Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, stressed that the Kingdom of Bahrain is moving at a confident pace towards building cities equipped with advanced infrastructure and integrated facilities that meet the current requirements and future aspirations in line with the goals of the comprehensive development process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of the Great Country, may God protect and preserve him, and the follow -up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince God.
He pointed to the attention that the government attaches to investing in the future of cities and enhancing its planning, technical and service readiness by adopting solutions that contribute to providing a sustainable, safe and comprehensive urban environment for all citizens and residents.
This came when he preferred this morning (Tuesday – 15 April 2025) in the presence of the team, the first corner of Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, and Eng. Abdul Rahman Hisham Al -Asfour, Secretary -General of the Arab Cities Organization, and a number of Excellencies and Excellency Ministers and senior officials, by opening the work of the Bahrain Smart Cities Conference and Exhibition 2025 organized by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture over a period of two days under the slogan “Building the future: smart cities and sustainable growth”, This is with the participation of representatives of the public and private sectors, experts and specialists from a number of sister and friendly countries.
On this occasion, he pointed out that the steps taken by the Kingdom to create cities are not limited to integrating technology into infrastructure, but also starting from a comprehensive understanding of the requirements of the future, and creating a comprehensive system that places man in the heart of the development process, and is based on the principles of sustainability, governance, innovation and community participation.
In this regard, the existing cooperation between the public and private sectors, which was and still resorts to offering many valuable and necessary initiatives to secure the sustainability of services and the quality of life, through which the challenges turned into opportunities that benefit the good, benefit and development on the country and citizens.
He also expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture for the organization of this conference, and to all supporting and participation bodies, hoping for those in charge of success, success and exit with recommendations that devote the concept of smart cities in our society, and strengthen its pillars on sustainable foundations that keep pace with the aspirations of future development in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
For his part, Eng. Wael bin Nasser Al -Mubarak, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture, stressed that the vision of the Kingdom of Bahrain led by His Majesty the King of the country, may God protect and preserve him, and the support of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister, may God protect him, in relying on the highest standards of urban planning for cities, has paid great attention to sustainable development; It has become an advanced model that combines technological innovation with human and social dimensions.
He expressed many thanks and gratitude to His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, for his preference for the opening of the Bahrain Smart Cities Conference and Exhibition 2025, which embodies the keenness of the esteemed government to develop the present and its prosperity and build a bright and sustainable future for future generations.
He also drew attention to the Kingdom, thanks to its plans and policies, an advanced position on the global competitiveness index of smart cities, ranking 36 out of 146 countries in the classification of the International Institute for Administration and Development for Smart Cities for 2024, which reflects the progress made in the areas of digital infrastructure, the efficiency of smart government services, and the adoption of sustainable cities solutions.
After that, you prefer to honor the winning authorities in the conference awards for their projects related to the establishment of sustainable smart cities, namely:
- The innovation prize in artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things:
- The real estate sector: It was won by the Survey and Real Estate Registration Authority for the “AI system of intelligence and monitoring changes in smart cities”.
- Public Services Sector: The Ministry of Interior won it for the “First respondent” project.
- Real Estate Technology Sector: Eorka for Smart Living has won it for the patent of the “Oreck Internet and Smart City applications”.
- Waste Management Solutions Award: The Ministry of Works won it for the project “Use of demolition waste and rebuilding construction as a road construction”.
- The Innovation Award in Smart Urban Initiatives: It was won by the Information and E -Government Authority for the “My Government” application.
- Renewable Energy Solutions Award: The University of Technology – Bahrain won the “Renewable Energy” project.
