He also obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in mechanical engineering from the University of Wales in 1979.
He is a graduate of the University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia. He received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering there. Baharna began to work at the University of Bahrain in different capacities until 1995.
The last academic post he hel was the vice president for academic programs and scientific studies at the University of Bahrain.
After leaving academia he established a consulting firm in Bahrain. However, one year later he rejoined the society.
In November 2005 he became deputy chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was appointed minister of state for foreign affairs on 11 December 2006.
Then he returned to work as chairman at his company, Technology Consulting Group.
He is also a visiting scholar researcher at Georgetown University. In 2013, Baharna published a book, A Universal Human Rights Model.
He is a founding member of the First Rate (at Lloyd's) Wefaq National Islamic Society which he left in 2004.
He is a member of the advisory board of the Iman Foundation.