Data Sharing & Governance

In the era of digital transformation, the Kingdom of Bahrain stands out as one of the leaders of innovation. The Bahrain Open Data Portal is more than just a platform; it's a catalyst for change, empowering individuals, businesses, and researchers with access to vital government data. This initiative is a cornerstone of Bahrain's Vision 2030, which underscores the crucial role of digital transformation and data management in fueling economic growth and development.

The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) is the official government entity responsible for national statistics, information management, and data analytics. iGA is the central organization for national data integration with other respective government entities to facilitate streamlined public service delivery.

Delving deeper, Bahrain's commitment to breaking down data silos and bridging skill gaps is evident. The establishment of the ‘National Taskforce for Information and Population,’ chaired by the Cabinet Affairs Minister, is a testament to this dedication. This task force is not just a bureaucratic body; it's the driving force behind updating and verifying data related to national indicators, socio-economic fields, and demographic statistics. The panel's role in proposing national demographic policies and ensuring the consistency and quality of data collection is pivotal in enhancing government accountability and strengthening data quality.

The Government of Bahrain’s use of geodata marks as another achievement. Through initiatives like the Bahrain Spatial Data Infrastructure (BSDI), the country is not just managing data but transforming it into a tool for simulating and predicting policy impacts. The use of GIS datasets and satellite technology for urban planning, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure management exemplifies Bahrain's innovative approach to data.

The National Real Estate Databank (Aqari) is a unified national digital platform for Bahraini real estate information. It enhances the Kingdom’s real estate information infrastructure, providing up-to-date, accurate, transparent, and reliable information to developers, investors, industry professionals, and decision-makers, and helping them to make sound decisions based on official sources.

Bahrain's journey in cloud computing, highlighted by Amazon as the first country to mandate government entities' migration to the cloud, sets a global benchmark. This Cloud-First Policy (PDF, 1,14MB, 11 pages) is more than a strategy; it is a vision for efficient, secure, and scalable data management across various government agencies. The migration of over 30 government agencies to the cloud underscores Bahrain's commitment to modernization and cost-effective data management.

Moreover, Bahrain isn't merely accumulating data; it's leveraging it intelligently through the establishment of a national data repository and the enhancement of Bahrain’s Open Data Portal. This sophisticated platform, designed with machine-readable formats, plays a crucial role in supporting significant initiatives such as the population census and the Consumer Price Index. In Bahrain, concepts like big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and advanced analytics aren't mere buzzwords; they serve as potent tools enriching sectors such as tourism and space science. By providing accurate insights, they empower decision-makers to make informed choices.

Bahrain's comprehensive approach to data governance, exemplified by its initiatives to mitigate data access risks and foster public trust—particularly evident during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign—positions it as a frontrunner in effective data management. The Kingdom's strides in this realm extend beyond mere data management; they embody a vision of a future where data acts as a catalyst for sustainable development and innovation, driving the nation towards prosperity.

Moreover, The Kingdom of Bahrain is keen on providing a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among industry experts in the data field, hence, the 9th SDMX Global Conference on Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange was hosted in the Kingdom from the 29th of October to the 2nd of November 2023 on the theme of “Empowering Data Communities”.