Benayat Gains Bigger Role : Workshop highlights platform's growing importance
The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture has stepped up its digital transformation push by expanding the scope and visibility of 'Benayat', Bahrain's national platform for building permit services. A recent workshop brought together developers, investors, and officials to highlight how the platform supports real estate growth through smarter, faster service delivery.
Organised in coordination with the Information and eGovernment Authority and the Bahrain Real Estate Development Association, the event focused on raising awareness about regulatory and technical procedures for obtaining building permits via Benayat.
Digital Expansion
Undersecretary for Municipal Affairs, His Excellency Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, said the ministry continues to enhance user experience by adopting advanced digital systems that streamline services and speed up transactions. He described Benayat as one of the most important platforms driving improved service efficiency and quality.
The workshop introduced attendees to the system's operational mechanisms and upcoming services, with a focus on improving engagement with clients, investors, and engineering offices.
Sector Partnership
Representatives from the Information and eGovernment Authority presented a detailed overview of Benayat's functions and services. These include permit types such as minor additions, renovation, fencing, property merging and splitting, and changes of use. Attendees were also introduced to the application tracking process and the platform's integrated interactive map of Bahrain.
H.E. Eng. Aref Ahmed Hejres, Chairman of the Bahrain Real Estate Development Association, praised the ministry's role in streamlining processes and enhancing service quality. He highlighted the partnership between the ministry and the association as key to supporting and energising Bahrain's real estate and investment landscape.
Integrated Platform
Benayat is the unified platform for issuing building permits across all categories. It allows engineering offices and property owners to submit applications, pay fees, and review requirements through a digital map covering the entire kingdom.
The system is supported by Bahrain's national geospatial database, which includes more than 300 spatial data layers serving over 30 government and private entities. This integration helps accelerate procedures, support planning, and improve service delivery while enhancing coordination among institutions to meet sustainable development goals.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Tribune
4 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain intensifies drive against illegal workers
TDT | Manama Bahrain has intensified its efforts to curb irregular employment, with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) conducting 1,409 inspection campaigns and visits between July 20 and 26, leading to the deportation of 120 violators. The weekly inspection efforts resulted in the arrest of 15 illegal workers, according to LMRA. Violations uncovered during the operations involved breaches of Bahrain's labour and residency laws. Legal action was taken against those found in violation. Joint Campaigns Of the total, 1,395 inspections targeted commercial establishments across all governorates, while 14 joint campaigns were carried out in collaboration with other authorities. These included five campaigns each in the Muharraq and Northern Governorates, and four in the Southern Governorate. The campaigns were conducted with the involvement of the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs Department, governorate security directorates, and the General Organization for Social Insurance. The LMRA reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with government agencies to strengthen inspection campaigns, aiming to protect labour market stability, economic competitiveness, and national security. It urged the public to support the crackdown by reporting any suspicious employment practices through its website, the Tawasul platform, or its call centre. Authorities pledged continued enforcement to preserve labour market integrity
Daily Tribune
4 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
India now supplies one-third of US smartphone imports, eroding China's lead
TDT | agencies As of mid-2025, India accounts for 36 per cent of US smartphone imports, up from 11 per cent a year ago, according to a report by The Indian Express. The shift is driven largely by Apple's expanding manufacturing footprint in India, underpinned by policy incentives and rising geopolitical tensions with China. Between January and May 2025, the US imported 21.3 million smartphones from India, more than triple the volume from the same period last year. In value terms, Indian-made smartphones shipped to the US surged 182 per cent year-onyear to $9.35 billion, already surpassing the full-year figure for 2024. Smartphones are currently India's top export to the US by value. China's smartphone export to US shrink China remains the largest smartphone supplier to the US, but has seen its dominance shrink. Shipments dropped by 27 per cent in the first five months of the year to 29.4 million units, valued at around $10 billion. China's share of US smartphone imports fell from 82 per cent in early 2024 to 49 per cent in 2025. Vietnam followed with 14 per cent of shipments, or 8.3 million units. Facing this decline, Chinese manufacturers have begun slashing prices to stay competitive. According to data from China's General Administration of Customs, the average export price of smartphones shipped to the US fell 45 per cent in June compared to a year earlier. As earlier reported by Business Standard, the price cuts come despite a temporary pause on new tariff hikes under a 90- day trade truce between Beijing and Washington. Most Chinese goods continue to face a combined tariff of around 30 per cent, with smartphones subject to a 20 per cent tariff imposed earlier this year. The pressure on Chinese exports has been severe. Smartphone shipments to the US fell 71 per cent in June alone. In April, Chinese exports of Apple iPhones and other mobile devices plunged 72 per cent to under $700 million — the lowest monthly value since 2011. Apple accelerate India-made iPhone production In contrast, Apple has accelerated its manufacturing shift to India. Apple began shifting production to India in 2020, starting with older models and now including the full iPhone lineup through its contract manufacturers such as Foxconn. Roughly 20 per cent of its global iPhone production is now based here. In May, Foxconn announced a $1.49 billion investment in its Indian unit, Yuzhan Technologies, to expand production in Tamil Nadu. India's supply chain is still smaller than China's, but growing. Apple's Indian suppliers rose from 14 in 2023 to 64 in 2025, compared to 157 in China. Rise of India's electronic manufacturing sector India's overall electronics manufacturing has also seen significant growth. According to government data, the number of mobile manufacturing units rose from just two in 2014- 15 to 300 in 2024-25. Mobile phone production grew 28-fold to Rs5.45 trillion, with exports climbing 127 times to Rs2 trillion during the same period. The sector has attracted over $4 billion in foreign direct investment since FY21, including $2.8 billion from PLI beneficiaries. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Indian-made iPhones, pressing for a return of manufacturing to US soil. Despite this, the tech giant and its partners appear committed to India as a longterm manufacturing base.
Daily Tribune
4 hours ago
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Joins WEF
TDT | Manama Bahrain has joined a global initiative led by the World Economic Forum to help countries develop national space strategies that are sustainable, future-oriented, and aligned with international developments. The Bahrain Space Agency (BSA) confirmed its participation in the WEF's 'Space for National Strategy' initiative, which brings together policymakers, experts, and industry leaders to guide countries in building efficient space policy frameworks. The move reflects Bahrain's growing focus on strengthening its space capabilities through responsible governance and strategic partnerships. The initiative aims to provide governments with a structured policy design toolkit to shape national space efforts. The toolkit covers practical approaches to building or refining a country's space policy, including areas such as regulation, governance, sustainability, and commercial engagement. By joining this platform, Bahrain seeks to deepen its national policy alignment with global standards, support its ambitions in satellite technology and data applications, and contribute to international discussions on space sector governance. The BSA's involvement also highlights the Kingdom's intent to reinforce its position within the global space ecosystem. It aligns with Bahrain's broader objectives to diversify its economy and build strategic capabilities in science, technology, and innovation. Through this partnership, the BSA will engage with a network of institutions that includes leading national space agencies and companies working at the forefront of the sector. The collaboration is expected to offer insights into best practices and help Bahrain tailor its strategy to support national development goals. The agency reiterated its commitment to advancing space activities in line with Bahrain's vision and emphasised the importance of global cooperation in shaping responsible and impactful space policies.
