Dr Shaikh Khalid bin Khalifa, Aged 65, Passes Away

Dr. Shaikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Duaij Al Khalifa has passed away.

Shaikh Khalid bin Khalifa worked towards building a more peaceful and harmonious society.

He was one of the first Bahrainis to visit Israel after the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020.

Shaikh Khalifa was the Vice-Chairman and Executive Director of the Isa Cultural Centre (ICC). He is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

He started his career as a lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Bahrain in 1981. In 1988 he was promoted to Assistant Professor after receiving his PhD in Economic History from the University of Essex.

He worked as the Registrar; then Vice-President for Administrative and Financial Affairs, and Vice-President of Academia and Scientific Research Affairs.

Shaikh Khalifa has many published works, ranging from words in historical academic papers to analytical articles on politics, international relations, unity, Arab nationalism, peace, tolerance, and coexistence.

He has delivered lectures and conferences around the globe, including the most recent launch event for trust building project HumanKind last year.

Shaikh Khalid bin Khalifa was appointed by his majesty the King, as a member of the Bahraini Shura Council (Upper House) from 2002 to 2014.

He was elected unanimously, during the 2002-2006 and 2010-2014 legislative sessions, as the Head of the Foreign Affairs, Defense and National Security Committee.

Shaikh Khalifa holds memberships in many reputed institutions such as:

• The International Academic Affairs Committee at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies,
• The University of Oxford, UK,
• The Board of Directors of Education and Training Quality Assurance Authority of Bahrain,
• The Bahrain National Committee of Education, Science and Culture
• The Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the “Coalition of Arab Thought Centers”.
• The Vice-Chairman of the Arab Centre of Youth Empowerment in Jordan.
• The Secretary-General of the Arab States League is a member of the “Wise Arabs Committee for Arms Control and Nuclear Non-Proliferation”.
• Honorary President of the Arab Youth Council for Integrated Development.

“Illiteracy breeds violence and corruption, good education breeds discussion and development: it elevates society,” Al Khalifa said in a 2018 interview with a Bahraini news outlet.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has expressed his warmest sympathies to the family of Khalid bin Khalifa bin Duaij Al Khalifa upon hearing of his passing.