28 April 2015

18,000 Users in Zakat Fund e-Services

Zakat Fund of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs announced that the number of its e-services users and social media followers has reached 18,000 including 14,000 on Facebook, over 2,600 on Twitter and more that 1,400 on Instagram. The Fund noted the role of the Information Systems Department at the Ministry of Endowments in preparing and implementing the applications and electronic platforms to provide the Fund's services electronically in a manner that is compatible with the mission of the Fund in serving this great pillar of Islam. The Fund, which is the official Zakat institution in the country, citing the strong interaction between the public and the Fund on the internet and social networks, asserted its keenness to use modern communications technology through providing interactive electronic platforms. In this context, Dr Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Kubaisi, Section Head of Zakat Services at the Fund, stated that the Fund is working constantly to develop its technology to serve this Islamic duty, and that it has now become a landmark among Zakat organizations in the region. The Fund, as he said, exerts great efforts to improve its tools to ensure the safety of collection and distribution, noting the efforts exerted by its Information Systems Department in providing sophisticated, accurate and easy to use  applications, adding that "the Fund has succeeded in developing itself electronically and in delivering its message through modern electronic means that are now widely spread in all segments of the society." He clarified that the Fund was providing its diverse services through a package of advanced electronic instruments, aiming to implant the principles of social justice, promote awareness of the pillar of Zakat and facilitate payment of Zakat in the simplest and easiest ways. He said that Fund's website, being the official platform, comes at the top of these instruments, with its homepage that features a general introduction to the Fund, a stocks zakat calculator, other self-service zakat calculators, which omit the need for questions and answers, in addition to links for Fatwa on Zakat related topics and others for electronic donation. The page reviews the Fund's activities and publications and shows its branches in all important parts of the country. The website has become an important reference for researchers and all those interested in the third pillar of Islam. Dr Al Kubaisi acknowledged the presence of the Fund on social media websites, particularly Facebook,  being the largest in terms of impact and penetration. Since the Fund has activated its page on Facebook, the number of followers has jumped to record figures in a relatively very short time, reaching 14,000 in Qatar and abroad. Those wishing to communicate with the Fund on Facebook can reach it through this link. The second most popular social network is Twitter, due to the fast pace of tweets, with a number of fans exceeding 2,600. Those wishing to communicate with the Fund  through Twitter can do so by using this link. He also noted the presence of the Fund in Insagram, which enables sharing of photos and public and private events. The Fund's page on Instagram was launched the latest, however, the number of fans has so far exceeded 1400. The high online interaction of the public with the Fund is due to a number of factors including the quality of the posts, in terms of technical quality, attractive format and design and the scientific material given, which are responsive to the needs of donors. When donors see how the Fund operates and the modern and simple methods and mechanisms it uses in collecting donations, they get more motivated and more engaged. The Fund provides donors, among a number of electronic facilities, with a facility to make their Zakat payments through Qatar Islamic Bank's (QIB) and Al Rayyan Bank's ATM machines distributed all over the country. Zakat can also be paid to the Fast Collector who records the payment on the Fund website directly and issues a receipt using a micro printer connected to the website.

28 March 2016

Katara unveils new interactive online platform

The Cultural Village Foundation-Katara has recently launched its new website and mobile application in both Arabic and English as part of a new initiative aimed at showcasing the acceleration of cultural, innovative, and intellectual activities at Katara. The online initiative will shed more light on the constant outpouring of programs on offer across the Cultural Village, while providing an online platform which interested parties can use to remain abreast of cultural activities within both Qatar and abroad. To read more, please visit this link.

11 February 2015

Bahrain: Consultative Meeting with experts on preparatory process for the 2016 UN eGovernment Survey

As part of the 2nd study tour of the UN delegation which represented 21 States, organized and funded by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) in an aim to maximizing benefits from Bahrain's experience in areas covering eGovernment and Public Service, the eGovernment Authority organized a consultative meeting on the United Nations report for eGovernment 2016, which focuses on sustainable development and was presented by Regional Advisor on eGovernment at UNDESA, Mr. Richard Kerby. The meeting was attended by Mr. Jean Marie Kozya, Head of Public Administration and Governance in the department of Economic and Social Affairs, as well as a number of representatives from the eGovernment Authority from the Gulf States, including Deputy Chairman of Kuwait Information Technology Society Mr. Qusai Al-Shatti, as well as Advisor of the eGovernment Program ‘Yesser' in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mr. Mustafa Khan, as well as representatives from the Information Technology Authority of Sultanate Oman. The meeting kicked-off with an overview presentation presented by Richard Kerby which included the general features of the report. He also discussed the main points to be evaluated, noting that the United Nations seeks to cooperate with as many countries as possible in order to translate the report into more than on language, with the aim to spread it to all countries. He also took the opportunity to thank the Kingdom of Bahrain on the translation of the previous report to Arabic Language. During the workshop, Kerby highlighted the importance of the workshop carried out by the United Nations in collaboration with Bahrain's eGovernment Authority and how it is focused on improving eServices provided by governments. He also noted that their visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain was due to its leadership in the area of eGovernment, particularly as it has brought together a number of experts which discussed how to improve government performance and best strategies to be used by eGovernments. The meeting agenda focused on key themes including emerging issues and current eGovernment trends towards sustainable development. The meeting also included group discussions on how eGovernment can contribute to advancing sustainable development as well as the challenges and obstacles countries might face while implementing. They also discussed approaches and innovative practices in advancing eGovernment for sustainable development along with emerging eGovernment approaches and trends to be considered for the 2016 survey. Also discussed was the United Nations report and how the trends can be measured by the Survey, as well as what enhancements can be made to the eGovernment Development Index (EGDI) and its components. In addition, how the Survey can take into account specific characteristics of countries including size, population density and the different level of government, particularly in big cities. In addition, how the Survey can better capture the usage side of online/mobile information services. Finally, a comprehensive review and summary of the discussions and comments to be filed by international experts in charge of the United Nations report for eGovernment, most notably a proposal to change the evaluation and assessment of the three main indicators (eServices, Human Capital, Communications Infrastructure). In this regard, the CEO of the eGovernment Authority, Mr. Mohammed Ali AlQaed emphasized on the importance of organizing this consultative meeting to develop guidelines to be pursued by countries to elevate their rank in the United Nations report for eGovernment, issued every two years with the next one issued in 2016. He also added that the results of this meeting will be channeled to benefit all participating countries, shedding light on the topics that will be included in the next report by the United Nations. He also pointed out on how the presence of regional experts adds greater value in which participants can take their guidance and apply their experience to their countries. He also added how representatives of GCC eGovernments being present contribute to ongoing cooperation between Gulf States especially in dealing with the common development plans. "eGovernments in the GCC seek to facilitate and simplify the procedures and services to their citizens. We are pleased that the GCC is ranked in the top 6 in the field of eServices on a regional level, which in turn drives us to always achieve the best for our citizens and businessmen or even services of government agencies," Commented Deputy Chairman of Kuwait Information Technology Society Mr. Qusai Al-Shatti. Director of the Research Center of Saudi program ‘Yesser', Dr. Majid AlDarehem stated that GCC eGovernment efforts are on that aim to enhance the Gulf Cooperation, and hosting this workshop reflects the plans that were put by these governments to collectively progress in the UN Report for eGovernment.

08 March 2015

New Electronic Verefication System for Healthcare Practitioner Documents

"Al Sharq" learnt that the Qatari Council for Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP) has launched a new electronic system dubbed "Employer Portal" or "EP" to verify documents of healthcare practitioners through the accrediting firm for primary source verification. QCHP asserted that the new system comes within the efforts of QCHP's Registration and Licensing Department to improve services and facilitate and speed up licensing and registration procedures in order to cope increased demand in applications for verification of healthcare practitioners who wish to be licensed to practice in Qatar. QCHP clarified that the new system enables healthcare facilities to apply for verification of healthcare practitioner documents. Additionally, the system has a feature that permits healthcare facilities to create their own accounts which enables them to submit one verification application for a group of healthcare practitioners who work or intend to work for those facilities, make online payment in bulk and follow-up on the applications. The old system known as "Healthcare Practitioner Portal" allowed healthcare practitioners only to create individual accounts for themselves and subsequently to apply for verification of their own documents. QCHP emphasized that the new system is part of its endeavors to increase customer satisfaction, simplify processes and save time and effort for healthcare facilities by allowing submission of verification applications in bulk, making on line payments and simplifying follow-up on applications. Source: Al Sharq Newspaper

28 March 2016

Administrative Development and Labor Ministry Launches Mawared App

The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs has launched a smartphone app for the Government Human Resources Management System "Mawared" to ease access to the e-services provided by the system around the clock and anywhere. The ministry clarified, in a press statement, that the app provides a lot of the most used services in Mawared by the government employees and decision makers, such as leave requests, approval of applications, administrative certificate applications, and other services, affirming that such services are used through developed, secure and interactive channels to enhance the user experience. The ministry further pointed out to adding the electronic employee file system to Mawared in order to facilitate keeping and restoring the documents of the employee that are related to the Human Resources Department in the form of an e-file, and, consequently, reduce the uses of paper files to the least extent.

