Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain
Securing Bahrain's reputation in a time of crisis and misinformation
Situation Summary
Situation Summary
The Kingdom of Bahrain tasked Qorvis with improving its reputation in the United States, educating decision-makers and the general public about Bahraini culture, politics, economic ties, and its substantial efforts to help ensure regional stability.
Shortly after we began, the scope of our work changed dramatically when the Arab Spring protests swept across the Middle East. The prevailing narrative at the time unjustly cast Bahrain as guilty by association for actions committed by neighboring countries, while ignoring the multidenominational, constitutional nature of the Kingdom.
Qorvis Solution
Qorvis Solution
Qorvis immediately shifted to crisis management. Our team drafted a new, proactive messaging campaign centered on face-to-face meetings to break through the cloud of media misinformation.
Qorvis organized a Bahraini delegation to the United States, which met with 11 Senators, Representatives, and high-ranking members of their administration over the course of several days, led by Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa. By reaching out to these key American decision-makers, we gave the delegation the chance to speak for themselves amidst a hostile media environment.
Additionally, we assembled a youth delegation to Washington to emphasize government reforms and combat biases in American media coverage. The delegation met with influential decision-makers and think tanks such as the Project on Middle Eastern Democracy and Freedom House.
At the same time, we established two digital media platforms dedicated to highlighting the Kingdom’s unique multiethnic culture to global audiences.
The Kingdom established direct interpersonal connections with senior politicians, eventually restoring amicable U.S.-Bahrain relations to their pre-crisis levels. Bahrain is known today as a beacon of stability and a vital U.S. ally.