Bahrain Smart Cities Summit 2025 to Launch its Eighth Edition with Broad Local and International Participation
The eighth edition of the Bahrain Smart Cities Summit 2025 will be launched next Tuesday, April 15, 2025, with the attendance of His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister. The summit will be held at the Sheraton Hotel and will run for two days, April 15–16, 2025.
His Excellency Engineer Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, affirmed that the Bahrain Smart Cities Summit is a highly significant event, being one of the specialized conferences hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain with extensive local and international participation. It serves as a platform to benefit from global expertise and integrate it with Bahrain’s pioneering local experiences in the field of smart and sustainable urban development.
The Minister noted that the summit’s discussion sessions will offer valuable opportunities to explore successful global experiences, contributing to a transformative shift in smart and sustainable cities and artificial intelligence. He added that the summit stands as a leading regional platform combining a high-level international conference, an interactive technology exhibition, and an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding initiatives in urban innovation and sustainability.
The summit will see participation from nine government entities in Bahrain, including the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, the Survey and Land Registration Bureau, the Information and eGovernment Authority, and the Real Estate Regulatory Authority—reflecting the government's firm commitment to advancing digital and environmental transformation toward smarter and more efficient cities.
The summit also gains significance from the participation of prominent Arab and regional entities such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Djibouti, and the Arab Towns Organization. This broad participation fosters opportunities for cooperation and knowledge exchange in smart urban planning and sustainable digital solutions.
The summit’s agenda features over 20 topics covering various dimensions of smart cities, including innovation in artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, cybersecurity, fintech, smart construction technologies, and intelligent transport. It will also address preserving cultural heritage within modern urban environments. Advanced experiences from countries like Oman will be highlighted, particularly in smart irrigation and sustainable afforestation. Bahrain’s real estate data platform “Aqari” will also be showcased as a model for data integration in the real estate sector.
This year’s summit will be accompanied by an exhibition featuring over 15 exhibitors, including government ministries and agencies, local and international companies, and several startups. Exhibitors will present cutting-edge smart solutions and innovative technologies in sectors such as transport, energy, urban planning, and digital governance. The exhibition will also provide visitors the opportunity for direct engagement with project owners and a closer look at practical applications that reflect the future of smart cities in the region.
During the official opening ceremony, the winners of the Bahrain Smart Cities Summit Awards will be announced. These awards honor pioneering initiatives that contribute to the development of new models for smart and sustainable urban living. Award categories cover fields such as artificial intelligence and IoT, waste management, fintech, ESG (environmental, social, and governance) practices, renewable energy, and integrated sectoral projects.
The level of sponsorship the summit has attracted reflects the critical role of the private sector in supporting urban transformation. Strategic sponsors include Batelco, a Beyon Group company, and the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), with Naseej serving as a platinum sponsor and the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) as a gold sponsor. The Bahrain Society of Engineers joins as a knowledge partner. This level of support affirms the summit’s status as a platform for government-private sector collaboration in achieving a comprehensive and sustainable urban vision.