04 March 2021

Al Qaed Announces Bahrain’s 2020 Digital Transformation Achievements

• As part of the Series of government media briefings launched by National Contact Center • Al Qaed: we achieved our objective to support comprehensive public sector digital transformation with an 82% reduction in government expenses and a 38% increase in digital transactions The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed stated that the authority managed in 2020 to successfully migrate all essential government services to various digital channels, a major milestone in the Kingdom’s digital transformation in the face of current challenges. . He added that reaching this advanced stage in the digital transformation was thanks to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s vision, which emphasizes the importance of deploying advanced technologies in in the provision of government services. Al Qaed also credited the realization of this vision to the government’s efforts, led by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and the support of the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology chaired by HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, and the Minister of Interior, HE Gen. Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. He praised their contributions towards accelerating the pace of digital transformation by providing services comprehensively via online channels that are convenient for citizens and residents, and which are in line with the sustainable eGovernment program. Al Qaed revealed that the iGA, in cooperation with other governmental entities, is now providing 504 eServices — 391 via the National Portal bahrain.bh, 16 via self-service ekiosks, and 97 via smartphone applications downloadable from the eGovernment app store, bahrain.bh/apps. The eServices have helped the government reduce operational costs by 82%, allowing users to carry out their transactions online with 69% higher efficiency compared to traditional methods saving time to complete transactions by 76% eliminating the need to visit service centers. Al Qaed cited an increase financial transactions in 2020 by 38% compared to 2019, as the total number of transactions was over 2,200,000 across all governmental entites. He said that total revenues collected from the various digital channels increased by 48%, achieving a record of BD230 million, and surpassing the BD200 million mark for the first time. The National Portal received over 11 million visits. The findings were shared at the latest in a series of media briefing held remotely by the National Contact Center, in which Al Qaed showcased the achievements of the Kingdom’s 2020 digital transformation program. Al Qaed highlighted a number of factors that led to the acceleration of digital transformation in 2020, including the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology’s directives, implemented in coordination with the iGA, and the iGA’s efforts to restructure government service procedures and complete national digital transformation plans as part of the Kingdom’s overall strategy. This led to the re-engineering of 82 services, which are now more advanced and efficient. Al Qaed said that deploying modern technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the development of government services has supported business continuity across the public sector, including the judicial sector, by helping to streamline procedures. Judicial services include the ability to file civil and commercial lawsuits online. Modern technologies also enabled the education sector to offer remote learning by migrating the Educational Gateway, EDUNET to the cloud. In addition, these technologies have supported national efforts to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) through the development of the BeAware Bahrain app, a comprehensive government system, in cooperation with a number of relevant entities. The app is a success story that was launched in record time and realizes the vision of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. During the briefing, Al Qaed delivered a presentation covering more than 500 of the eServices launched since the start of the eGovernment program. A total of 82 eServices were launched in 2020, covering six sectors and 15 governmental entities. He credited efforts of the Information & eGovernment Authority team .He also said that seven new operating systems were provided for the government while the National Portal and app stores had their capacities increased by 30%, in addition to an increase of 50% in the Portal’s responsiveness. A number of new and improved self-service kiosks have also been offered. Financial transactions carried out via the iGA’s channels since launch topped 8,647,000, generating BD754,434,000 in revenues from 504 eServices. iGA Deputy CE of Electronic Transformation. Dr. Zakareya Ahmed AlKhajah said that the Kingdom was able to overcome the coronavirus challenges of 2020 through a robust, up-to-date, and safe digital infrastructure that was the result of many years of work. This allowed the government to create a comprehensive electronic system that benefits all sectors while remaining in line with existing supportive legislation. AlKhajah praised the commitment that government entities had displayed towards digital transformation, improved productivity, and continuity of service in the face of current conditions. He thanked HE the Minister of Interior for his support in achieving the ministry’s digital transformation, which resulted in launching the first and second batch of Ministry of Interior eServices in 2020 , which now total 104 and are provided through various digital channels. Work is currently ongoing to study, restructure, and develop 26 new services. These eServices, most notably ones relating to good conduct, donations via Islamiyat app, payment of Customs fees and taxes, and ID card services, are provided by the iGA. Three government revenue-related eServices were launched, including requests for promotional campaigns and discounts by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism; VAT bill payments to the National Bureau for Revenue (NBR), and insurance fee payments to the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA). There were also four new social services, including a financial support request service from the Royal Humanitarian Foundation for people affected by the coronavirus, and three services by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development relating to job seeker registrations, viewing of personal profiles, and government financial support status requests. A total of 44 health sector eServices were launched to support the efforts of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Three housing and real estate services were launched to support the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). A further two, offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cater to citizens abroad. Government smartphone applications recorded a user increase of 200%, with the number of users reaching 560,000. Over 510,000 transactions were carried out, marking an increase of 43% in 2020. This was credited to the BeAware Bahrain app, which has been downloaded nearly 1.5 million times since its launch in March last year. Collected revenues amounted to over BD27 million, an increase of 36% due to the addition of new eServices available via smartphone apps, the Fa’el Khair service, and the continuously increasing use of traffic app services. In 2020 BeAware Bahrain experienced the highest jump in users, followed by the traffic services app, the Electricity and Water (EWA) app, GovEmployee, and the student exam results app.

28 March 2016

Ashghal joins "Better Connections" Program

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) to provide workers with facilities for computer learning and internet access. With this, Ashghal joins government and private entities in the "Better Connections" Program launched by the ministry. Meshal Sultan Al Hitmi, Director of the Shared Services Affairs at Ashghal, signed the agreement with Reem Al Mansouri, Assistant Undersecretary of the Digital Society at the ministry. The program provides a practical framework, offering workers access to information and communication technology (ICT) at their compounds. To read more, please visit this link.

23 March 2015

Bahrain International eGovernment Forum 2015 to be Held in March

Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain: Under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology, the 8th Bahrain International eGovernment Forum 2015; will be held from the 15th to the 19th of March in Isa Cultural Center and Bahrain International Circuit. The highly-esteemed event is organized by the eGovernment Authority in partnership with the Bahrain Society of Engineers, Project Management Institute-(Bahrain Chapter) and YouthTech Society. Over the years, the event has witnessed major development in terms of content and level of diversity, as well as growth. The event has recently been extended to a five day period in order to successfully focus on the exchange of knowledge and expertise in the field of eGovernment. This year the event is expected to host a number of officials both locally and internationally as well as international speakers, and for the first time this year the European Union and the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) Global will be participating as well. The European Union will be represented by 50 delegates made up of experts and officials in the field of smart cities and eGovernment who will participate in a range of activities on the first day of the forum, where one of the officials will present the EU's experience in smart cities. In addition, a group of speakers will participate in the eGovernment Success Stories workshop, as well as a scheduled closed meeting and workshop on the "Horizon 2020". During the official opening of the forum, winners of eGovernment Excellence Award 2015 will be awarded by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology. The official opening ceremony is scheduled to be held in (March 15th) Isa Cultural Center, followed by plenary sessions addressing key topics including the Smart Cities and policies towards shifting Smart Cities. University of Fairland, US, Lecturer Dr. John Burton will present under the title of ‘Information Policies Expansion Associated with Smart Cities Implementations', along with Professor Claude Rojetto who will transfer France's experience in the field of Smart Cities. The second session will focus on the best practices in the field of eGovernment, where Mr. Eric Smith, Executive Partner at Gartner, from the United Kingdom will highlight global best practices and digital government, and from the United States, Mr. Jim Jacoby, Software Engineering Expert at Moby and Strategic Expert in the field of Customer Experience Ms. Hala Semeasy will draw attention on ‘Mobile Applications and Customer Experience'. While the second day (March 16th), a closed meeting of the European Union will be held, in which approximately 30 delegates from EU countries will participate in. The following three days (March 17th to 19th) the rest of the activities will be concluded, consisting of specialized workshops which are organized through the existing cooperation between NGO's, Institutes, International organizations and specialist speakers from various countries under the supervision of Bahrain's eGovernment Authority, noting that the topics that will be address in the first day of the Forum are different than the topics that will be highlighted in workshops, along with the Bahrain IT Expo 2015 which is scheduled to take place in the Bahrain International Circuit from the 17th till the 19th of March. The main topics that will be covered in the workshops are: Mastering Social Media Innovation Tools Workshop organized by the Social Media Club, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in ICT Environment organized by Ebtikar Society, Big Data and the Future organized by Bahrain Information Technology Society (BITS), Holistic Business Process Management: improvement of transformation organized by Future Smith, Building Defensible Critical Information Infrastructure organized by ISACA Bahrain Chapter, among other workshops in the field of project management, and finally eGovernment Success Stories organized by the eGovernment Authority. Due to the success of the Bahrain IT Expo in the past few years, this year will include a distinguished group of exhibitors representing both the public and private sectors. In addition, it has been confirmed that this year for the first time, international companies from Hungary and India will be participating showcasing free-cutting edge products and outstanding technical demos. For further information on how to register and attend the sessions or workshops, please visit the forum's website www.egovforum.bh or visit Bahrain IT Expo for Information Technology and Communications www.itexpo.bh.

11 February 2015

Bahrain: Nominations Deadline for 2015 eGovernment Excellence Award Extended to Beginning of February

The organizing committee of the eGovernment Excellence Award 2015, held annually under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology, announced that the deadline for nominations have been extended to February 1st in response to all interested parties, as well as providing an opportunity to all those who wish to participate or improve current submissions. The award is still accepting nominations through the website www.egovaward.bh which includes all the necessary information in regards to categories, criteria and submission process. The annual award, comes as part of the eGovernment's programs to evaluate national initiatives in the field of Information and Communication Technology, as well as raise the level of competitiveness in the development of innovative technical solutions in line with the National eGovernment Strategy 2016. It brings together a distinguished group of local and international experts, who represent various sectors such as the private sector, banking sector, education and civil organizations, ensuring diversity and objectivity in regards to the jury process. The Committee will provide a report assessing all projects with remarks including observations on mechanisms, tools for development of project and initiatives for registered projects. Ministries and Governmental entities of the Kingdom of Bahrain will be competing on four categories– Best eService, Best eProject, eParticipation, and Best eContent. The Multi-Sector includes four categories– Best App for Smart Devices, eEntrepreneur, eEconomy, and eNGO's. The award encourages participating individuals on innovation and creativity in the Best eConcept category, as well as urge them to adopt eservices in various areas of their lives through the eCitizen category, which is selected based on the citizen's effective participations by the highest number and volume of transactions conducted on the eGovernment portal during the last year. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology will honour the winners during the official opening of Bahrain International eGovernment Forum 2015, which is attended annually by over 500 people from the Kingdom of Bahrain and abroad. For more information on the eGovernment Excellence Award 2014 or for participation; please visit the eGovernment Excellence Award official website: www.egovaward.bh, or contact the National Contact Center 80008001.

04 November 2015

Bahrain to host GCC eGovt summit, award

Bahrain will host the fourth GCC eGovernment Award, Conference and Exhibition 2015 on November 25 and 26 under the patronage of Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. The Organizing Committee of the Information and eGovernment Authority explained that the conference is part of several key initiatives set up by the GCC eGovernments' guided strategies, which are adopted by the GCC eGovernment Ministerial Committee. This year's edition will be based on exchange of experience amongst countries in the field of eServices as well as honouring outstanding ventures with the purpose of improving the eGovernment services as well as strengthening the integration between the GCC countries.   The topics and work papers will highlight the most important GCC eGovernment-related matters that are represented in big and smart data, integration of environmental information to support regional decision-making, government shared services, and smart social media.   It will also showcase GCC experiences in the eGovernment field across a range of sectors such as justice, social development and many others.   The ‘GCC eGovernment Award' is organized in conjunction with the conference and exhibition where GCC government entities participate by showcasing their best practices in conducting the online transactions which are in line with standards set this year and aligned with the GCC vision.   The evaluation process has been completed by a specialized committee which includes GCC eGovernment experts, a statement said.   Winners will be announced and honoured during the opening ceremony of the conference. – TradeArabia News Service

22 June 2021

Bahrain’s Pandemic Response and Cloud-First Policy Highlighted at 23rd GCC e-Government Executive Committee Meeting

Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed chaired the 23rd GCC e-Government Executive Committee Meeting, held via videoconference. Senior executives, and director generals of other GCC e-governments attended the meeting, where the Kingdom’s Cloud-First policy and its success in combating the coronavirus pandemic were highlighted. Al Qaed welcomed the attendees and conveyed to them the greetings of the Minister of Interior and his best wishes for the committee’s success and for further cooperation between the GCC countries. He congratulated Saudi Arabia’s Digital Government Authority Governor, Ahmed Alsuwaiyan and Oman’s Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Ali bin Amer Al-Shaidani on their appointments, wishing them the best and thanking the outgoing members for their efforts which have had a lasting impact on achieving the objectives of the committee. Al Qaed praised the role that advanced technologies have had in supporting GCC governments in combating the challenges of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He said that GCC governments’ commitment to adopting modern technologies have allowed life to continue despite the pandemic, in addition to accelerating the pace of digital transformation in all sectors. This resulted in the launch of several high-quality eServices, while also strengthening cooperation between member states and allowing for further exchange of experience. The committee discussed several items, including a report by the General Secretariat; previously implemented decisions; latest developments concerning the GCC ePortal project; the Kingdom of Bahrain’s submitted model for measuring e-government guiding strategy implementation; a periodic report on e-governance accomplishments including the provision of eServices via multiple channels; improving the quality of Arabic content available on the internet, and other initiatives presented by member states. The Kingdom of Bahrain’s success stories in cloud computing and combatting the pandemic were also highlighted. iGA Deputy CE of Electronic Transformation, Dr. Zakareya Ahmed AlKhajah showcased the iGA’s role in supporting national efforts through promotion of social distancing, accelerating the pace of digital transformation of government services, and developing the BeAware Bahrain app. iGA Governance and Enterprise Architecture Director, Dr. Khalid Ahmed Al Mutawa gave a presentation on cloud computing challenges and solutions, as well as the phases for its implementation in Bahrain, while also sharing notable results and future projects. The meeting discussed an initiative for preparing and implementing a joint communications plan among e-governments as part of the e-governance guiding strategy. They also reviewed the minutes of meetings by other teams, such as the Committee of National Centers for Computer Emergency Response, whose recommendations they then implemented; the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) task force; and the Unified Procurement of Software and Hardware task force. The committee also discussed a proposal to establish a task force specialized in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies. Held periodically, the GCC e-Government Executive Committee Meeting aims to strengthen cooperation and the exchange of e-government knowledge among member states, producing a number of important recommendations that raise the standards of e-governments in the GCC.

