Manama: His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, met with His Excellency General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Minister of Interior, and His Excellency Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, the Ministry of Interior Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs, alongside a delegation from HID Global. The meeting included officials who collaborated in designing Bahrain's ePassport, which has been recognised with the highest number of major international awards.
According to Bahrain News Agency, a leading institution in the verification and examination of travel and identity documents, Bahrain's ePassport is acclaimed as one of the most visually distinctive and aesthetically designed passports globally. HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister received a trophy from HID Global in recognition of these achievements, highlighting the strategic priority of investing in technology and digital transformation to enhance government services' efficiency and quality.
HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad underscored that development is crucial for enhancing services provided to citizens, emphasizing innovation and creativity as key drivers. This approach strengthens Bahrain's position and boosts its competitiveness on regional and international levels. He affirmed the ongoing progress in digital transformation projects, reflecting the commitment of the Bahraini people to implementing strategic initiatives with high-quality standards.
His Royal Highness expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Interior and the Nationality and Passports Affairs employees for their efforts in adopting projects that leverage the latest technologies, enhancing development pathways, and improving service quality. HE General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah also conveyed gratitude for the support in advancing government services to meet citizens' needs, showcasing Bahrain's dedication to excellence.
Bahrain's ePassport has secured 13 international awards, including the "Best New Passport Award for 2024" in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at the High Security Print Awards in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Red Dot Design Award 2024 and the "iF Design Award 2024" for communication and publishing in Germany further highlight its design excellence, along with 10 awards from the London Design Awards.