In a groundbreaking move, Bahrain-based Al Abraaj Restaurants Group became the first public company in the Middle East to adopt Bitcoin as a primary treasury reserve asset. This move aligns the company with global pioneers such as Strategy, Metaplanet, and Coinbase. The company’s Bitcoin adoption comes after a partnership with asset management firm 10X Capital.

Al Abraaj Restaurants Group is The First Publicly Listed Bitcoin Treasury Company in The Middle East.

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— AlAbraaj Restaurants Group (@AbraajRestGroup) May 14, 2025

The restaurant was publicly listed on the Bahrain Bourse, the stock exchange of Bahrain, in December 2024. The company reserved an initial amount of 5 Bitcoins, which is equal to $518,378.05. In the future, the company will raise capital to acquire more Bitcoins with the help of 10X Capital.

A press release by Al Abraaj reads that the Bitcoin adoption into the treasury “enhances the company’s asset portfolio and capitalizes on emerging opportunities within the capital markets.” Worth noting, the team intends to expand Bitcoin exposure in the Islamic world while innovating with Sharia’ (Islamic laws) compliant financial instruments.

Abdulla Isa, Chairman of the Bitcoin Treasury Committee of Al Abraaj Restaurants Group, expressed his bullish words on Bitcoin, saying that this crypto will become a cornerstone of the future financial system.

The restaurant group is also planning to create a Bitcoin Committee that will consist of expert Bitcoin investors, portfolio managers, and global capital markets experts. The company is also moving forward with plans to implement robust custody, portfolio risk management, and governance policies to oversee its Bitcoin holdings.

What does adopting a Bitcoin treasury strategy mean?

When a company holds a treasury asset, it puts cash into its reserves or corporate treasury. Typically, companies accumulate traditional currencies; however, crypto-enthusiastic companies adopt Bitcoin or any other digital assets.

A treasury strategy outlines how a company manages its additional capital. In other words, it is the money that is used for growth, emergencies, or acquisitions, and does not need to be used for day-to-day operations. Keeping Bitcoin as a reserve asset serves as a hedge against inflation, diversifies reserves, and provides exposure to a high-growth, non-correlated asset.

Strategy, Block, Galaxy Digital, and Coinbase are some well-known names in holding cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, for their reserve strategy.