23 March 2015

Brig. Al-Ansari: 19 unified services, e-government centers across the country

Brigadier Abdulla Ahmed Al Ansari, Director of the Unified Services Department of the General Directorate of Boarders, Passports and Expatriate Affairs in the Ministry of Interior said the number of service centers, with 2 new centers recently opened in the Pearl and Tower 2022, has reached 19 as of to date. The service centers, according to him, provide services to residents and citizens through a network that covers all parts of the country, clarifying that the department oversees performance of these centers, monitors service levels and intervenes to improve it as necessary. He pointed out that the services provided include all types of entry visa, renewal, transfer, modification and cancellation of residence permits, issuing IDs for expatriates, company IDs, travel documents for citizens, exit permits for expatriates, and issuing and re-issuing passports.

28 March 2016

e-Govt Launched 237 Services in Past Years

The e-Government is carrying on the implementation of 87 projects, 77 of which are in collaboration with government entities, namely the Government Network, the SMS Gateway, the Government Data Exchange Project, the Open Data Portal Project, the Government Procurement Review, the Digital Government, among other projects. This came in the annual scorecard report issued by the prestigious General Secretariat of the Council of Ministries, stating that 237 e-services were launched between 2013 and 2015. Among the strategies being followed up by the communications sector is cyber security; protecting the infrastructure of vital national information, responding to cyber incidents and attack and solving them, setting a legal and regulatory frame to enhance the safety and vitality of cyberspace, promoting the culture of cyber security, and developing the national potential for the protection of our cyberspace to the future generations.

23 March 2015

E-passport public keys delivered to ICAO by MoI delegation

A delegation from the Ministry of Interior delivered Public Keys of Qatari e-passports to upload in Public Keys Directory (PKD) system of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). A recent ceremony at Montreal, Canada, was attended by Brigadier Abdullah Saad al- Buainain, director of Nationality and Travel Documents Department; Brigadier Abdul Rahman Ali al-Maliki, assistant director general of General Directorate of Information Systems; and Captain Ahmed Khaled al-Hamr from the Directorate General of Information Systems. Christina, director of the Certification of Centre of ICAO, attended the program accompanied by a number of officials of the organization. This action comes as a continuation of the development plans of Qatari e-passport, aimed at improving and enhancing electronic and direct verification of passport biometric data and facilitate passage of e-passport holders through border control points of PKD participants. It is known that the PKD Board of the International Civil Aviation Organisation "ICAO" works to achieve maximum accuracy and verification of physical and biometric data for e-passports and travel documents all over the world through joint work on the improvement and development of encryption technologies and mutual support and exchange of expertise among experts and specialists participating in the board. Qatar represented by Ministry of Interior has joined ICAO PKD that consist of 45 countries including the European Union, the US and China. Qatar was the first Gulf Country that issued e-passport in 2008 as per the specification of ICAO. Source: Al Raya Newspaper, Gulf Times

08 March 2015

GCC states agree on joint Sports Day

The GCC countries have agreed to initiate a combined Sports Day across the region, it emerged. Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Secretary-General Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced this during a press conference in the presence of GCC Assistant Secretary General Abdullah bin Juma Al Shibli and GCC Environment Supreme Council Chairman Dr Adel Al Zayani. The proposal for a combined Sports Day was floated by QOC, it was confirmed. According to QOC, the proposal has been initiated for the promotion of sports and healthy lifestyle among the millions of young kids across the region. It is accepted by the presidents and heads of the GCC National Olympic Committees (NOCs). The GCC Sports Day will be celebrated on the second Saturday of February every year. It may be recalled that on every Tuesday in February the Qatar National Sport Day is hosted. The NOC representatives of the Gulf countries were present in Qatar last month and witnessed the large-scale mass participation. Encouraged by the success, the officials decided to implement it at the regional level. Shibli said: "The proposal will be forwarded to higher authorities of the GCC to finalise details. After that, it will be decided like where and when the first GCC Sports Day will take place." "Saturday is part of the weekend in the region so it can ensure huge public participation," Sheikh Saoud said. "We're confident that it would get positive response and raise awareness in the communities in the region about health and fitness." Sheikh Saoud said a lot of attention is being given to promote activities that will harness the youth power in the region. "Physical education classes have been made compulsory for students at each level. The UAE has suggested that all schools must dedicate one-hour to physical activities for students, which will make them active and healthy. "The UAE has also offered to host the first GCC Youth Games and its request has been approved. The dates and number of sports of GCC Youth Games would be declared later, though the plan is to host the event as soon as possible," he added. On the success of Schools Olympic Programme, Sheikh Saoud said: "Five of the GCC states have started SOP and will soon get benefits of having a good talent base at the grass-roots level. Kuwait has also said to launch the programme to activate the talent at the school level." The plan to launch a sports court in Bahrain has also been cleared."It will deal with legal problems in the sports field or related with sports persons. A jury will be set up within six months and hearings will be done in Bahrain. Sports laws will also be enacted soon," said Sheikh Saoud. The rich Gulf has been controlling 13 sports bodies in Asia and Sheikh Saoud said it reflected the region's growing influence at the continental level besides showing the trust and cooperation among the member states. "There are 28 organising committees under the GCC umbrella. All are working with utmost dedication, seriousness and cooperation. This has helped us heads in 13 Asian sports bodies. Yesterday, Qatar's Dahlan (Jumaan Al Hamad) has been chosen as the President of Asian Athletics Association again." Shibli thanked QOC and Sheikh Saoud for making extensive preparations for the GCC NOCs meeting. "I wish to extend my heartiest congratulations to QOC and Sheikh Saoud for making elaborate arrangement for the meeting. "Qatar is always active about playing its bit in the progress of the region. We hope recommendations accepted in the meeting would be implemented soon with the consent of GCC higher authorities." The four-day meeting ends today. Source: The Peninsula, Al Arab Newspaper

13 July 2021

Government Procurement Requests Worth BD798,000 Discussed at 46th ICT Governance Committee Meeting

Strategic procurement requests valued at approximately BD798,000 were discussed at the 46th Information and Communication Technology Governance Committee (ICTGC) meeting, chaired by Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed. The virtual meeting discussed a number of projects such as the implementation of wireless network infrastructure at Ministry of Education schools, which is the third phase of a wider wireless network plan for schools, and supplying network systems and local network applications to new buildings at some schools, including the ones scheduled to reopen in the upcoming school year. Both projects are part of a digital empowerment in education initiative, which aims to train students, teachers, and employees on how to utilize Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in their work, encouraging the creation of digital education content, innovation, and creativity. The committee discussed procurement, maintenance, and support projects for essential government systems at a number of other ministries and entities, and reviewed implemented decisions from previous meetings. Al Qaed praised the efforts of outgoing committee member, Ebrahim Abul, who represented the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, wishing him the best in his future endeavors. The committee members congratulated Nawal Al Khater on her appointment as Undersecretary for Policies, Strategies, and Performance at the Ministry of Education. Other government representatives on the ICTGC include iGA Deputy CE of Electronic Transformation, Dr. Zakareya Ahmed AlKhajah; Deputy Prime Minister’s Office Committee Affairs Coordinator, Dr. Aref AbdulRahman Abdulkarim; Ministry of Health Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health, Dr. Mariam Ebrahim Al-Hajeri; iGA Director of Governance and Enterprise Architecture, Dr. Khalid Almutawah; Office of the Prime Minister representative, Ali Jassim Humood; and Information Technology Project Management Consultant, Ali AlSoufi. Al Qaed concluded the meeting by thanking the committee members for their continuous support in coordinating between government entities, affirming the committee’s important role in developing the IT sector and improving government services for citizens and residents.

06 December 2015

HRH the Prime Minister Patronizes the Opening Ceremony

HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa the Prime Minister patronizes on Wednesday (25th November) the Opening Ceremony of the 4th GCC eGovernment Award, Conference and Exhibition 2015 – organized by the Informatics & eGovernment Authority at the ART Rotana Hotel in Muharraq. The prestigious event will comprise the attendance of the Kingdom of Bahrain's ministers as well as GCC eGovernment heads. During the opening ceremony, HRH the Prime Minister will honor the winning projects of the GCC eGovernment Award as well as inaugurate the accompanied exhibition which involves the participation of all the GCC countries. The upcoming event is under the patronage of HRH the Prime Minister as it reflects his support in backing-up IT as well as developing the eGovernment system in the Kingdom - one of the strategies adopted by the government in endorsing sustainable development and providing the highest levels of customer service. Such support is what had led to the granting of HRH the ‘ICT in Sustainable Development' award – recently presented by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in recognition of His Royal Highness' significant role in rising and advancing the ICT sector in Bahrain. Owing to government directives, the Kingdom had achieved leading positions in eGovernment readiness within the United Nations survey which ranked it as first in five geographical regions and 18th worldwide. Bahrain is considered as a leader in its region in regards to possessing telecommunication infrastructure since 1964; it was also the first Arab country to utilize Internet. Furthermore, in its latest issued 2014 survey, the United Nations classified Bahrain amongst the top advanced countries within the readiness category, leading it to stand as the only Arab nation in this category. The highly-esteemed event - held once every two years in one of the GCC states - was first launched in the Sultanate of Oman in 2009, Kuwait in 2011, followed by the United Arab Emirates in 2013, and hosted this year by the Kingdom of Bahrain. The opening ceremony is expected to attract over 500 guests from in and out of the Kingdom. This year's edition is distinctive as it embraces the exchange of experiences amongst the participating countries in the field of delivering eServices, introduces experiences and practices of other countries to measure the achievements accomplished in this field. It also awards excellent initiatives – with the intention of supporting the development of eGovernment ventures as well as the increase of the integration among the GCC countries – making them unified, interconnected and integrated.

28 March 2016

Hukoomi to process applications

The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) announced that all applications for import authorization of telecommunications and radio equipment to businesses in Qatar will be processed through the Qatar Government Portal, Hukoomi. The initiative is part of the Digital Government initiative. CRA authorization is necessary for sale of cellular phones and private mobile radio devices. The required approvals and relevant documents such as licenses and certificates are granted after careful evaluation of the applications received through the Hukoomi portal. To read more, please visit this link.

