Manama: As part of the Bahrain Smart Cities Summit 2026, a high-level ministerial session was held on integrating government work in building future cities. The session discussed the foundations of government integration and the role of planning, implementation, and partnership in building future cities and achieving sustainable development goals.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the session featured speeches from Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, and Amna bint Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed emphasized the necessity of integration between different entities and sectors to build future cities, highlighting the importance of urban planning, transport, telecommunications systems, and digital services in creating connected, efficient, and sustainable cities. He pointed out the central role of transportation in smart city systems, mentioning the potential advancements through artificial intelligence, big data, smart traffic management, and electric and autonomous vehicles.
The Transportation Minister further explained that Bahrain is focusing on strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors and utilizing modern technologies to support sustainable development and enhance digital and transport infrastructure. He stressed that smart city solutions aim to build integrated urban systems that prioritize people and position Bahrain among the leading nations in smart transport and sustainable cities.
Minister Al Rumaihi spoke on the integrated approach necessary for the success of future cities, which involves combining urban planning, efficient implementation, and infrastructure and service provision with modern technologies. She noted Bahrain's experience in developing urban projects and emphasized the importance of integrated planning in creating sustainable urban communities. Highlighting the completion of master and detailed plans for existing and future areas, she noted that 96 unplanned areas have been connected to infrastructure networks over the past four years.
The Housing Minister also discussed the development of key housing cities as part of government efforts to implement directives from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, aiming to provide 40,000 housing units and accelerate housing projects to offer 50,000 units. She emphasized the high infrastructure completion rates in major housing cities and the successful partnership with the private sector in achieving urban and housing development goals.
Minister Al Rumaihi concluded by highlighting the Government Land Development Rights Programme as a successful national model for development partnership, noting progress on projects between 2023 and 2026, including a major housing project in Khalifa City aimed at providing over 2,500 housing units and apartments.