Digital Government Strategy Principles
Principles Shaping Bahrain's Digital Government Strategy.
Driven by a commitment to "leaving no one behind," Bahrain's Digital Government Strategy empowers citizens, residents, and businesses through accessible, efficient, and transparent eServices.
This strategy is guided by the principle of Digital Inclusion, which underscores the importance of providing accessible digital services to all citizens and residents, complemented by ICT training and affordable Internet access. Additionally, the government actively encourages constituents to engage through their preferred digital channels, promoting ease of access and communication.
A central pillar of the strategy is the Digital-First policy, prioritizing digitization in service delivery. Notable examples include the Sijilat portal for commercial registrations and the National Taxation System which was developed in collaboration with the Information & eGovernment Authority, the National Bureau of Revenue (NBR), and Bahrain Customs Affairs. It is the first in the region to use cloud technology by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It offers a full suite of VAT-related services including registration, filing, payments, refunds, and audits through a public gateway portal and a SAP backend, ensuring on-demand computing and high availability.
The strategy also embraces Data-Driven Decision Making, harnessing advanced technologies and big data analytics to inform governance effectively. Furthermore, the government advocates for Digital Identity schemes, such as the single-sign-on eKey, to streamline service access and reduce operational costs. Lastly, the commitment to Transparency and Open Data is evident through the Bahrain Open Data Portal, consolidating and providing public access to data for transparency and civic engagement.
Transformative Initiatives
These principles underpin a series of transformative initiatives. Efforts to bridge the digital divide are exemplified by initiatives that improve digital infrastructure, provide laptops to needy students, provide digital training to the elderly, ensure gender equality in access to technology, and provide specific support to persons with disabilities. The government is also revamping digital channels to enhance security, user-friendliness, and personalization.
Moreover, service redesign projects, like Sijilat and the National Taxation System, streamline traditional processes into efficient digital workflows. To minimize redundancy, the strategy focuses on enabling single data entry for citizens and businesses. Additionally, Bahrain is establishing data centers for advanced data analysis, which includes projects like census data analysis and economic statistics.
The strategy's effectiveness is monitored through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), ensuring prompt completion of high-priority initiatives. A governance structure, including committees like the Executive Committee chaired by HRH, The Crown and Prime Minister, Ministerial Committee for ICT (MCICT) and the respective Ministerial Committees, oversees its coordinated implementation.
The National Enterprise Architecture (NEA) is an aggregation of models and meta-models, governance and compliance mechanisms, technology standards, and guidelines put together to implement and orchestrate Enterprise Architecture (EA) across several government entities.
By prioritizing these principles, Bahrain aims to ensure that no one is excluded from benefiting from the digital transformation and that all individuals can fully participate in the digital economy.
Bahrain Pulse provides an overview of all the national efforts that reinforce the Kingdom’s competitive advantage and achievements that boost its national economy and prosperity.
- The Information & eGovernment Authority’s Strategy
- Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals
- Alignment with National and Local Development Strategies
- Approach to New Emerging Technologies
- Committees contributing to the development of ICT and digital transformation
- Government Services Channels
- Impact of the eGovernment Program Initiatives
- Partnerships with the Private Sector
- Savings on Public Spending
- Recognitions and Awards of the eGovernment Program
- Economic Vision 2030 (PDF, 278KB, 26 pages)
- Fifth National Telecommunication Plan (PDF, 265KB, 16 pages)
- The National Health Insurance Program
- Al Qaed Highlights Bahrain's eGovernment Experience
- Labour Market Regulatory Authority
- The National Health Plan (2016-2025) (PDF, 3.53MB, 38 pages)
- SDG 1: No Poverty
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
As we navigate through the digital age, Bahrain confirms its commitment to transparency and innovation through the Open Data initiative through Bahrain’s Open Data Portal. This platform is a testament to our dedication to making government data openly available, supporting the principles of accountability and enabling informed decision-making. By providing access to a treasure trove of data, we empower everyone to explore, analyze, and create solutions that drive social and economic progress. The initiative underscores our belief in the power of data to transform lives, foster a culture of knowledge-sharing, and stimulate growth.
We encourage you to leverage this valuable resource, sparking innovation and contributing to the Kingdom’s development. For an enriching journey into the world of Open Data, and to explore the possibilities, visit Bahrain’s Open Data Portal.
Together, let's embrace the opportunity to contribute to Bahrain's digital evolution and ensure that our journey towards national development is a shared endeavor.
As part of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s unwavering commitment to fostering digital participation, you are invited to explore the available participation topics. Your engagement and contributions are crucial in shaping the digital landscape of the Kingdom of Bahrain, reflecting our collective vision for a future built on the principles of innovation, inclusivity, and progress. Explore more on how you can actively participate in discussions, share your insights, and collaborate on initiatives that are at the heart of our nation's growth.
For a broader exploration of topics and to join the conversation, please visit eParticipation.
Content Last Updated: 14 Jul, 2024