17 June 2021

ICTGC Discusses Open Data Policy at the 45th Meeting

Open Data Policy and strategic procurement requests valued at approximately BD3.5 million were discussed at the 45th Information and Communication Technology Governance Committee (ICTGC) meeting, chaired by Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed. During the meeting, held via video conference, Al Qaed said that the addition of Ministry of Health representative, Dr. Mariam Al Hajeri to the committee will enhance its tasks and help it to better achieve its objectives. He praised the efforts of outgoing committee member, Fatima Al Ahmed, and wished her the best. The meeting discussed the Open Data Policy, which aims to strengthen transparency and accountability while highlighting on the importance of making government data accessible and easy to use by various sectors, which in turn promotes innovation and creativity. The policy was created in line with the high standards and practices of the United Nations (UN) eGovernment Readiness Index, and adheres to the Kingdom’s laws, covering the Protection of Information and State Documents and Personal Data. Among the notable strategic procurement requests was the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning’s ‘Rimal’ project, which will automate procedures for sand searching and mining through a host of advanced spatial systems eServices built using an Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing platform. The committee also discussed the Education & Training Quality Authority’s national electronic exam project for students in the 9th and 12th grades, which is one of the most important initiatives by the Supreme Council for the Development of Education and Training. The system will enhance education in the Kingdom through the automation of the student exam system and more accurate performance measurement. The meeting also covered the upgrading of network systems and infrastructure, the renewal of support and maintenance licenses at a number of government entities, and the implementation of decisions from previous meetings. Other government representatives on the ICTGC include iGA Deputy CE of eTransformation, Dr. Zakareya Ahmed AlKhajah; Deputy Prime Minister’s Office Committee Affairs Coordinator, Dr. Aref AbdulRahman Abdulkarim; iGA Director of Governance and Enterprise Architecture, Dr. Khalid Almutawah; Ministry of Finance and National Economy Assistant Undersecretary of Resources and Information and Future Generation Reserve Acting CEO, Ebrahim Abul; Ministry of Education Assistant Undersecretary for Planning and Information, Nawal Al Khater; University of Bahrain College of IT Dean, Dr. Lamya Al-Jasmi; Ministry of Health Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health, Dr. Mariam Ebrahim Al-Hajeri; Economic Development Board Corporate Services Director, Maha Mufeez; Office of the Prime Minister representative, Ali Jassim Humood; and Information Technology Project Management Consultant, Ali AlSoufi. The event was also attended by the committee’s supporting team. Al Qaed concluded the meeting by thanking the committee members for their efforts and continuous support.

14 February 2021

iGA CE Al Qaed: CE Highlights Role of National Action Charter in Enhancing Bahrain’s ICT Sector

Charter a defining moment that contributed to development and public’s quality of Life Speaking on behalf of all Information & eGovernment (iGA) employees, Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed congratulated His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa on the 20-year anniversary of the National Action Charter. Al Qaed said that the anniversary recalls the achievements of the Kingdom made possible thanks to the vision of HM the King, including accomplishments in the ICT sector and its unprecedented development over the past few years. This is in addition to the supporting decrees and legislations that contributed to the readiness of the country’s technological infrastructure, and enhanced its ability to meet various challenges, including the current circumstances. He credited the directives of HM the King in adopting modern technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in various fields, and their role in establishing relationships with major technology leaders such as Microsoft and Amazon web Services (AWS). Bahrain made many important strides towards the digital transformation of government services and systems, which helped elevate its reputation regionally and globally. Al Qaed called the National Action Charter a defining moment in the Kingdom’s history, one that that helped achieve wide-ranging development and improved quality of life for citizens and residents. Based on principles of reform and progress, it enhanced the democratic process, supporting freedom of expression and equality between citizens, ensuring education and health and a commitment to economic development and diversified revenue streams. This reflected positively on the Kingdom’s services and products, introducing new systems that contributed to quality of life. He added that this anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the Kingdom’s achievements during this pandemic, which were made possible by HM the King’s dedication to ensuring the health and wellness of all citizens and residents, as well as the efforts of the National Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus, led by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Al Qaed highlighted some of the Kingdom’s most notable digital transformation achievements during the pandemic, including providing over 500 round-the-clock eServices via the National Portal, bahrain.bh, and the launching of the BeAware Bahrain app, following the vision of HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The app facilitated instant access to a range of public health-related eServices, including vaccine registration and certification, while helping the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Interior contact trace and monitor positive cases. Al Qaed concluded by congratulating the Kingdom’s senior leadership and all of Bahrain on this anniversary, expressing his best wishes for its continued local, regional, and global achievements, calling on all citizens to continue offering their best in service of the nation.

15 April 2021

iGA Chief Executive: implementation of eWallet plan following Cabinet approval

In support of accelerating further digital transformation In line with the latest approval by the Cabinet, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on the introduction of an eWallet to facilitate the efficiency of government transactions, the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive, His Excellency Mohamad Ali Al Qaed, welcomed the approval, . praising the move as a reaffirmation of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment in keeping pace with the latest global advancements and creating a safe digital environment. The eWallet will be a continuation of the government’s strategy to introduce advanced electronic systems that meet high standards and contribute to the efficiency and quality of government services provided to citizens and residents and to the further development of the Kingdom as a whole. HE Al-Qaed stated that the Kingdom continues in accelerating its pace of digital transformation by providing various electronic payment channels as an alternative to accepting conventional cash notes, adding that the project will be introduced in line with regulations stipulated by Central Bank of Bahrain, including Know Your Customer (KYC) features to combat money laundering. It will also offer convenient options, including the ability to top-up electronically. HE Al Qaed praised the roles of all stakeholders who are involved in implementing this initiative, which is an important step in the Kingdom’s path towards digital transformation

30 June 2021

iGA Launches Bahrain’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030 portal

Site tracks Kingdom’s progress in achieving SDGs The Kingdom of Bahrain launched its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 portal , the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) announced. The site, hosted at www.sdgs.gov.bh , documents and tracks the Kingdom’s progress in achieving the SDGs, which were launched by the United Nations (UN) in 2000. Bahrain adopted them, ensuring their compatibility with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 and its development programs. The Kingdom presented its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) achievements at the UN General Assembly in September 2015. The Higher Committee for Information and Communication Technology, chaired by HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, approved the launch of this national portal, which will highlight the Kingdom’s efforts, enabling all government, private, and civil society organizations to showcase their achievements in line with the SDG’s . It will also include a host of SDG-related content, such as sustainable development indices; initiatives, programs, and projects adopted by the Kingdom; national policies; decisions and legislation; local and global reports; government awards; and news and articles. iGA Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed expressed his appreciation to the Minister of Interior, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa for his support for this national project in all its stages. He also thanked all the teams and entities that helped launch the site for their support in populating its content with data that reflects the Kingdom’s SDG-related initiatives. Al Qaed said that the website will achieve a number of objectives, including sharing the Kingdom’s SDGs initiatives on one unified digital portal, tracking all related indices, and providing a reference for international personalities and organisations. It will also familiarise the private sector and other stakeholders with the SDGs, in turn encouraging them to contribute towards achieving them and showcasing their achievements. He invited all governmental, private, and civil society organisations, as well as specialists and anyone else interested in working with the Information & eGovernment Authority , to contribute to the project’s success, in line with the Kingdom’s 2030 vision. They can help by documenting their various achievements on the site, helping to create a comprehensive national portal of data and statistics, and a reliable reference that enhances the Kingdom’s global standing. In line with iGA’s commitment to maintaining an up-to-date database, the site includes dedicated sections for SDGs achievements and steps taken by the public and private sectors, civil society, and individuals.

10 July 2021

iGA Launches Beta Version of Revamped National Portal, ‘Bahrain.bh’

• New portal implements user feedback • Soft Launch (Beta version) is part of Phase One; gradual revamp to continue in phases until early 2022 • Revamped portal will facilitate user access to information and eServices, enhanced overall capacity & speed Phase One of the National Portal revamp has been launched, Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed announced. The new and improved version of the Kingdom’s National Portal bahrain.bh is among the initiatives put forward by the Supreme Council for Information and Communication Technology (SCICT) to the Coordinating Committee, which approved it. Its scope includes enhancements to the Portal’s content to improve user experience, update its infrastructure, offer personalized services, and encourage eParticipation. Al Qaed stated that the Beta version implements feedback collected through the iGA’s annual customer satisfaction report, a survey conducted between 30th December 2020 and 15th February 2021, and suggestions received by the iGA previously through different platforms. He said that the Portal’s design, services, and features will be gradually developed over several phases until early next year, and that it closely follows United Nations (UN) eGovernment standards. Notable features include easier access to information and eServices; management of users’ profiles containing personal data as recorded by government; enhanced user experience over smartphones; and increased capacity to enhance user experience and navigation. Al Qaed stated that since the portal’s launch in 2007 under the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister and SCICT Chairman, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, the iGA has dedicated significant resources and capabilities towards creating and developing bahrain.bh. It made major progress in developing the Portal under the supervision of the Minister of Interior, Gen. Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, adding information for more than 1,000 government eServices and 500 other eServices, and connecting over 40 government entities digitally. With a plan to double the current content, the Authority will need to carry out the revamp gradually over phases to manage this massive amount of data, and to give it the time needed to create a comprehensive website and migrate eServices onto it to ensure their accessibility to the public. With the completion of Phase One the journey continues with more improvements. The next phase will include an improvement in the unified eservice payment platform, the ability for users to customize their experience by creating a list of their favorite eServices, and gradual migration of eServices to the revamped system. Al Qaed invited the public and private sectors, civil society organizations, and citizens and residents to visit bahrain.bh to experience the Beta version and join the iGA on its journey to improve the National Portal via the feedback page noted in the link on top of the portal and also via the National Suggestions and Complaints System, ‘Tawasul’, or by participating in focus groups and discussions which will be announcing soon. He assured the public that all collected feedback will be studied and those that are deemed feasible will be implemented.

26 January 2021

iGA Launches Updated Version of Interactive Conferencing System, ‘eMeeting’

The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) launched an updated version of its interactive conferencing system, eMeeting, which has been revamped to include several performance-enhancing features. The updated version was launched in response to feedback from users of the system, an important government initiative that empowers the boards and executive committees of governmental and non-governmental entities to hold meetings remotely via smart devices. The move is in line with government directives to replace physical meetings with seamless and secure virtual conferencing. iGA Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed said that the new version of eMeeting, which had its first version released in 2013, is part of a series of digital service developments and updates implemented by the iGA to support government activities and ensure business continuity for public and private sectors users of government systems. The flexibility of the system and its adaptability to different work environments allow it to accommodate meetings of all kinds, saving time and resources, and automating repetitious procedures. Al Qaed reaffirmed the iGA’s commitment to its eServices development strategy, which is built on a number of pillars including listening to the comments and suggestions of public and private sector beneficiaries. The iGA adopted this approach with its latest update, which is in line with directives by the Kingdom’s senior leadership to be in constant communication with the public. This update addresses increasing demand by users, and is also in line with the government’s strategic approach to adopt digital services and make them available via apps that can be accessed on smartphones in a secure manner that safeguards data and ensures privacy. The updated version of eMeeting includes features for attending video conferences via iPhones, which will allow users to receive updates related to meetings that can be viewed on their devices. This is in addition to a split screen feature for attendees who use iPads. The update also includes Microsoft One-Drive features, allowing users to access services via the cloud, and giving them more storage space for shared files, which are accessible safely from anywhere in the world. The system, available in Arabic and English, also allows users to view meeting materials, retrieve documents through a preferred type of display, communicate via instant messages, take notes, and send private and public comments to all participants. In addition, it offers offline access to files; the ability to send attachments via emails; the ability to comment on files, including an option to include email signatures; and the ability to vote on proposals during meetings by selecting whether to agree, reject, or abstain. Audio and video files can also be shared, and meetings can be classified based on importance. eMeeting was launched to accommodate the needs of meeting attendees of all levels, including executives, non-executives, senior management, employees, and executive secretaries. The first digital system of its kind in the Kingdom for initiating and managing online meetings, it has resulted in direct and indirect cost savings for its public and private sector users.

