Committees contributing to the development of ICT and digital transformation

Executive Committee chaired by HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister

Ministerial Committee for Information Technology and Communication (MCICT)

The Supreme Committee for Information Technology and Communication (SCICT) was formed in 2005 by the Prime Minister’s Decision No. (25) (PDF, 81.5KB, 3 pages, Arabic only), reformed in 2011 following the Prime Minister’s Decision No. (59) (PDF, 106KB, 1 page, Arabic only), and again in 2015 through Decision No. (4) (PDF, 110KB, 4 pages, Arabic only).

The committee is currently known as the Ministerial Committee for Information Technology and Communication (MICT), and is headed by H.E. Minister of Interior Gen. Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa.

Membership term:

Council membership is three years, renewable for the same period.

Objectives:

• Implementation of eGovernment directives
• Formulation of nationwide strategies and plans for IT development
• Coordination between all public and private entities in the IT field to avoid duplication of work and conflict between them
• Keeping pace with global IT developments at the government level
• Facing and quickly resolving obstacles facing the development of IT in the government
• Securing the support of all public and private organisations in the implementation of plans and strategies
• Unifying efforts to achieve eGovernment strategies and plans and across ministries and government entities

Scope:

• Setting strategies, plans, and programmes for eGovernment applications
• Recommending necessary legislation to accelerate the journey towards achieving a digital community
• Supporting government and private sector entities in securing the necessary resources to implement desired plans and strategies
• Representing the Kingdom at regional and global events and presenting studies and progress reports
• Studying the experiences of advanced countries in the ICT field and preparing reports and studies based on the collected data, as well as suggesting the best methods of enhancing the Kingdom’s experience

The Information and Communication Technology Governance Committee (ICTGC)

The National Committee for Geospatial Information Governance (NCGIG) was formed by the Prime Minister’s Decision No. (15) of 2017 (PDF, 100KB, 5 pages, Arabic only). It is part of the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister.

Membership term:

Committee membership is three years, renewable.

Scope:

• Proposing national policies and strategies to develop the geospatial information field and submitting them to the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects
• Setting geospatial information specifications and standards
• Specifying each entity’s responsibility and ownership of basic data, and coordinating its collection with the aim of maintaining quality and accuracy, ensuring it is up-to-date, and avoiding duplication
• Setting policies and procedures for the sharing and cost of geospatial information
• Ensuring system and data security
• Ensuring that mutual access is possible and open standards to achieve best international practices
• Facilitating and enhancing capability building and the exchange of knowledge
• Consulting all parties in matters related to geospatial information
• Deploying geospatial information in decision-making and increasing the effectiveness of the Kingdom’s ministries, government entities, and public organizations
• Promoting coordination between projects and the use of systems and programs in sourcing geospatial information, which prevents duplication of work, and reduces costs by unifying procurement and contracting.  

The National Committee for Geospatial Information Governance (NCGIG)

The National Committee for Geospatial Information Governance (NCGIG) was formed by the Prime Minister’s Decision No. (15) of 2017 (PDF, 100KB, 5 pages, Arabic only). It is part of the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister.

Membership term:

Committee membership is three years, renewable.

Scope:

• Proposing national policies and strategies to develop the geospatial information field and submitting them to the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects
• Setting geospatial information specifications and standards
• Specifying each entity’s responsibility and ownership of basic data, and coordinating its collection with the aim of maintaining quality and accuracy, ensuring it is up-to-date, and avoiding duplication
• Setting policies and procedures for the sharing and cost of geospatial information
• Ensuring system and data security
• Ensuring that mutual access is possible and open standards to achieve best international practices
• Facilitating and enhancing capability building and the exchange of knowledge
• Consulting all parties in matters related to geospatial information
• Deploying geospatial information in decision-making and increasing the effectiveness of the Kingdom’s ministries, government entities, and public organizations
• Promoting coordination between projects and the use of systems and programs in sourcing geospatial information, which prevents duplication of work, and reduces costs by unifying procurement and contracting.  

The Spectrum Strategy and Coordination Committee

The Spectrum Strategy and Coordination Committee was formed by the Prime Minister’s Decision No. (50) of 2015 (PDF, 98.7KB, 3 pages, Arabic only), with some of its provisions amended by Decision No. (7) of 2021 (PDF, 15 Pages, 307 KB, Arabic Only), It is part of the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister.

Membership term:

Membership in the committee is three years, renewable for the same period.

Scope:

• Implementing the provisions of the Telecommunications Law, issued by Decree No. (48) of 2002 (PDF, 431KB, 71 pages)
• Preparing and managing the National Frequency Plan and overall coordination of frequencies in the Kingdom
• Meeting spectrum requirements when preparing the National Frequency Plan, which sets technical policies related to the planning and distribution of the spectrum for all its resources in the Kingdom
• Meeting the spectrum requirements of all sectors, including entities responsible for civil defense and security
• Supporting the use of technologies that rely on spectrum efficiency
• Meeting all international treaties and requirements
• Meeting the spectrum needs of international radio services such as Galileo and GPS
• Facilitating the use of a Disaster Prevention Frequency System in the region and throughout the world to help emergency and rescue teams communicate with each other
• Studying matters related to the spectrum
• Participating in international meetings and conventions related to the spectrum, following coordination with concerned entities

The Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister

The Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects was formed by Decision No. (42) of 2018, which states that ministerial committees must be formed within the Cabinet.

Scope:

• Studying developmental and infrastructural projects and overseeing their implementation
• Reviewing policies and strategies that ensure the provision citizens infrastructure needs related to works, electricity, water, housing, municipalities, urban planning, agriculture, environment, and land, sea, and air transport
• Monitoring the speed through which services are provided to citizens, increasing their efficiency, and coordinating between concerned ministries
• Studying matters submitted by the Cabinet that are relevant to the committee’s tasks

The Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance

The Ministerial Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and Fiscal Balance was formed by Prime Minister Decision No. (42) of 2018.

Scope:

The committee’s responsibilities include:

• The fiscal and economic tasks of ministries, and other government entities and public organisations
• The state budget, independent and supplementary budgets, closing accounts, and national economic plans
• All fiscal and economic matters, and helping to achieve fiscal balance
• The fiscal and economic affairs of industries, companies, and organisations
• Monitoring the implementation of economic, financial, and investment-related tasks as per the Government Action Plan