Digital Government: Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Environment has upgraded its online “Registration Request Service” for large cooling and air-conditioning units, cutting processing time from 20 working days to five and creating a central database to track refrigerant recovery, recycling and emissions compliance. AI for Industry: The Nasser Centre for Science and Technology (NCST) and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) rolled out an AI system to monitor gas turbines at Power Station 4, supporting predictive maintenance by flagging early performance deviations and cooling issues. Enterprise Digital Transformation: stc Bahrain teamed up with Iron Mountain to help businesses digitise documents and strengthen information governance, security and safer access to data. Fintech Growth: Zain Bahrain completed its acquisition of Infonas and appointed Ali Mustafa as CEO, while Skyro reported its first half-year operating profit in H1 2026 as its app and loan portfolio scaled across its merchant network. Digital Finance (Sharia): AX Coin Bahrain said its AXBHD stablecoin framework received formal Sharia certification from a Central Bank-licensed bureau, positioning it as a central bank-regulated, Sharia-compliant stablecoin. Smart Mobility: Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications signed a cooperation framework with Einride to assess digital freight management, electric trucks, charging infrastructure and conditions for autonomous transport. Smart Cities: Municipal leaders backed proposals for cooler, greener Bahrain using heat-reflective pavements, solar-powered shade and other tech-enabled urban upgrades. Bahrain Education & Skills: BIBF reminded students that applications for 2026-2027 bachelor’s programmes close on 31 August, offering UK degree pathways studied in Bahrain. Cyberwar Tech Risk: Multiple reports highlight how Iran-linked attacks are increasingly targeting cloud and data centres, raising new security stakes for AI infrastructure across the Gulf.