29 November 2020

iGA’s ‘Tawasul’ App Named Best Smart Government Application at Arab Government Excellence Award (2020)

The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) achieved major regional recognition, winning the Arab Government Excellence (AGE) Award for Best Smart Government Application for its ‘Tawasul’ app. The awards event, in its first edition, was launched by the UAE government in cooperation with the League of Arab States, as represented by the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO). On behalf of the iGA, its Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed expressed his pride in the win, offering his congratulations to HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain. He emphasized that the win was due in great part to the directives of HRH Prince Salman, which have always emphasized the importance of communication between government entities and the public through open communication channels. Al Qaed also highlighted the role of the Minister of Interior, HE Gen. Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa who’s support helped create one of the most important digital platforms linking Bahrain’s government to the public. He also expressed his appreciation to the Bahrainis who developed and launched the app to much acclaim and success. The app has received regional and global accolades, including having previously being named Best Government Application at the His Highness Shaikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah Informatics Awards in 2019 in Kuwait and being highlighted in the 2020 United Nations e-Government Survey. Al Qaed added that Tawasul’s latest recognition appreciated the app’s innovative features and its ease of use, in addition to its proven effectiveness in allowing citizens and residents to submit real time suggestions and inquiries related to government services. Since Tawasul’s launch in 2016, the iGA has received more than 175,000 submissions. Between January and October 2020, the total number of cases reached 69,000, 70% of which were received via the app, affirming its importance as a necessary tool for effective government communication with the public. He added that the iGA responds quickly to all submissions received, achieving a 99% fulfillment of its Service-Level Agreement (SLA).

06 December 2015

Inaugurations of the GCC eGovernment Conference

On behalf of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman AlKhalifa - the Prime Minister; H.H. Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak AlKhalifa - Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology (SCICT) – inaugurated the 4th GCC eGovernment Award, Conference and Exhibition 2015. Held at ART Rotana Hotel and hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain – represented by the Informatics & eGovernment Authority, the event included a large number of high dignitaries and diplomatic VIPs. During the opening ceremony, H.H. Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak AlKhalifa stated that he was pleased to patronize the event on behalf of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman AlKhalifa - the Prime Minister; also confirmed that such event reflects the keenness of the GCC countries in utilizing the latest of innovative trends which are based on the discussions and recommendations concluded during the conference. He also added that since 2005, the country's government worked on enhancing the eTransformation and through the Informatics & eGovernment Authority – Bahrain was able to deliver large number of online services to citizens and residents. He further indicated that the country has accomplished honorable achievements within the most recent United Nations eGovernment Survey of 2014 - considering that it excelled by being ranked 1st in the Middle East and the Arab World in addition to 18th globally within the eGovernment Readiness Index. H.E. Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation & Telecommunications, had also delivered a speech where he thanked HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman AlKhalifa for patronizing the event, supporting and wisely directing the ICT sector in the Kingdom. Furthermore, he congratulated him for recently receiving the ‘ICT in Sustainable Development' Award by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). He added that today, the international community looks upon Bahrain as one of the advanced countries - standing side-by-side with other nations in the ICT sector. Owing to the government's support and the SCICT's follow-up; the Kingdom was capable of surpassing these countries by providing cutting-edge as well as highly-efficient eServices which reflected citizens' directions towards electronic utilization. Such outcome resulted in the increase of customer satisfaction index concerning offered public services. He continued to say that the GCC countries have achieved remarkable accomplishments in this sector as they noticeably succeeded doing so during a record time. Moreover, the high ranks of the GCC states enabled them to leave a stamp on the international arena – grabbing the attention of all other countries. As a result of such endeavors and persistent efforts, several initiatives and significant achievements coincided with the visions and aspirations of the GCC leaders and heads. "I have witnessed positive changes and great improvements in Bahrain as well as the region which had achieved remarkable UN rankings within the recent reports," said European Commission Joint Research Centre Senior Scientist Dr. Gianluca Misuraca. He also touched upon the European Union's experiences, its new trends as well as the collaboration and GCC advancements within the eGovernment sector. He also highlighted how such collaboration together with the implementation of new trends have improved each of the member states' competences within this field. H.H. Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak AlKhalifa honored the winners of the GCC eGovernment Award 2015. Categories included Best eGovernment Website that awarded the winning projects ‘National Centre for Statistics Website' by the National Center for Statistics & Information from Sultanate of Oman; ‘Ministry of Health Website' project by Bahrain's Ministry of Health; along with ‘Safe Space' by the Ministry of Information & Communications Technology participating from Qatar. The Best eGovernment Integrated Services – Individual/ Business Sector category was seized by the sole winning project ‘Sanad' submitted by AlRaffd Fund from Oman. The Best eGovernment Service for Business Sector category was won by three winning projects – ‘Dubai Trade' by Dubai Trade of Dubai Customs from United Arab Emirates (UAE); ‘Invest Easy' by the Ministry of Commerce & Trade from Oman; along with the ‘Business Licensing Integrated System' project by the Ministry of Industry & Commerce from the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Best eGovernment eService category encompassed the ‘Ministry of Youth and Sports Services' project by the Ministry of Youth & Sports Affairs, participating from Bahrain; the ‘Commercial License Registration Renewal and Update' project contributed by the Ministry of Trade & Commerce from Saudi Arabia; together with the ‘Self Service Machines – Kiosks' project by Public Prosecutor from Qatar. ‘Bayanati' project by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, participating from the United Arab Emirates was the first of two winners in the category Best Government-to-Government eService; in addition to the ‘National Payment Aggregator' project submitted by the Informatics & eGovernment Authority from Bahrain. The category ‘Best Practice in Community eParticipation' comprised three winners of ‘Public Authority for Consumer Protection' by the Public Authority for Consumer Protection from the Sultanate of Oman; ‘eParticipation' project by the Ministry of Interior from the UAE, as well as the ‘Sahem Fi AlTashree' project presented by the entity Kuwait National Assembly from Kuwait. The Best Application for Smart Devices category involved four winners – ‘Darb' by the Department of Transport – Abu Dhabi from UAE; ‘Metrash 2' by the Ministry of Interior from Qatar; ‘Ministry of Interior' app by Kuwait's Ministry of Interior; as well as ‘Safeer Mobile App' by the Ministry of Education from Saudi Arabia. ‘Monafasat' by the Ministry of Finance from Saudi Arabia was the first winner in the category Best Whole-of-Government National eProject; the ‘Personal Hub' by the Royal Oman Police from Oman; ‘Center for Digital Innovation' project by UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority; accompanied by the ‘Kuwait Information Network' project from Kuwait's Central Agency for Information Technology. The Deputy Prime Ministry has also inaugurated the accompanied exhibition which included the participation of 18 government entities which sought to exhibit their experiences and projects in the eGovernment sector in a variety of specializations, with the attendance of VIPs and visitors. The first day of the event included conference sessions covered by the ‘Glance at eGovernment Development on the European Union' by Dr. Misuraca, ‘Business Licensing Integrated System' by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia's ‘Justice Portal', UAE's ‘Dubai's Smart Training Initiative', Oman's ‘Community Participation of Omani Shura', Qatar's ‘Mawared Program', and Kuwait's ‘GCC Environmental Portal'.

11 February 2015

ITA – Oman LNG ink a deal

In line with the Information Technology Authority (ITA) efforts in eTransformation, a delegation from ITA headed by Dr. Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of ITA, visited USA last week to benefit from their best practices in eGovernment field. The visit also aimed at discussing ways of cooperation between the Sultanate and the United Nations (UN) represented by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Statistics Division of the Organization and the World Bank. The delegation was briefed on the experience of the United Stated in several related areas, including open data, eParticipation and smart cities. The visit also included a series of meetings with senior officials of the organization, including the United Nations team who is assessing the eGovernment development, in order to discuss the United Nations eGovernment Survey Report. Dr. Salim Al Ruzaiqi delivered a presentation at the World Bank Headquarters, on the Sultanate's strategic vision of using ICTs as a key enabler of economic diversification and transition to a knowledge-based economy, as reflected in the Oman Digital Society and e-Government Strategy (e.oman). On the visit agenda, the delegation met with the Center for Technology in Government in New York, the team responsible for studying the contribution of ICT in the GDP and national income. They also met with the officials in the   New York Open Government Data, as it's a pioneering experience in the field of eGovernment.

11 February 2015

Kuwait: Central Agency for Information Technology participate in an exhibition of Independence 54

Central Agency for Information Technology participate in an exhibition of Independence 54, during the period from February 9 to 13, 2015 in the International Fairgrounds - Mishref within the country's National Day and Eid liberation amid a gathering of national bodies and institutions of government and the private sector to review the stages of its various activities and events, and their contributions to the making and the development history Kuwait civilization.

28 March 2016

MEC Mobile App to Establish Companies Online

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has launched a new mobile service that enables the establishment of companies online, through its mobile application. The service is available on both iPhone and Android devices under the name MEC_QATAR. The service enables investors to establish companies online at any time or from anywhere in the world. The new service, MEC said, is part of a number of smart-phone applications provided by the ministry in order to improve business processes in Qatar as well as streamline and speed-up business incorporation procedures thereby promoting Qatar's business and investment environment. To read more, please visit this link.

28 March 2016

MMUP Updates Qatar National Digital Maps

The Center of Geographic Information Systems at Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning (MMUP) has declared that it is implementing Qatar National Digital Maps Project 2016-2018. The project is regularly accomplished every 3 -5 years as the contract has already signed with the responsible company to conduct the aerial surveys last month. The purpose of the project is to update for the digital topographical data, digital dimensions model, production of vertical and inclined accurate aerial pictures, and 3D model for towns and updated satellite images if needed. The first project stage comprises, aerial surveys, extracting digital dimension's model through usage of (Lidar) technology that provides accurate measurements for heights and considered as main factor to extract 3D model for buildings and installations during the second phase of the project.

28 March 2016

MoJ Launches e-Program for Real Estate Valuation

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched real estate valuation program for a trial period of one month as part of the development project of real estate registration and documentation systems (Sakk). After the set period, the program, which involves technical and legal real estate valuation restrictions, will come into force to provide traders with the approximate value of real estate prices. The program calculates the estimated value of the property according to a set of standards that can be later modified by the user. It also allows the beneficiary to appraise the property by entering its number (Bond No.) and the specific data in valuation application entries. The program enables users as well to modify entered data, calculate the estimated value of the property and view property map through (Enwani) link in the application when valuating using property number.

28 March 2016

MoLSA Launches Three New e-Services

The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA) have launched three new e-services on its website for recruitment offices and Gulf Cooperation Council citizens. MoLSA enables such offices to review and follow up complaints filed against them and know reason and result of the complaint. The services provided for GCC citizens include work permit request for those sponsored by their relatives. Users can know their work permits and its end dates. MoLSA also provides e-services for the companies to enable them to follow new requests submitted to Labor Department and know their statuses (Approved, Refused or Visiting Labor Dept. in case of Qatariztion).

