BAHRAIN’S top digital innovations were recognised during the 13th edition of the eGovernment Excellence Awards announced yesterday.
The event coincided with the kingdom marking 30 years since the Internet became accessible to the Bahrain public.
Thirteen private and public sector entities as well as three individuals walked away with awards for their innovative digital products.
The event, which took place at Exhibition World Bahrain, was inaugurated by Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, who also presented the awards, alongside Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) chief executive officer Mohammed Ali Al Qaed.
During his opening remarks, Gen Shaikh Rashid, who is also the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology (MCICT) chairman, highlighted the kingdom’s achievements and affirmed Bahrain’s commitment to maintaining its positive momentum moving into the future.
He also congratulated the winners on their achievements, and added that the awards are a confirmation of the government’s support for the digital transformation of the kingdom.
Since its inception in 2008, approximately 1,940 outstanding digital projects have participated in the award, with 184 projects winning.
Mr Al Qaed noted that the government has also been at the forefront of adopting technology, and as a result, the UN eGovernment Survey last year ranked Bahrain 18th globally for eGovernment development.
The ceremony also included a short documentary showcasing the journey of the Internet in Bahrain since its launch in 1995 to the present day.
Following the screening, Bahrain Internet Society president Dr Abdulla Abdulrahman Al Hamed emphasised that this event marked a pivotal turning point in Bahrain’s digital development, guided by an early vision that recognised connectivity as fundamental to empowering society, strengthening the economy, and expanding the horizons of learning and creativity.
At yesterday’s ceremony, 13 awards were presented to entities – seven for the private sector and six for the public – in addition to three ‘citizen’ awards for the best digital initiative.
Marwah Assim Lateef won the citizen award for her AI-based cancer prediction model using RNA genomic sequencing.
“My project is an advanced cancer prediction system built on artificial intelligence techniques using RNA gene expression data to accurately classify different cancer types,” she told the GDN.
“It focused on different types of cancers, like colon, breast and lung, with a high level of accuracy in prediction.
“I have developed a system that physicians and hospitals can use to upload an Excel sheet of the sequencing data of the patient, and from there, we can directly predict using this model, the likelihood of this patient to develop cancer.”
The system focuses on three types of cancer (colon, lung and breast) and is scalable to additional cancers and diseases.
Its goal is to enhance early detection, support medical decision-making, and bridge the gap between genomic research and clinical practice through AI, while ensuring data privacy and future accessibility for research and medical institutions.
Husain Basem won the best digital initiative award for his SolarMap Web Application, which uses AI, satellite data and cloud computing to precisely estimate solar panel capacity and costs, enabling decision-makers to make accurate, data-driven choices as Bahrain transitions towards using renewable energy sources.
Faris Ahmed Marhoon, 18, was the youngest winner, recognised for his ‘SentinelSecure’ vulnerability assessment tool, which integrates multiple cybersecurity tools into a single platform, and helps detect possible vulnerabilities in web applications and server environments, before they are launched.
In addition, the Best Project for Digital Transformation award went to the National Bureau for Revenue in the public sector, and Al Salam Bank in the private sector.
The Housing and Urban Planning Ministry won the Best Integrated eServices Award in the public sector, and Bahrain Airport Services won the award in the private sector.
The Best Work Environment for Digital Innovation Award went to the University of Bahrain in the public sector and the Benefit Company in the private sector.
The Youth Affairs Ministry and Gulf University won the Best Website Awards, in the public and private sectors, respectively.
The Nasser Centre for Science and Technology and Alba were recognised for the ‘Best Utilisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI)’ in the public and private sectors.
The Best Practice in eParticipation Award went to the Interior Ministry’s General Directorate of Traffic and KHK Sports in the public and private sectors.
And finally, stc Bahrain won the Best Applications for Smart Devices Award.
“It is vital that all ministries, the private sector, and our entire community remain aligned with our national strategy, continually improving products and pursuing high-quality, innovative technical initiatives year after year,” Mr Al Qaed told the GDN.
“The competition for these awards is extremely tough – only the very best are recognised, reflecting Bahrain’s culture of excellence and the determination to remain a leader in technology and innovation.
“Every year, we introduce new award categories to keep pace with emerging trends like AI and cloud computing, ensuring we are always ready to embrace new technologies.
“The remarkable participation and quality of initiatives this year, recognised even by our international committee chair, made us proud and highlighted Bahrain’s unwavering commitment to progress and leadership in the region.”
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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