portfolio. The Bahrain Darts Masters is a good example. It has become a major international event for us and this year was our biggest yet, in both attendance and exposure for Bahrain.
When you look at future expansion, what does that mean in practice and how do you prioritise what comes next?
In the short term, there are plans to expand our F1 Paddock Club hospitality. We expect to start work shortly after this year’s F1, which will add significant capacity.
We are also reviewing our grandstand options, but any expansion must maintain the same standard of fan experience, with good access, strong amenities and excellent views. Access, transportation, digital services and on-site attractions are all areas we continually look to improve. The priority is to elevate the experience while ensuring any change is sustainable and scalable.
Sustainability is now a core expectation for global sporting venues. What initiatives are you most proud of at Bahrain International Circuit and what targets are you focusing on to reduce the event footprint further?
We are proud of the initiatives we have undertaken, from our solar farm, which helps generate enough power to run the entire Grand Prix weekend, to new track lighting systems that help us save 30 percent on our daily energy use.
In 2024, the FIA awarded us three-star accreditation, its highest recognition for environmental performance, for our environmental management systems. We continue to study new options to further develop these practices and contribute to the sustainability goals of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Formula One.
Fans expect more than a race now. How are you shaping the wider entertainment offering while keeping the sport at the centre of the weekend?
I think we do a tremendous job with our off-track offering each year. It is not everywhere you can enjoy so much for the whole family during a Grand Prix weekend and our attractions are among the best.
It is not just about concerts. It is also about what is available for young kids and families across the weekend and doing so at competitive ticket prices. We also do a lot before race week, such as the fan village in the heart of the capital, which generates excitement and footfall in the tens of thousands.
How proud are you to see BIC as a regional, if not global, leader and how do you see your own role in that success?
As Chief Executive, I am incredibly proud of what our team at BIC, in cooperation with Team Bahrain, has achieved. We started in 2004 as a little-known venue punching above its weight at the highest levels of global motorsport. Over the years, we and the sport have developed together and today we can say we are a key stakeholder in worldwide motorsport.
I am blessed to have a wonderful team supporting that journey. We never take anything for granted and there is much more to do to continue that growth. I am very optimistic about the future.
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