19 July 2021

National Committee for Geospatial Information Governance Discusses Government Initiatives at 3rd Meeting

The National Committee for Geospatial Information Governance (NCGIG) held its 3rd meeting, chaired by Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, where it discussed its latest developments and government initiatives. In attendance were National Space Science Agency (NSSA) CEO, Dr. Mohamed Ebrahim Al-Aseeri; Ministry of Housing Assistant Undersecretary for Housing Policies and Services, Dr. Khalid Abdulrahman Al-Hidan; Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning Assistant Under Secretary for Resources and Information, Mohammed Adel Bu Hassan; iGA Governance and Enterprise Architecture Director, Dr. Khalid Ahmed Al Mutawa; and Cabinet Affairs Program Follow-up Consultant, Nader Jalal Al-Awadhi. Al Qaed welcomed the members and Mr. Nader Al Awadhi for attending the meeting and thanked them for their efforts. The committee discussed a number of items including progress made in projects submitted by the members. Dr. Mohamed Al-Aseeri delivered a brief on the most notable NSSA projects relating to space science and satellites, praising the advanced level that the Agency has reached in achieving them, which helps turn the Kingdom into one of the countries competing to lead the field. The NSSA representative presented an initiative for feeding agricultural data into national geographic information, and the necessity of deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support the agricultural sector. The committee reviewed the progress made by a Survey and Land Registration Bureau (SLRB) team in charge of the National Aerial Photography Program, and discussed the development of a network to monitor national sites that are used in construction and engineering works. The iGA presented an initiative to develop unified standards for architecture drawings. These standards aim to lower the cost of the inclusion and conversion of architecture drawings, as well as improve their accuracy and ease of use with drawings files. Also discussed was an initiative for governing the sharing of geospatial information in the National Geographic Information Base. The committee also covered the progress of unifying spatial street segments and the use of experimental openings, issuing a directive to implement the recommendations of the project’s technical teams.

14 January 2021

New National Committee for Geospatial Information Governance (NCGIG) Holds Inaugural Meeting

In line with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to develop its geospatial information sector, the newly formed National Committee for Geospatial Information Governance (NCGIG) held its inaugural meeting remotely via video conference. The committee’s formation implements Edict (21) of 2021, which was issued by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Speaking on behalf of the committee, Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive and NCGIG Chairman, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed expressed his gratitude to the Crown Prince and Prime Minister for his trust in this important national committee, and to Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects, H.H. Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa for his support, assuring them that the committee will perform its duties to the best of its abilities, particularly in matters related to Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Mr. Al Qaed welcomed representatives of ministries and other government entities, wishing them the best in their tenures as committee members. He emphasized the role of the committee in supporting infrastructural projects and services, while providing accurate information. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation between different government entities and ensuring that policies and standards are in place for the exchange of geospatial data and photos. This is expected to help boost the Kingdom’s development, especially in relation to infrastructural projects. He thanked the members of the committee whose valuable contributions helped the Kingdom achieve several advancements. He also expressed his hope that the current year would mark the end of the extraordinary circumstances the Kingdom found itself in, and that the world would soon overcome the challenges of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. NCGIG Chairman reviewed various topics on the committee’s agenda. This was followed by the committee selecting Survey and Land Registration Bureau (SLRB) General Director, Eng. Naji Sabt as Committee Vice Chairman and iGA Director of Governance and Enterprise Architecture Directorate, Dr. Khalid Ahmed Al Mutawa as the Secretary of the Committee. The meeting discussed SLRB’s proposal to review the flow of work related to current plans. They reviewed the accomplishments to date and the technical requirements needed to streamline current initiatives. Mr. Al Qaed emphasized the need to review documentation related to these initiatives to decide if any new paperwork needed to be added. The NCGIG was formed in implementation of Edict (15) of 2017, issued by HRH Prime Minister. Its purpose is to propose policies and national strategic plans for the development of the geospatial information sector, setting descriptions and standards and identifying each government entity’s responsibility. It works to ensure that the quality of data collected remains accurate, up to date, and not duplicated. The committee was formed with Mr. Mohamed Al Qaed as Chairman, and with the participation of seven government representatives: Dr. Mohammed Ebrahim Al Aseeri representing the National Space Science Agency (NSSA); Noof Abdulrahman Jamsheer representing the Urban Planning and Development Authority (UPDA); Eng. Naji Sabt representing SLRB; Dr. Khalid Abdulrahman Al-Hidan representing the Ministry of Housing; Eng. Ebrahim Abdulla Al-Kaabi representing the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA); Mohammed Adel Bu Hassan representing the Ministry of Works, Municipality Affairs and Urban Planning; and Dr. Al Mutawa representing the iGA.

28 March 2016

New online system to connect Qatar's diplomatic missions

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) signed an agreement with Ooredoo yesterday to connect its diplomatic missions worldwide through a safe online system. As per the agreement, Ooredoo will build the MoFA Global Network (MGN), an initiative to connect more than 100 Qatari diplomatic missions around the world with their headquarters in Doha. MoFA staff in those offices will have access to IP telephony and video conferencing, in addition to WAN acceleration for better application performance, ensuring that no matter how remote and underdeveloped the area they operate in is, they remain connected. Saif Al Kuwari, Director of the Department of Information Systems and Technology at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: "The MoFA Global Network is a landmark initiative from the Government of the State of Qatar, being led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to ensure that our diplomatic missions are supported by a world-class communication and connectivity solution. As Qatar's profile continues to grow on the world stage, we are implementing cutting-edge infrastructure to ensure that all our teams can stay in-touch and receive and share information, updates and advice from their different territories." To read more, please visit this link.

11 February 2015

Oman: ITA boost cooperation with UN in eGovernment field

In line with the Information Technology Authority (ITA) efforts in eTransformation, a delegation from ITA headed by Dr. Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of ITA, visited USA last week to benefit from their best practices in eGovernment field. The visit also aimed at discussing ways of cooperation between the Sultanate and the United Nations (UN) represented by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Statistics Division of the Organization and the World Bank. The delegation was briefed on the experience of the United Stated in several related areas, including open data, eParticipation and smart cities. The visit also included a series of meetings with senior officials of the organization, including the United Nations team who is assessing the eGovernment development, in order to discuss the United Nations eGovernment Survey Report. Dr. Salim Al Ruzaiqi delivered a presentation at the World Bank Headquarters, on the Sultanate's strategic vision of using ICTs as a key enabler of economic diversification and transition to a knowledge-based economy, as reflected in the Oman Digital Society and e-Government Strategy (e.oman). On the visit agenda, the delegation met with the Center for Technology in Government in New York, the team responsible for studying the contribution of ICT in the GDP and national income. They also met with the officials in the New York Open Government Data, as it's a pioneering experience in the field of eGovernment.

28 April 2015

Online fancy car numbers auction set

Online auction for some special car numbers begins tomorrow, the Traffic Department has said. The auction through Metrash2 will begin at noon and continue until Thursday 10pm, the department said on its Twitter account. Bidding will start from QR100,000 and participants, as per rules, are required to make a deposit of QR20,000 as insurance.

17 August 2021

Online services transaction amounts Jump 257% to Over BD200+ Million in H1 2021

Revenues from eServices across channels exceeded BD200 million during the first half of 2021, soaring by 257% compared to the same period last year, the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) revealed. The results, announced in an H1 2021 report, reflect the role that eServices play in matching the demands of individuals, government entities, and business owners, particularly during the pandemic, and their steady progress towards achieving the Kingdom’s digital transformation aspirations. The number of financial transactions carried out through e different electronic Channels in the first half of this year exceeded 1.6 million, double the number recorded during the same period last year, indicating a high level of trust in the quality of services provided. Advanced technologies deployed in carrying out these tasks have contributed to enhancing the quality of government performance. iGA Acting Chief Executive, Dr. Zakareya Ahmed AlKhajah said that digital transformation and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiatives are given the highest priority by the Kingdom’s senior leadership, noting that the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology (SCICT), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, continuously issues directives in this regard. He also highlighted the directives and support of the Minister of Interior, H.E. Lt- Gen. Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa to develop and continue offering eServices to the public despite the circumstances imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. AlKhajah said that the iGA is continuing its efforts towards the complete digitization of government offerings, creating more transparency, and offering the highest quality of online services. He praised the cooperation of other government entities, which resulted in accelerating the digitization process. He thanked the ICT team members at public and private organizations, who displayed a high degree of professionalism and adaptability to new technologies. The report revealed other significant results during H1 2021, including that more than 1.1 million financial transactions were carried out via the National Portal, bahrain.bh, an increase of 76% compared to the same period of last year. eServices amount generated through the Portal were approximately BD188 million, more than double compared to H1 2020. The top ePayment services used via the Portal were (Electricity Deposit Payment Service) and (Pay Coronavirus -Covid-19 Test Fees), (MOJ Unified Payment), (Private Notary), and (Passport Renewals). The most used services included (Employment Application for the Civil Service Bureau), (Issuing Copies of Student Certificates) and (Student Exam Results). The report also showed an increase in transactions carried out via smart device apps, which exceeded 390,000, a 92% spike compared to H1 2020. The amounts generated from these apps was over BD20 million, a 145% increase. BeAware Bahrain was the most frequently used app, highlighting its importance in providing information to users during the pandemic, including the latest updates regarding precautions to be taken in public, as well as its usefulness in conducting transactions such as COVID-19 PCR test fee payments. Also among the most used apps was Sehati, which offers a service for booking appointments at health centers; Islamiyat, due to its popular Fa’el Khair donation collection service; and the National Suggestions and Complaints App, Tawasul.

28 April 2021

Qatar makes progress on e-Government targets

The Steering Committee tasked with implementing the Qatar e-Government 2020 Strategy has made "significant" progress in fulfilling its scheduled targets, review meetings have found. Chaired by HE the Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Dr Hessa Sultan al-Jaber, the latest review meetings were held by the committee over the past two weeks with HE the Finance  Minister, Ali Sherif al-Emadi, HE the Minister of Development Planning and Statistics, Dr Saleh Mohamed Salem al-Nabit, and HE the Minister of Public Health, Abdullah bin Khalid al-Qahtani. After the sessions, it has been agreed to establish joint task work groups, under the committee's supervision, to step up the pace of project implementation. The Qatar e-Government 2020 Steering Committee briefed the ministers on the progress in implementing the Qatar e-Government 2020 Strategy, the projects that have been done and others underway. The meetings reviewed project status, recommendations for each ministry's projects, challenges confronted and ways to overcome them. The ministers hailed the progress made on Qatar eGOV2020 and efforts being exerted by the committee to move on to the next levels, and placed emphasis on meeting the project timelines. HE Minister of Planning and Statistics, Dr al-Nabit, stressed the importance of vital projects drawn in the strategy and means to take advantage of the online data. They also stressed importance of co-ordination between all government entities to translate projects into reality and the need to conform to the best international practices. Established by the Cabinet in September 2013, the Qatar eGOV2020 Steering Committee developed the Qatar e-Government 2020 Strategy in February 2014, which was officially released in May of that year. The strategy is designed to benefit everyone including the members of the public, whether they are citizens, residents or visitors. All will be able to access e-Government services that are simple, secure, and available anytime, anywhere. "Qatar's population is expected to reach 2.5mn by 2022, and the government places a high priority on meeting the needs of people in Qatar, and making the best use of rapidly changing technology, now and in the future," a committee statement said. Once the strategy is implemented businesses and private organizations will find it easier, simpler, and faster to register and operate a business. Qatar's strategy for economic diversification relies on creating the right environment for investment and businesses, and removing any barriers to doing business, so that the economy can continue to grow and develop. By putting in place the measures recommended by the committee, government entities will be confident they are providing better services to people and businesses, are more efficient, and are achieving better overall outcomes for the nation. The result is savings in public administration due to e-Government, and time savings to citizens and other users. Beyond cost and time savings, e-Government also creates greater transparency and higher-quality outcomes.

