Latest news with #EconomicVision2030
Daily Tribune
7 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Building Permits Surge : Reforms drive 4,299 permits in H1
Bahrain has recorded a sharp rise in building activity, issuing 4,299 permits during the first half of 2025— an increase of 31.5% compared to the same period last year—according to His Excellency Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture. H.E. the minister said the licensed construction area also surged by 57.9% to approximately 1.743 million square metres, reflecting Bahrain's investor-friendly climate and streamlined government procedures. Benayat boosts growth The growth was driven by continued upgrades to the national building permit platform Benayat, which has become a central tool for supporting investment, especially in real estate and urban development. H.E. Al Mubarak said the system's expansion now includes permits for renovations, fencing, subdivision, plot merging, change of land use, land reclamation (both land-based and marine), and new building modifications. He credited the platform for improving transparency and speeding up approvals while aligning services with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030. Tech-enabled integration Benayat serves as Bahrain's unified portal for building permits, offering engineering offices full digital access to application submission, fee payment, project tracking, and site requirements via an interactive national map. The platform is fully integrated with the National Geographic Information System, which features more than 300 geospatial data layers used by over 30 public and private agencies. According to the minister, this digital transformation ensures faster approvals, more efficient urban planning, and better coordination between government bodies, ultimately enhancing investor experience and service quality. Ongoing enhancements The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture continues to enhance Benayat in coordination with the Information & eGovernment Authority, under the oversight of the Ministerial Committee for Development Projects and Infrastructure. investment, and support sustainable urban expansion across the Kingdom.
Daily Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Oil and Environment Minister affirms commitment to empowering national cadres
His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Daina, Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, reaffirmed the Kingdom of Bahrain's commitment to empowering national competencies and enhancing their contributions across all sectors. This commitment, he emphasised, supports the goals of Bahrain's comprehensive development under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and in line with the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to advance the government work system. Dr. Bin Daina made these remarks during a meeting with the tenth batch of the Prime Minister's Program for Government Cadres Development. He noted that the program has become a vital contributor to government performance improvement, thanks to the skills, experience, and continued dedication of its participants. He stressed the importance of empowering young talent and involving them in the decision-making process, which strengthens public policy outcomes and infuses the government sector with innovative ideas. He further highlighted that the 'Round Table' meetings with program participants serve as an essential platform for dialogue between decision-makers and future leaders, fostering a participatory approach in policymaking and governance development. During the meeting, Dr. Bin Daina reviewed key national strategies in the oil and environmental sectors, including ongoing efforts to address climate change and implement environmental initiatives in line with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030. Discussions also focused on future environmental policies, the role of innovation, and modern technologies in enhancing the sustainability and quality of environmental work. Members of the tenth batch expressed their appreciation to His Excellency for the insightful exchange and the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue about the Ministry's operations and future direction in the oil and environment fields.
Bahrain This Week
5 days ago
- Business
- Bahrain This Week
stc successfully lands the first Bahraini submarine cable system; 2Africa Pearls in Bahrain
Marking a significant milestone in global connectivity, stc has announced that the 2Africa cable system – Pearls, the world's longest submarine cable, has successfully landed in Bahrain. With a US$ 205 million investments in 2Africa Pearls submarine cable system, this massive lift up in international connectivity toward Bahrain will reinforce the Kingdom as a powerful ICT hub, speeding up digital transformation across connected countries, attracting significant international investment opportunities, creating jobs and boosting innovation across sectors. The live landing of 2Africa Pearls submarine cable system next to Seef District on 4th of June was witnessed by H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Telecommunications and Eng. Khalid Al Osaimi, Chief Executive Officer, stc Bahrain. The landing operation, which involved connecting the on-board cable to the ground infrastructure, was completed in record time. On this occasion, H.E. Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, expressed pride in Bahrain's advanced telecommunications infrastructure, noting that this achievement reflects the Kingdom's commitment to strengthening its position as a regional and global digital hub, in line with the goals of Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030. He emphasized the Ministry's dedication to fostering fruitful partnerships with the private sector, especially the strategic collaboration with stc Bahrain, which stands as a successful model of public-private synergy in advancing digital transformation. H.E. added that the landing of the 2Africa Pearls submarine cable in Bahrain represents a qualitative leap that will enhance the Kingdom's global connectivity, support its digital economy, and open new horizons for innovation and investment. Eng. Khalid Al Osaimi, Chief Executive Officer of stc Bahrain said, 'We are thrilled to land the 2Africa Pearls submarine cable to Bahrain, this will increase Bahrain's current connectivity capacity by 10x, further scalable to accommodate future growth. This is in line with our commitment to advancing Bahrain's position as a leading communications and digital hub for the region, directly aligning with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030, and its goals for the ICT sector to create a diversified, knowledge-based economy.' Spanning 45,000 km with a massive 180 terabits per second design capacity, the 2Africa submarine cable will enable faster adoption of new technologies and digital solutions. 2Africa Pearls is the only cable in GCC capable of meeting the growing demands of data-heavy applications, including content streaming, cloud computing, and gaming. With the landing of 2Africa Pearls submarine cable system, the cable's massive capacity and low latency will serve as a catalyst for innovation and growth in emerging technologies like 5G, AI, and IoT, providing the essential infrastructure needed to support data-intensive applications and services. The increased connectivity will empower businesses with improved communication, access to global markets, and enhanced operational efficiency. Moreover, for consumers, this transformative project will provide reliable internet services and richer digital experience.
