News & Press Releases
Gulf Catering Announces Strategic Collaboration with RCSI Medical University of Bahrain
This collaboration marks entry into the education sector with a flagship institutional catering service
Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain – 11 May 2026: Gulf Hotels Group (GHG), Bahrain’s leading hospitality group, has announced a strategic collaboration between Gulf Catering, its catering services arm, and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) – Medical University of Bahrain. The collaboration was formalised at a meeting held on campus between Mr. Stephen Harrison-Mirfield, Managing Director of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain, and Mr. Ahmed Janahi, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Hotels Group.
The collaboration aimed at delivering structured, high-quality catering services across the university campus, will support both student and staff. It reflects a shared commitment to enhancing the overall campus experience through consistent service delivery, operational reliability, and a focus on quality-led food offerings.
This partnership represents a strategic step in Gulf Catering’s expansion into the education sector, positioning the company to extend its institutional catering capabilities into new operating environments. Developed as a scalable platform, Gulf Catering translates Gulf Hotels Group’s longstanding experience in hospitality and food service into structured solutions designed to meet the requirements of multi-site, high-volume operations.
Operating under unified quality standards and disciplined service frameworks, Gulf Catering is designed to deliver consistency, safety, and efficiency across institutional settings. The collaboration with RCSI Medical University of Bahrain provides a practical application of this model within an academic environment, where service reliability, nutritional balance, and operational precision are critical to supporting daily campus life.
This collaboration also reinforces the role of catering as a key contributor to student satisfaction and overall institutional experience. By integrating structured food service solutions into the campus ecosystem, the partnership supports a more seamless and elevated daily experience for students, faculty, and staff, while aligning with broader expectations around quality and service standards.
Commenting, Mr. Ahmed Janahi, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Hotels Group, said: “This partnership reflects a deliberate step in the continued development of Gulf Catering as a structured, scalable platform within the Group’s broader strategy. Entering the education sector through a collaboration with a respected international institution such as RCSI Medical University of Bahrain allows us to demonstrate the strength of our operating model in a new environment, where consistency, quality, and reliability are essential. It also reinforces our focus on building long-term partnerships that create tangible value across different sectors.”
Mr. Stephen Harrison-Mirfield, Managing Director of RCSI Medical University of Bahrain, added: “We are pleased to formalise this collaboration with Gulf Catering as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the campus experience for our students and staff. The partnership aligns with our recent summer enhancement programme announcement, whereby high-quality food services subsidised by the University will be provided in support of the health and wellbeing of our community. We look forward to working closely together to ensure the delivery of consistent and reliable catering services daily and on important occasions.”
As Gulf Catering’s first flagship project within the education sector, the collaboration underscores the company’s ability to adapt its operating model to sector-specific requirements while maintaining the standards and service principles associated with Gulf Hotels Group. It also reflects a broader strategic direction focused on diversification, operational scale, and the development of integrated hospitality solutions beyond traditional hotel environments.
The partnership is expected to support long-term collaboration between both entities, with a focus on continuous improvement, service optimisation, and the delivery of a consistent, high-quality experience across the campus.
-Ends-
For more information, contact:
Noor Alhayki
Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing
Gulf Hotels Group
Tel: (+973) 17746333
Mobile: (+973) 37911777
Noor.alhayki@gulfhotelsgroup.com
www.gulfhotelsgroup.com
About Gulf Hotels Group
Gulf Hotels Group B.S.C. is a public limited liability company quoted on the Bahrain Stock Exchange incorporated in 1967, under the name of Bahrain Hotels Company. The Group is chaired by Mr. Fawzi Kanoo and is led by a Board of distinguished, well-established, and influential businessmen. The vision of the then Bahrain Hotels Company was to provide a standard of hospitality unrivalled on the Island, which was duly delivered with the opening of Bahrain’s first 5-star property, the Gulf Hotel. 59 years later, this philosophy remains the same although the Group has continually expanded and upgraded its services to meet the modern-day demands.
About Gulf Catering
Gulf Catering W.L.L. is the contract catering and food production arm of Gulf Hotels Group, delivering high-quality, safe, and efficient catering solutions across corporate, healthcare, education, retail, and events sectors. Operating from a modern Central Kitchen and guided by a hospitality-led service approach, the company combines operational discipline with culinary expertise to deliver consistent, scalable solutions that enhance everyday dining experiences.
About RCSI Medical University of Bahrain
RCSI Medical University of Bahrain is a constituent university of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), which was established in Dublin, Ireland, in 1784. RCSI Medical University of Bahrain, an independent private university, opened its doors to a cohort of 28 medical students in 2004. Today, the purpose-built campus is home to a student body of more than 1,600 across the Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery and Postgraduate Studies and Research. It is a not-for-profit health sciences institution focused on education, research and community engagement to drive positive change in all areas of human health worldwide.
For more information, please visit www.rcsi.com/bahrain
RCSI Bahrain Instagram
RCSI Bahrain Facebook
RCSI Bahrain LinkedIn
RCSI Bahrain X