Manama:Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Chief Executive of the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), recently hosted former heads of digital government authorities from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. These individuals, who are the founders of the GCC Digital Government Award and former members of the GCC Digital Government Executive Committee, were in attendance at the 7th round of the GCC Digital Government Award Ceremony 2026, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the meeting was an opportunity for Al Qaed to welcome the founders and express appreciation for their visit and participation in the Award ceremony. He highlighted the longstanding cooperation among GCC countries in digital transformation and development of government services.
Al Qaed praised the contributions of these former heads, noting that their attendance recognized their efforts in laying the groundwork for the GCC Digital Government Award and establishing the Executive Committee. He emphasized that their contributions have played a significant role in supporting digital transformation and advancing government operations across GCC countries.
The founders, in turn, expressed gratitude to Bahrain and the iGA for their initiative to honor them. They also conveyed appreciation to General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior, commending his remarks during the ceremony. The founders acknowledged the Award's evolution since its inception in Bahrain in 2008 into a platform that encourages excellence and innovation in digital government services across the GCC.
Furthermore, they praised the hospitality and organization of the event, noting that it reflected Bahrain's commitment to strengthening cooperation and digital integration among GCC member states. During the meeting, they congratulated the winners of the 7th round of the Award and wished them continued success.