28 March 2016

Qatar to Bring Key Govt Services Online by 2020

Qatar is on track to achieving its target of bringing all key government services online by 2020, a new report has revealed. According to a research report released by the Ministry of Transport and Communications on Sunday, 681 government services were online as of December 2015 and the number is expected to rise to 1,000 by the end of 2016. In fact, IT executives in Qatar believe that the use of information and communications technologies by the government has improved the quality of services to citizens significantly.   To read more, please visit this link.

14 June 2021

REGE 21 Workshop hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain a Success

Information & eGovernment Authority held an engaging and productive virtual Regional eGovernment Experts workshop on 9th June 2021 to provide vital inputs to improve eGovernment Development Indicators for the upcoming United Nations eGovernment Survey Report 2022, a globally recognized index and benchmark on the development of eGovernment. The workshop, organized under the patronage of H.E. Mohammed Al Qaed, Chief Executive, Information & eGovernment Authority, brought senior UNDESA officials, leaders of digital government in the Arab & Gulf Region, ICT experts, decision makers, academicians, researchers, government officials and practioners across the globe. The speakers and participants in the workshop praised Kingdom of Bahrain’s effort to strengthen the cooperation and exchange of experiences between Arab countries in the e-government field. The event granted the participants deep insights into the achievements of GCC countries in the digital government field as well as the ways to address the issues and challenges pertaining to UN eGovernment indicators. In his welcome message, Mr. Al Qaed talked about the significance of the UN eGovernment Development Report and how it paves the way for the future direction of the Digital Government. Mr. Al Qaed added that the UN eGovernment Report "provides visionary directions to set the international ICT Trends. He stressed the importance of cooperation between the GCC and Arab region and UNDESA. The region takes the report seriously by imbedding it in their national strategies and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). He discussed the major technological advancements such as 5 G, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence that has been implemented in many countries across the region and how ICT advancements have accelerated the diversification of the economy in many countries in the region. He also stressed how technological advancement had supported the government's effort to address the challenges related to COVID-19 pandemic. Lastly, Mr. Al Qaed highlighted the importance of reflecting the regional challenges and technological advancement aspirations in the UN Report. In his keynote speech, Mr. Vincenzo Aquaro, Chief, Digital Government Branch, Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG), United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) provided a glimpse of Global eGovernment scenario and the methodology associated with various components of eGovernment development components such as Online Service Index (OSI), Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (TII) and Human Capital Index (HCI). He also highlighted the proposed improvements in Online Service Index and other pilot initiatives including use of AI for more effective groupings of member states. The keynote speech was followed by a session where the digital leaders of eGovernment in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, , , and Morocco presented their digital achievements and their future plans with the participation of Egypt and Jordan. The presentations highlighted the significant digital investments and their emphasis on accelerating the digital transformation aligned to the National Vision leading to make a difference in the constituents’ life and the country’s economy. Digital Government experts spoke about the impact of SDGs on the UN eGovernment Survey. They stressed the need to have a new collaborative approach to data collection and should also give more importance to the demand side of the digital transformation. The round table sessions participated by the UN Expert, ICT Experts and eGovernment leaders in the Arab Gulf region discussed the global eGovernment trends and identified the UN eGovernment major findings with respect to the region. The participants explored milestones, issues and challenges concerning eGovernment development indicators to help GCC & Arab countries to learn from the best practices and share knowledge about the United Nation's e-Government Development Index (EGDI) and its impact on the world today. Information & eGovernment Authority will be summarizing all observations, suggestions, and recommendations resulted from the workshop and submit them to UNDESA to presented at the UN Expert Group meeting responsible to update the UN eGovernment Survey 2022.

09 March 2021

Registration Open for 11th Edition of eGovernment Excellence Award

Award Held Under Patronage of HH Deputy Prime Minister Nominations are open for the 2021 eGovernment Excellence Award, now in its 11th edition. Held under the patronage of the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, the award is open to participants from the public and private sectors, as well as individuals and civil society organizations. Entries can be submitted via the award’s website, www.egovaward.bh from 10th March until 10th April, 2021. Information & eGovernment (iGA) Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed said this year’s award reaffirms Bahrain’s commitment to moving forward with its objectives of highlighting innovative and pioneering initiatives in the ICT sector, despite the circumstances imposed by the pandemic. The sector has enjoyed notable growth thanks to rapid technological developments aimed at serving the needs of individuals and organizations, including the challenges they are facing during the current pandemic. The award allows participants to enter innovative and efficient projects and services, and compete by showcasing how they add value to beneficiaries and contribute to Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 and the kingdom’s Digitization. Al Qaed said that the award comes at a time when the rate of digital transformation has been accelerating in all aspects of life. This has motivated individuals and public and private organizations to offer innovative products and services, help to support and sustain infrastructure, and present pioneering technology-based ideas that are easily accessed via digital channels. He called for individuals and organizations to participate in the award with innovative projects and services that have experienced rapid transitions from traditional to modern systems, employed new technologies and gained the approval of their beneficiaries, or improved their quality or extended their utilization. Al Qaed added that the award seeks to motivate innovation and excellence in the provision of products, projects, and eServices, in a way that supports the Kingdom’s ICT sector, and encourages local and regional expansion. He cited the award’s support for the rapid growth of the ICT sector over the years, and its contributions to the Kingdom’s digital transformation, and the dissemination of knowledge. Its worth mentioning that this year’s Public Sector Awards include “Best Website”, “Best Government-to-Government (G2G) Service”, “Best Practice in Community eParticipation”, “Best Integrated Services for Individuals or Businesses”, and “Best Application for Smart Devices”. The Private Sector Awards consist of “Best Application for Smart Devices” and “Best eService”, while the Citizen Award includes “Best eConcept”. Those looking to participate or attend a virtual session about the awards, or who have inquiries, can email their requests to egovaward@iga.gov.bh or call the Government Services Contact Center on 80008001. All submissions are evaluated by a committee of experts representing local and international entities. For more details, visit the award’s official website egovaward.bh.

28 March 2016

"Sakk" e-Portal Launched

HE Minister of Justice Dr. Hassan bin Lahdan Al Muhannadi inaugurated "Sakk" legal web portal as a part of the first phase of developing the infra-structure of legal documentation at the State of Qatar.  HE the Minister oversaw the first electronic transaction. The portal provides 14 different online documentation services. In the near future, the ministry will add 16 different real estate registration services. Commenting on the launch, HE the Minister said it comes in the context of the directives of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to facilitate government services to citizens. To read more, please visit this link.

28 March 2016

SCH Launches Qatar National Formulary Online

The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has launched the first Qatar National Formulary (QNF), a digital format about the information of the medicines approved in the country. The QNF will enable physicians, clinical staff and the general public to access the latest information, through the website, on more than 4,800 medicines available in the country. The QNF features a medication guide that reports on adverse effects of medicines. There is provision for online reporting of adverse drug reaction, as a member of World Health Organization's Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC). Located in Uppsala, Sweden, the UMC is the field name for the WHO Collaborating Centre for International Drug Monitoring. To read more, please visit this link.

28 March 2016

Seven Traffic Services Go Online

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) is offering seven traffic-related services online from next month in an attempt to simplify as well as speed up procedures. Lt Colonel Jamal Mohammed al-Shraim, assistant director of the Traffic and Road Safety Engineering Department of the General Directorate of Traffic at MoI, said the services include request for street closure, use of parking space, request for private parking, vehicle stickers, commercial license and construction/ removal of speed humps. According to Shraim, the new services are part of MoI's efforts to switch to paperless transactions. From February, companies can submit their requests to the traffic department on MoI's website as well as on the Hukoomi portal. He said the Information Systems Department will facilitate the conduct of these transactions electronically. Captain Engineer Mohammed Misfer al-Hajiri, head of the traffic planning section of the Traffic and Road Safety Engineering Department, said more e-services will be launched in the next six months. These include services for people with disabilities and truck permits. "From the beginning of next month, use of paper will be stopped and companies will be able to request services only online. It is much easier for individuals to submit requests online than by visiting the department," he said. He said some steps have to be taken to avail of these services, including activation of the smart ID card, getting a smart ID card reader from approved shops listed on the website and registration for Metrash service. These services can be best accessed on browsers such as Firefox, Google Chrome and Explorer 8 along with downloading Java plugin software version 7.0 and later versions.

28 April 2015

Supply Services to be Provided Online

Al Sharq has learned that the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) is improving the Central Tenders Committee (CTC) services by transforming its supply services to online ones. The CTC is implementing this project according to the defined work phases to provide all these services through the ministry's website and without the need for citizens to attend to CTC. Users may activate the required service by entering their personal information, depending on the quantity of supplies.

07 April 2021

The Bahraini economy is recording a recovery at current prices by 0.20% in the fourth quarter of 2020

The Information and eGovernment Authority issued the preliminary results of the national accounts for the fourth quarter of 2020. The report indicated that the Kingdom of Bahrain's GDP had achieved a slight recovery in the fourth quarter at current prices, equivalent to 0.20%, while the economy stabilized at constant prices compared to the previous quarter of the same year (Q32020). The quarterly National Accounts bulletin indicated that the gross domestic product of the non-oil sectors grew by 3.32% and 2.07% at real and current prices respectively, supported by the recovery of the financial sector, transportation and communications sector , government services and trade sectors. The national accounts report confirmed that financial projects grew by 11.56% at real prices and declined by 6.59% at current prices when compared to the third quarter of 2020. The bulletin showed a significant growth in the field of transportation and communications by 9.44% and 9.97%. Government services also registered a growth of 5.25% at real prices and 13.05% at current prices. The social and personal services had shown a positive growth of 7.15% at real prices and 8.45% at current prices. As for the trade sector, it rose by 2.03% and 2.87% at real and current prices, respectively. The Building and construction recorded a slight contraction of 0.77% at real prices, while it achieved a growth of 1.25% at current prices, while the mining and quarrying sector recorded a major contraction of 12.28% at real prices and 11.43% at current prices. The hotel and restaurant activity recorded a decrease of 13.58% at real prices and 13.52% at current prices, reflecting the impact of the pandemic on the tourism sector. The Manufacturing sector has shown a mixed trend, decreased by 1.79% at real prices while they grew by 5.31% at current prices. As for private educational and health services, private education witnessed a decrease of 0.54% and 0.21% at real and current prices, respectively. Private health services also witnessed a contraction of 0.02% at real prices, while they increased by 0.06% at current prices. Comparison of Q4 2020 estimates with the Q4 2019 estimates When compared the economic sectors and activities during the fourth quarter of 2020 with the corresponding quarter for the year 2019, we find that the economy contracted by 5.51% at real prices and by 7.28% at current prices. The results also showed a significant negative growth in the oil sector by 8.62% at constant prices, and by 30.90% at current prices, and the decline also continued in the non-oil sector by 4.82% and 3.27% at constant and current prices, respectively. The government services grew by 12.68% at real prices and 13.72% at current prices, whereas the financial sector projects recorded a positive growth of 11.04% and 12.48% at real and current prices, respectively. However, due to the extension of the repercussions of the pandemic and its direct impact on air traffic and hotel occupancy, the hotel and restaurant sector declined by 42.22% and 42.58% at real and current prices respectively, whereas the transport and communications activity recorded a decrease by 30.78% at real prices and 29.27% at current prices. The report also indicated a decline in building and construction activity amounting to 2.14% at constant prices and 10.89% at current prices. Likewise, commercial trade activities declined, as expected, by 9.57% and 7.42% at constant and current prices, respectively. The manufacturing industries also decreased by 9.12% in constant prices, and grew very slightly by 0.79% at current prices. For more information, visit: www.data.gov.bh