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Vatel Bahrain organizes Open Day at Hilton Bahrain
Bahrain: Vatel Bahrain has organized a highly engaging Open Day at the Hilton Bahrain Hotel, underscoring its continued commitment to showcasing its internationally recognized academic programmes in tourism and hospitality. Designed as an immersive and experiential event, the initiative offered prospective students and their parents a practical and insightful introduction to the hospitality industry through interactive experiences. The open day was officially inaugurated by Sheikh Khaled bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, General Director of Vatel Bahrain, alongside Mr. Ryan Dayaday, Director of Human resources at Hilton Bahrain. In collaboration with Hilton Bahrain, the programme featured a guided hotel tour and offered a series of interactive sessions across various operational and managerial departments of the hotel, providing a first-hand understanding of hotel management practices. A comprehensive introductory session was also held to showcase Vatel Bahrain's Bachelor of International Hotel Management programme, combining academic theory with hands-on professional training to equip students with the skills and knowledge essential for success in hospitality industry. The day concluded with a networking session, fostering engagement between participants and Vatel Bahrain team, Vatel students and graduates, besides hospitality professionals from Hilton Bahrain. Speaking at the event, Sheikh Khaled bin Khalifa Al Khalifa emphasized that the open day, held in collaboration with Hilton Bahrain, represented a significant opportunity for prospective students to explore the hospitality sector through an immersive experience that allows them to learn about both theoretical and practical aspects of Vatel Bahrain curriculum firsthand. Sheikh Khaled further added, 'This event provided a comprehensive platform to showcase the unique opportunities offered by Vatel Bahrain leading to wide-ranging career choices in the rapidly expanding hospitality and tourism sectors within the Kingdom and the wider region. Moreover, this open day reflects our strategic commitment to cultivating hospitality professionals who uphold the highest standards of environmental responsibility, in alignment with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030 and the National Tourism Strategy 2022–2026.' Mr. Ryan Dayaday, Director of Human resources at Hilton Bahrain, commented: 'We are proud our productive collaboration with Vatel Bahrain to develop Bahraini talent capable of leading the future of hospitality. Through hands-on training and industry-best practices, we equip students with the skills to excel in this competitive field. Hilton Bahrain remains committed to supporting Vatel Bahrain students by providing practical experience at one of the Kingdom's premier hotels.' About Vatel Hospitality School: Vatel Hospitality School was established in France in 1981, specializing in business management within the hospitality and tourism sectors. It has since expanded to 55 campuses across 33 countries. The Bahrain campus, founded in 2018, is part of this global network. Vatel holds a distinguished international reputation, with over 45,000 graduates worldwide who have gone on to become leaders in the industry. Vatel has consistently been ranked first in France and 12th globally in hospitality management, according to the latest QS rankings, maintaining this position for four consecutive years.
Daily Tribune
14-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Bahrain Joins Digital Superhighway : Seef Becomes Tech Gateway
TDT | Manama • Cable lands near Seef • Connectivity capacity boosted tenfold • Supports Economic Vision 2030 Bahrain has officially joined the world's elite digital infrastructure network following the landing of the 2Africa Pearls submarine cable system near Seef District on June 4, marking a transformative leap in global connectivity and digital capacity for the Kingdom. Global Gateway With an investment of US$205 million, the arrival of the world's longest submarine cable places Bahrain at the centre of a digital superhighway stretching 45,000 kilometres. The cable's high-speed data capacity is set to reinforce Bahrain's position as a digital hub and significantly boost its potential to attract tech-driven investment, innovation, and high-skilled jobs. The cable landing ceremony was attended by His Excellency Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, and Khalid Al Osaimi, Chief Executive Officer of stc Bahrain. Officials confirmed the ground connection process was completed in record time. Strategic Synergy Dr. Shaikh Abdullah highlighted the move as a key milestone in achieving Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030. He stressed the importance of public-private partnerships, describing the collaboration with stc Bahrain as a model for how national goals can be accelerated through joint ventures. 'This project marks a qualitative leap that strengthens Bahrain's global connectivity and supports its ambitions in the digital economy,' he said. Al Osaimi noted that the new system would multiply the country's existing connectivity by ten times. He said the move supports the Kingdom's economic diversification agenda and elevates its status as a regional leader in the ICT sector. Future-Proof Infrastructure The 2Africa Pearls cable system is designed to support a massive 180 terabits per second, making it the only submarine cable in the GCC capable of meeting surging demand from data-heavy platforms like cloud computing, online gaming, and content streaming. Its low latency and high bandwidth are also expected to accelerate the growth of emerging technologies such as 5G, AI, and the Internet of Things (IoT), while delivering more reliable internet performance to consumers and businesses alike. With this digital milestone, Bahrain is now positioned to serve as a crucial node in the global data exchange map.
