The announcement was made during an official meeting between the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) and UNESCO representatives to mark the launch of the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology  report on the Kingdom of Bahrain. In attendance were iGA Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed; Director of the UNESCO Doha Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, Mr. Salah Khaled; the Secretary-General of the Bahrain National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, Dr. Mubarak Abdullah Butti and the Secretary General of the Higher Education Council Dr. Diana Al Jahromi,  ; and representatives from several government and private entities in the kingdom of Bahrain that contributed to the report, which is available on  iGA’s corporate website, www.iga.gov.bh and the National Portal www.bahrain.bh.

During the meeting, Al Qaed stated  that the report’s findings reflect the government’s commitment to supporting national efforts to advance Bahrain’s digital leadership and strengthening its competitiveness in the regional technology landscape: “The achievement highlights the iGA’s ongoing efforts to implement the directives of the Ministerial Committee for Information & Communication Technology (MCICT), chaired by His Excellency Gen. Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Minister of Interior. The Committee’s strategy focuses on expanding the use of AI technologies through carefully developed frameworks that identify priorities, challenges, and risks while proposing practical solutions, enabling Bahrain to enhance national processes, improve service delivery, and develop modern systems that offer an exceptional experience for individuals, institutions, and businesses alike.”

Al Qaed said that this milestone represents a major step forward in reaffirming Bahrain’s commitment to the responsible and ethical use of AI: “The UNESCO RAM report is a key international tool that evaluates a nation’s preparedness across six main pillars: national governance, legislation and regulation, society and culture, research and education, economic factors, and technological infrastructure.”

“It provides a  picture of Bahrain’s current standing, pinpointing strengths, gaps, and areas for development. This insight will help shape future national strategies that ensure the safe and responsible adoption of AI technologies, support Bahrain’s transition toward a knowledge- and innovation-driven digital economy, and reinforce its position as a regional and global leader in this field,” Al Qaed added.

Al Qaed praised UNESCO’s role in advancing AI adoption among member states and supporting their strategic goals. He expressed his appreciation to all government and private entities that collaborated with the iGA to provide the data required for the report, praising their teamwork and shared vision in enhancing Bahrain’s AI readiness and contributing to sustainable development based on global best practices.

 Mr. Salah Khaled, Director of the UNESCO Office in Doha for the Gulf States and Yemen praised the Kingdom of Bahrain’s achievement. He noted that the launch of the report reaffirms Bahrain’s commitment to digital transformation and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to education, innovation, equality, and strong institutions. He emphasized that this achievement highlights Bahrain’s distinguished leadership in digital transformation and digital governance, as reflected in its ranking of 18th globally in the United Nations E-Government Development Index 2024 — a testament to the strength of the Kingdom’s institutions and public policies in advancing digital services and transformation.

UNESCO Director also commended Bahrain’s commitment to inclusivity and sustainability, noting that 42% of students in STEM fields are women, and that the Kingdom continues to invest in developing digital skills to ensure comprehensive transformation. “

Mr. Khaled further emphasized that the report outlines a set of key recommendations that serve as a clear roadmap for Bahrain to strengthen its efforts in developing ethical and inclusive artificial intelligence, aligned with Bahrain’s Vision 2030 — which places people, rights, and values at the heart of technological progress. He also underscored the importance of continuing the partnership to support the implementation of these recommendations.

The UNESCO report highlighted Bahrain’s promising and tangible progress in adopting AI and its strong potential to become a regional leader in ethical, inclusive, and innovative AI. It also showcased key national digital transformation and eGovernment initiatives, including the establishment of the iGA’s Innovation and Advanced Technology Directorate, the adoption of the GCC AI Ethics Guiding Manual in 2023, the launch of the National AI Policy in 2025, and several others, such as the Innovation Hub and the AI Talent Program.

The report further recognized Bahrain’s leadership in digital transformation, classifying the Kingdom among the highest ranked countries on the UN’s eGovernment Development Index. It noted Bahrain’s achievement of 100% scores in both the technology adoption The report presented several recommendations to further strengthen Bahrain’s efforts in adopting AI and supporting research focused on the social, economic, and environmental impacts of these technologies to ensure sustainable, human-centered innovation.

RAM is recognized as one of the leading international frameworks helping nations evaluate their readiness for AI adoption within an ethical and responsible framework. It enables countries to identify challenges and solutions, and develop robust national strategies that drive digital transformation and technological progress.


#teambahrain #UNESCO #digitaltransformation #egov #UN #AI