Bahrain Smart Cities Summit 2025 Set to Launch on April 15 with Wide Local and International Participation

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Under the Patronage of H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister

The 8th edition of the Bahrain Smart Cities Summit 2025 is set to commence on Tuesday, April 15, under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister. The two-day event will be held at the Sheraton Hotel, continuing through April 16, and is expected to see broad participation from both local and international stakeholders.

A Strategic Platform for Smart and Sustainable Urban Development

His Excellency Eng. Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, emphasized the summit’s importance as a key specialized conference hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain. “This summit serves as a vital platform to exchange global expertise and merge it with pioneering local experiences,” he stated, highlighting Bahrain’s ambition to remain at the forefront of smart city innovation.

The summit will feature high-level discussions and panel sessions that aim to explore how successful global case studies in smart and sustainable cities can be adapted and implemented regionally. According to the Minister, the summit represents a leading regional platform, bringing together an international conference, an interactive tech exhibition, and an awards ceremony celebrating outstanding initiatives in urban innovation and sustainability.

Strong Government Engagement and Regional Participation

Nine key Bahraini government entities will participate in the summit, including:

Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture

Ministry of Interior

Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications

Ministry of Works

Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning

Survey and Land Registration Bureau

Information & eGovernment Authority

Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA)

This level of involvement reflects the government's commitment to accelerating digital and environmental transformation toward more intelligent and efficient urban ecosystems.

The summit also draws high-profile participation from neighboring Arab and regional countries and organizations, such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Djibouti, and the Arab Towns Organization. This cross-border collaboration is expected to bolster knowledge exchange in areas like smart urban planning and sustainable digital solutions.

Diverse Agenda Covering AI, Smart Transport, FinTech & More

The 2025 agenda includes over 20 key topics, tackling various dimensions of smart cities:

Artificial Intelligence & Internet of Things (IoT)

Cybersecurity

FinTech and Smart Construction

Smart Mobility

Heritage Conservation in Modern Urban Environments

Highlighting successful regional models, the summit will showcase Oman’s smart irrigation and sustainable afforestation projects, and the Bahraini real estate data integration platform “Aqari” as a case study of digital innovation in real estate.

Interactive Exhibition and 5th Edition of Smart City Awards

An exhibition running alongside the summit will feature over 15 exhibitors, including government bodies, international firms, local companies, and emerging startups. The exhibition will spotlight cutting-edge smart solutions in transport, energy, urban planning, and digital governance. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with innovators and explore practical applications that represent the future of smart cities in the region.

During the official opening ceremony, winners of the 5th Bahrain Smart Cities Awards will be announced. These awards honor exceptional contributions in categories such as:

Artificial Intelligence and IoT

Waste Management

FinTech

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)

Renewable Energy

Integrated Projects Across Various Sectors

Private Sector Leads Strategic Support

The summit benefits from robust private sector support, emphasizing the role of public-private partnerships in urban transformation. Key strategic sponsors include:

Batelco (part of Beyon Group)

Tamkeen (Labour Fund)

Naseej as Platinum Sponsor

GPIC (Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company) as Gold Sponsor

Bahrain Society of Engineers as Knowledge Partner

These sponsorships underscore the summit's stature as a collaborative hub for advancing Bahrain’s smart and sustainable urban vision.