Manama: In line with ongoing engagement with decision-makers in the technology and industry sectors and to discuss comprehensive development plans for artificial intelligence in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the HH Shaikh Nasser Centre Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Centre at the Nasser Centre for Science and Technology (NCST) held its first advisory executive council meeting for 2026.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the meeting was attended by council members and representatives from the public and private sectors, including the Shura Council, the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), Bapco Energies Group, Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO), the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), Eskan Bank, the Survey and Land Registration Bureau, the BENEFIT Company (BENEFIT), Bahrain Aquatics, the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), Hope Talents, and Solidarity Bahrain, reflecting the integration of public and private efforts to support the development of AI in Bahrain.
The NCST emphasised the key role of the advisory executive council in guiding the Centre's research and technical direction and supporting its aim to establish itself as a platform for innovation and the application of AI technologies across various domains.
The Centre reviewed its main outputs for 2025, which included implementing advanced initiatives and projects and organising awareness programmes and workshops in the field of AI. It also focused on the AI strategy for 2026, highlighting its main themes and future goals to support innovation and excellence in AI technologies, including a plan of future projects that includes more than 15 projects across various sectors, while underscoring continued growth in the Centre's network of partners locally and regionally.
The NCST announced the adoption of a more advanced generation of AI technologies, applying solutions based on agent-based systems and high-performance very large language models (vLLM), enabling more efficient intelligent model operation, faster inference, and improved scalability. These technologies aim to enable more complex automation, enhance intelligent decision-making capabilities, and support institutional workflows across various vital sectors.
The Centre underlined its intention to increase the services it provides outside the Kingdom, with a focus on building strategic partnerships and delivering advanced solutions that contribute to the deployment of AI and enhance the Centre's position locally and regionally.