Bahrain Unshaken is a series of conversations with people living and working in Bahrain during the ongoing conflict in the region. A mixed bag of reflections, lessons, and messages of hope, the stories we share here highlight how life and circumstances changed for citizens and residents, business leaders, marketing professionals, creators, homemakers, and others. What connects them is that they are all still here, still showing up, and willing to talk honestly about what that looks like.
The aim is not to offer commentary or analysis; the series is trying to make space for real voices. To hear how people are coping, what trust and faith look like, what has changed in their daily lives, and what, if anything, has surprised them about themselves or the community around them during a period of uncertainty.
Rabab Alalwani, known to most as Ruby, lives between two worlds that do not always seem to belong together. By day, she works in banking, a sector built on process, precision and keeping things moving regardless of what is happening outside the office walls. Outside of that, she is a passionate visual artist, someone who turns feeling into form and finds meaning in the act of making something with her hands.
The past few weeks have tested both sides of her life in different ways and brought them closer together than she might have expected.
When the situation in the region first began to escalate, Ruby’s initial reaction was closer to disbelief.
“Honestly, it felt a bit unreal at first,” she says. “Like you’re watching everything unfold, but it doesn’t fully hit you straight away. Then slowly it starts to sink in, and you realise it’s closer to home than you thought.“
There was no single dramatic moment. It was gradual, a slow settling of weight that came through the news, through conversations, through the shift in atmosphere that most people on the island will recognise. The world outside felt different, and eventually, so did the world inside.
On the professional side, the reality of the banking sector left little room for standing still. Work continued, and deadlines did not pause. Ruby showed up and did what needed to be done, even when the background noise made it harder to concentrate.
“Things still have to go on as normal, so it’s been about staying focused and doing what needs to be done,” she says. “But at the same time, you could feel that everyone’s a bit more on edge.“
That tension, the one between carrying on and quietly absorbing the weight of what is happening, is something that runs through almost every conversation in this series. Ruby does not dress it up; she names it plainly and keeps going.
Where things have shifted most visibly for Ruby is in her creative life. Art has always been part of how she processes the world, but the past few weeks have changed the relationship. It has become more instinctive.
“I’ve been creating more based on how I feel rather than overthinking it,” she says. “It’s less about making something perfect and more about just letting it out.“
She sees that same potential in the wider community. For Ruby, art is not decoration. It is a tool for connection, a way of saying the things that do not come easily in conversation.
“Art helps people express things they can’t always say out loud. It’s a way to process emotions and also connect with others who might be feeling the same way. Even just seeing something that resonates with you can be comforting.“
When asked what the past few weeks have taught her about resilience, Ruby offers a definition that is stripped of drama. No heroics or grand declarations, just the truth of how most people actually get through difficult stretches.
“It’s not always big or obvious,” she says. “Sometimes resilience is just getting through your day, sticking to your routine, and not giving up on the small things. It’s quieter than people think.“
That quietness runs through everything Ruby describes. Her self-care looks the same way: work during the day, art in the evening, time with family, and deliberate breaks from the constant pull of the news cycle.
What has surprised Ruby most is something she did not see coming. Not a policy or an announcement, but a shift in how people around her are treating one another.
“What surprises me is probably how people are showing up for each other more,” she says. “Checking in, having real conversations, just being more present. It’s something that doesn’t always happen when everything is normal.“
It is a thread that has come up again and again across this series. When things get harder, something in the social fabric tightens rather than frays. People stop waiting for the right moment and just reach out.
Ruby’s message to anyone struggling right now is characteristically simple and honest.
“Just take it one day at a time. You don’t need to have everything figured out. Try to hold on to small things that make you feel okay, even for a bit. Don’t isolate yourself, talk to people.“
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