25 November 2015

The GCC eGovernment Conference

Held under the patronage of HRH the Prime Minister, The GCC eGovernment Conference Showcases and Discusses the Most Prominent Successful Experiences in the Public Service Sector   Held under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman AlKhalifa the Prime Minister on 25th & 26th November; organized by Information and eGovernment Authority, the upcoming 4th GCC eGovernment Award, Conference and Exhibition 2015 encompasses a highly-esteemed collection of GCC speakers representing diverse sectors in the fields of eGovernment and public service. Thru the event, speakers will discuss the most prominent projects and modern trends; while showcasing a set of successful experiences - with the attendance of IT-specialized employees in the government sector within the GCC states.   During the conference, a total number of 14 topics and work papers will primarily highlight the most important GCC eGovernment-related matters that are represented in Big and Smart Data, Integration of Environmental Information to Support Regional Decision-Making, Government Shared Services, and Smart Social Media; along with the presentation of GCC experiences in the eGovernment field across a range of sectors such as justice, social development and many others.   This year's edition is distinctive as it will embrace the exchange of experiences by staging two key topics from each GCC country during the two-day event. The Kingdom of Bahrain will be presenting the Business Licensing Integrated System (BLIS) by Mr. Hameed Rahma Assistant Undersecretary for Domestic Trade, together with the National Suggestions and Complaints System ‘Tawasul' by Mr. Mohammed Abdulaziz Abdullah, Acting Director of eService Delivery and Channel Enhancement. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will present The Justice Portal by both Chief Information Officer Mr. Majed AlOthman and Senior System Analyst Mr. Turki Khotani, while Strategy & Technology Consultant Mr. Mohammad Aseeri will showcase the Big Data between Motion & Technique paper. United Arab Emirates is also eager to present Dubai's Smart Training Initiative paper by Senior Manager of Excellence Initiatives for Dubai Governmental Excellence Program Mr. Hazza AlNeaimi, followed by Cloud Service Manager Mr. Ahmed AlSalman's paper on Smart Cloud of the UAE Government paper.   Oman's speaker Mr. Said AlMashani, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Communication & Public Relations, will present the Community Participation of Omani Shura paper; while National Digital Certification Center Acting Director Mr. Yahya AlAzri will present the Electronic Authentication Use through Mobiles paper. From Qatar, Director of Human Resource Information System Ms. Noora AlNeaimi will showcase the Mawared Program; along with Senior Level Government Manager Mr. Walid Galal presenting the paper Discover the Benefits of Government Shared Services. Kuwait will be presented by Dr. Mohammad AlAhmad, Deputy Director General for Environmental Monitoring Affairs, within the GCC Environmental Portal session; whereas the Online Social Loan Service session presented by Chief Information Officer Mr. Tariq AlUsaimi.   "Work is underway to complete the remaining preparations of hosting our regional neighboring countries in their second home, the Kingdom of Bahrain; to participate in the conference and highlight the most significant local initiatives being implemented in the GCC countries along with the various advanced initiatives in order to boost the quality of government services provided to citizens," said Organizing Committee Chairman of the 4th GCC eGovernment Award, Conference and Exhibition 2015 Director of Awareness & Marketing Directorate at the Information & eGovernment Authority Mr. Fahad Isa Al Qadhi.   The GCC eGovernment Award, Conference and Exhibition is held once every two years in one of the GCC states. It was first hosted in the Sultanate of Oman in 2009, followed by Kuwait in 2011, then United Arab Emirates in 2013. The award is considered as a tool in encouraging and promoting positive competition among countries to present the best services for users. The conference is also weighted as a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences amongst participating countries as well as execute strategies and programs related to eGovernment. Moreover, it is measured as a tool to enrich mutual relations amongst countries as well as cooperatively contribute in setting future developments that aim at advancing joint GCC initiatives so as to serve citizens of this region. 

06 December 2015

The GCC eGovernment Conference is Concluded

The 4th GCC eGovernment Award, Conference and Exhibition 2015, under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa – the Prime Minister, was concluded on Thursday (26th November) with the attendance of more than 750 participants from all over the GCC countries - joining the Opening Ceremony and conference sessions held in the course of two-days. Day two of the event embraced seven plenary sessions alongside a Panel Discussion of the six GCC eGovernment Heads – moderated by Dr. Zakareya Ahmed Al-Khaja from Bahrain's Informatics & eGovernment Authority. A number of topics, related to the eGovernment's role in the national economy, were covered during the discussion; highlighting how the public has built its confidence in eGovernment and the extent of the eGovernment's steadiness in competing on an international level thanks to its future projects. During the discussion, UAE's Information & eGovernment Sector Acting Deputy Director General Mr. Salem Al-Hosani stated that even though the current situation is directed towards reducing costs, such reduction should not be on the expense of providing services to citizens; instead, services must remain on very high standards. Mr. Mohammed Ali Al-Qaed, from Bahrain's Informatics & eGovernment Authority, confirmed the importance of working on developing the governmental services through Business Process Re-Engineering and operations of governmental entities, in order to effectively reduce costs. Dr. AbdulRahman bin Sulaiman Al-Eraini; Saudi Arabia Advisor to the Minister of Communications & IT and Director General of eGovernment Program; stressed on the importance of investing in IT in line with other fields such as health and education sectors. He also mentioned that 70% of ICT investments are being spent on equipments while it is required to focus the spending on other areas such as re-engineering and enhancing the innovation role. Oman's Chief Executive Officer of Information Technology Authority Dr. Salim Al Ruzaiqi stated that each GCC country own comprehensive strategies, that not only focus on providing online services but also consider the awareness area and citizen's capacity building. Qatar's ICT Government Programs Assistant Undersecretary Hassan AlSayed stated that in order to obtain the citizen's trust in utilizing the eGovernment services, it is required to eliminate the traditional methods. Kuwait's Central Agency for Information Technology Deputy General Director Ms. Majida Al-Naqeeb highlighted the methods utilized in Kuwait to gain citizens' trust in online services through allowing easy obtaining of information and payment services. Second day of the event commenced with the ‘Big Data' session presented by Gartner Inc. Research Director Mr. Joao Tapadinhas, followed by United Arab Emirates' ‘Smart Cloud' session, then Qatar's ‘Discover the Benefits of Government Shared Services', ‘Electronic Authentication Use through Mobiles' by Oman, ‘Big Data between the Notion and Technique' by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait's ‘Online Social Loan' session, and finally with Bahrain's ‘Business Licensing Integrated System'. At the conclusion of the sessions, Recommendation Committee proposed several recommendations which will be raised to the GCC eGovernment Executive Committee so as to follow-up on their executions, going in line with the achievements of policies and strategies of the member states. In the accompanied exhibition; the stands of the 18 participating governmental entities from the GCC countries, showcased the most prominent experiences and electronic projects. Such attempt enhances the exchange of expertise among the GCC countries in the eGovernment field.

28 April 2021

Two New Services Launched at Engineers Committee

The Information Systems Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning (MMUP) announced the launch of two new services, in coordination with the Engineers & Engineering Offices Accrediting & Classifying Committee, namely the grievances service and the registration and follow-up service of engineers' accreditation by the Engineers & Engineering Offices Accrediting & Classifying Committee. Users can benefit from the two services by submitting their grievances requests through the MMUP website, then following up their requests and the actions taken. The two services are part of the bundle of services related to the committee on the MMUP website to ease and accelerate the completion of the committee-related services.

23 March 2015

West Bay free transport smart cards distributed

The Ministry of Transport started issuing smartcards for the free West Bay shuttle bus service launched by the Ministry last year in a bid to overcome traffic jams, facilitate travel of commuters and resolve car park problems in that area. Smartcards are being issued to employees of the Ministries of Justice and Municipality and Urban Planning, Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy. The Ministry of Transport considers this move as part of a campaign promoting the use of public transport as an alternative to single occupancy private and taxi vehicles. The Ministry hopes the service, will help customers visiting shopping malls and various ministries, government agencies and service departments spreading in the Towers Zone, and enable them complete their transactions and services in shorter time. Although the service is free of charge, passengers must use Karwa smartcards to take the shuttle buses so that the ministry can collect and analyze data on the service. The Ministry pointed out that the cards may also be used for other public transport buses provided they are topped up at Karwa smartcard outlets, Ooredoo or at the main bus stations. It is worth noting that the Ministry has widened shuttle bus road lanes at West Bay to improve services for visitors and residents of the area. The shuttle service works on 2 routes, dubbed the red line and the blue line. The blue line starts from Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex and travels along the International Convention Center, the Towers Zone, Ministry of Justice, Ashghal, Sheraton Hotel, the Hotels Area up to City Center and back to Khalifa Tennis Complex. The red line starts from the General Post Office and goes to the Hotels Area, the ministries opposite City Center and back to the Car park at the General Post Office. The Ministry aims to make public transport more efficient and attractive with the understanding that public transport contributes positively to the economy, and that sustainable transport will eventually improve upcoming generations' quality of life and achieve environmental justice. The Ministry is keen to promote a culture of public transport in densely populated areas through diversification of convenient and comfortable services for residents and visitors. The Ministry strives to implant the concept of sustainable transport as a safe solution that helps avoiding congestions and traffic jams, and facilitates transactions for customers at the ministries and banks located in West Bay.

28 March 2016

MoFA Information Systems and Technology Gets ISO Certification

The Information Systems and Technology at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has obtained the ISO 27001 Certification in Information Security Management System (ISMS). Such an achievement is a culmination of the efforts being exerted in order to improve the technical aspects in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the certificate documents the functions of Information Technology functions within the Ministry in the areas of development, implementation, operation, monitoring, review, maintaining information security systems as part of a continuous risk management process and providing maximum protection for the information. To read more, please visit this link.

28 March 2016

Mowasalat launches Karwa taxi app

Mowasalat has launched a Karwa taxi app, which is free to download for both IOS and Android devices. A ride can be requested with a single click, and the customer gets picked up by the nearest taxi in the shortest period. A booking can also be made for future or for immediate pickup. It is also possible to rate one's trips, including driver, vehicle and overall service. Each service provider's performance is linked to trips ratings. "I have to thank the team Karwa Solutions, in accomplishing this landmark service with the cooperation and collaboration of Mowasalat's Karwa taxi operations, Karwa Taxi Management office and our four franchise taxi operators," Mowasalat CEO, Khalid Al Hail, said. "Today we are operating around 4000 taxi with four franchise operators on board, which will go up to 7000 taxi with more franchise operators joining. We envisage our company to grow in the future and become a shareholding company with IPO plans. Through franchise, we have given taxi license to four more operators to increase growth in taxi fleet and services," he added. To read more, please visit this link.

23 March 2015

U.A.E: Shaikh Mohammed attends launch of GEMS Education initiative

Shaikh Mohammed was briefed on the first of its kind initiative in the region. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has attended the launch of GEMS Education, an initiative by The Arab Innovation Centre for Education, on the sideline of the 3rd Government Summit 2015, running from February 9 to 11. Shaikh Mohammed was briefed on the first of its kind initiative in the region, in the presence of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, and Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the Organising Committee of Government Summit. The Arab Innovation Centre will offer a platform for research to promote international best practices in the field of innovation and education and will incubate emerging business projects developed by UAE nationals in the education sector. It will also serve as an environment that allows young Emiratis and GEMS students, interested in the education field to showcase their entrepreneurship skills as well as the practical implementation of their ideas. The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, last year announced 2015 as the "Year of innovation", in line with plans to make the country a world leader in the field which will help boost research, attract national skills, and develop future leaders in the UAE.

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