Nizar Al Baharna (Arabic: نزار البحارنة) (born 1950) is a Bahraini academic, entrepreneur and politician.[1]
Baharna was born in 1950.[2] He is a graduate of the University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia.[3] He received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering there.[3] He also obtained a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Wales in 1979.[2]
He gained the position of the Head of the Engineering Department at Gulf Technical College soon after earning his doctorate.[4] Then, Baharna began to work at the University of Bahrain in different capacities until 1995.[2] The last academic post he held was the vice president for academic programs and scientific studies at the University of Bahrain.[2] After leaving academia he established a consulting firm in Bahrain.[2] He is a founding member of the Al Wefaq National Islamic Society which he left in 2004. However, one year later he rejoined the society.[citation needed] In November 2005 he became deputy chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.[2]
He was appointed minister of state for foreign affairs on 11 December 2006.[citation needed] Baharna, a Shia, remained in the post until February 2011.[5] Then he returned to work as chairman at his company, Technology Consulting Group.[2] He is also a visiting scholar researcher at Georgetown University.[3] He is a member of the advisory board of the Iman Foundation.[3]
In 2013, Baharna published a book, A Universal Human Rights Model.[1]