Bahrain has made impressive strides in its digital transformation, reaching an 89% digitalization rate with over 4 million transactions completed through various eGovernment channels in the first half of 2024, according to the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA).
This significant achievement has been credited to the visionary leadership of His Majesty King Hamad and the strategic guidance of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Mohammed Al Qaed, CEO of iGA, also highlighted the vital oversight provided by General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Interior Minister and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology (MCICT).
The progress includes the expansion of eServices, now offering over 700 services that have led to substantial savings—government costs have been slashed by 75%, and transaction times have been reduced by 68%. Digital payments have also surged, exceeding BD374 million, with mobile app transactions alone rising by 20% to 691,000, reflecting a 14% increase in payment transactions totaling BD32 million.
Among the notable advancements, the iGA introduced 35 new eServices, including innovative solutions like QR code-enabled ID card printing and new services related to death certificates. Additionally, the Industry and Commerce Ministry launched services such as video call consultations and digital business advisory.
The authority also enhanced national systems with 12 new implementations, including updates to the Death Registration system and the Building Permit Portal (Benayat). The launch of Sijilat 3.0, improvements to the National Suggestion and Complaint System (Tawasul), and the introduction of an interactive electronic meeting system for major summits marked other key milestones.
In its ongoing efforts to support Bahrain’s digital future, the iGA reviewed around 950 IT purchase requests and managed 100 strategic IT projects, collectively valued at over BD70 million. The authority also implemented a robust data backup project for 44 government entities, ensuring the safety of critical information through over 709 daily backups.
The advanced eKey system, now with nearly 768,000 registered users, saw a staggering 14 million logins in just six months, further underscoring Bahrain’s commitment to digital excellence. Additionally, the iGA made strides in data management, linking 20 entities to a new data lake and launching the Aqari real estate information platform.
Al Qaed underscored that these efforts are in line with Bahrain’s commitment to advancing its digital transformation, emphasizing the importance of continuous innovation in enhancing the quality of services available to the public.
