GCC residents in Bahrain to get ID cards

Manama : The Information & eGovernment Authority (IGA) will soon issue Bahraini identity cards to facilitate hassle free services at various government departments in the Kingdom.   

The move follows the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister to provide greater facilities to GCC residents and investors in Bahrain. 

This was announced yesterday by the Information and eGovernment Authority (IGA) Chief Executive Mohammed Ali AlQaed. 

The initiative falls in line with the Royal Decree No. 2 of 2013 regarding the usage of the identity card as a proof of a unified identity when conducting transactions. 

Every GCC resident or investor (whose residency exceeded six months during the previous year from the date of entering the Kingdom) and own an authenticated, officially recognised address stand to benefit from the move. 

“The card offers highest levels of security, confidentiality and quality of services,”Ali AlQaed said. 

“The procedure is consistent with the eGovernment’s national strategy and the authority’s execution of online transactions, which benefit citizens and residents alike. It is also in line with Article One of Law No. 46 for 2006 (regarding the ID card).” 

All GCC citizens, residents and investors in Bahrain who meet the conditions and requirement of obtaining a Bahraini smart card are requested to visit the Isa Town or Muharraq branches of the IGA in order to get their applications processed.