Areije Al Shakar

Areije Al Shakar leads BE Ventures, the venture capital arm of Bapco Energies, dedicated to building and investing in high-impact energy ventures. The firm aims to enhance Bahrain’s National Energy Strategy by fostering energy security and supporting the transition to a greener, more diversified economy.

With over 20 years of experience in banking and venture capital, Areije is a recognized leader in Bahrain’s financial industry. She previously served as Head of Innovation at Bahrain Development Bank and as Fund Manager and Director at the Al Waha Venture Capital Fund of Funds. Early in her career, she held positions at Lehman Brothers, BNP Paribas, Citibank, and Investcorp, where she helped establish advisory and investment management desks.

Areije is a Kauffman Fellow and has contributed widely as a media commentator and columnist for outlets including CNBC, Entrepreneur magazine, and Arabian Business. She has been recognized among Bahrain’s Most Influential Women. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the John Molson School of Business and a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from SOAS, University of London. Beyond finance, she is passionate about literature and is recognized as a talented writer and storyteller.