AGP Executive Report

STEM at F1 in Bahrain-Malaysia spotlight: Malaysia’s National Planetarium hosted MOSTI’s “Exploring the Science of Acceleration” Mini Carnival, using the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain GP 2026 buzz to teach how speed is built through hands-on STEM activities. Bahrain security tech showcase: Bahrain’s Interior Ministry highlighted police, civil defence, e-passport and cyber child-protection services at the Malaysia GP pavilion, tying public safety to modern digital tools. F1 tech meets health policy: George Russell says Mercedes won’t run a bespoke cooling vest at the heat-hazard Bahrain GP in Sepang due to cost-cap limits, while Verstappen mocks the complaints—an unusual clash of performance rules and driver wellbeing. Public health progress: Bahrain reports chickenpox cases down nearly 89% since routine vaccination began in 2015, citing a Bahrain-led study. Diabetes focus: Bahrain’s Diabetes and Obesity Conference opened with sessions on prevention, early detection and AI-enabled chronic disease care. Finance and AI in Bahrain: Al Salam Bank adopted J.P. Morgan Payments’ Overnight Murabaha liquidity solution and also highlights its ISO/IEC 42001:2023 AI management certification. Housing skills push: Bahrain’s Housing Ministry signed eight MoUs with universities and training bodies to expand social housing human resources and knowledge exchange. Food waste awareness: Arabian Gulf University students ran a quiz on food loss and waste, linking everyday behaviour to emissions, costs and food security.

AI in Banking: Al Salam Bank says it has become the first bank globally to achieve ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification for its AI management system, aiming to govern AI risks and scale responsible AI across regulated services. Fintech & Policy: Bahrain’s Fintech Forward 2026 is set for Nov. 4–5 at Exhibition World Bahrain, with a focus on “intelligent infrastructure” and topics like AI in finance, digital identity, fraud prevention, tokenisation and open banking. Social Housing Skills: Bahrain’s Housing Ministry signed eight MoUs with local universities and training bodies to boost human resources development for the social housing sector. Sustainability Hub: Bahrain inaugurated the Istidama Centre to train and build capacity in sustainability, the green economy and carbon neutrality, aligned with the country’s 2060 carbon-neutral goal. EV Infrastructure for F1: JomCharge deployed 1.4MW of EV charging capacity at Sepang for the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix private fleet, using fixed and mobile DC chargers. Regional Finance Coordination: GCC finance and central bank leaders met in Manama with the IMF to discuss GCC economic outlook, fiscal/monetary alignment, and macroprudential risk management. Defense Tech Watch: The US Navy selected three firms for a mine countermeasure challenge, targeting near-surface neutralisation and bottom detection/neutralisation from a safe distance.

AI in Banking: Al Salam Bank says it has become the first bank in the region to earn ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification for its AI management system, aiming to govern AI risks and scale AI-powered services responsibly. Islamic Liquidity Tech: Al Salam Bank also adopted J.P. Morgan Payments’ Overnight Murabaha solution, positioning it as a Shari’a-accepted liquidity tool for overnight returns on nostro balances. Fintech in Bahrain: Fintech Forward 2026 returns next week at Exhibition World Bahrain under “Finance in the Age of Intelligent Infrastructure,” with a focus on AI in finance, payments, tokenisation, open banking, digital identity and fraud prevention. Digital Skills for Youth: A proposal would turn Bahrain’s Youth City 2030 into a year-round training platform for AI, cyber security, fintech and other future skills, with regular updates from government, universities and private firms. Health Policy Push: Bahrain’s childhood obesity problem is prompting calls for tougher rules on marketing unhealthy products, healthier school food environments, sugar-linked pricing and clearer labels. Sustainability Infrastructure: Bahrain inaugurated the Istidama Centre to build capacity in sustainability, the green economy and carbon neutrality, supporting the national push toward carbon neutrality by 2060. F1 Tech & Logistics: Gulf Air kicked off the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, while JomCharge deployed 1.4MW of EV charging at Sepang for the event’s private fleet—plus DHL is reshuffling freight to handle the relocated race.

AI in Banking: Al Salam Bank became the first bank in the region to earn ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification for its Artificial Intelligence Management System, aiming to scale AI with governance, risk controls and accountability. Fintech in Bahrain: Fintech Forward 2026 (7–8 Oct) will spotlight “Finance in the Age of Intelligent Infrastructure,” with Bahrain’s finance and central bank leadership among key speakers and sessions on AI, payments, tokenisation and regulatory innovation. Youth Skills Push: Bahrain’s Youth City 2030 could become a year-round training hub for AI, cyber security, fintech and future skills, with tracks designed to start early and link learners to real work and employers. Regional Finance Coordination: Bahrain hosted the 126th GCC Financial and Economic Co-operation Committee meeting, with UAE participation, focusing on GCC integration, the common market and trade/investment frameworks. Health Policy: Bahrain is urging tougher rules to curb childhood obesity, citing that over 40% of children are overweight and calling for tighter marketing controls, healthier school food environments and clearer labels. Sustainability & Training: The Istidama Centre was inaugurated in Manama to build capacity in sustainability, the green economy and carbon neutrality, supporting Bahrain’s SDG and 2060 carbon-neutral goals. Infrastructure Update: Bani Jamra’s sewage network project has reached tender stage, a step toward modernising essential services while protecting the village’s heritage. Education Tech Win: A New Millennium School Bahrain student won Bahrain’s National Award at the International Computer Science Competition 2026. Startup Spotlight: StartUp Bahrain Pitch crowned “Durrah” and “Edupath,” highlighting digital solutions from education matching to dress rental and resale. Tech for Tourism: A Bahrain student showcased Raven AR, AI-powered augmented reality glasses that add context to heritage sites for visitors.

F1 Bahrain GP 2026 (Sepang) Watch Guide: The Bahrain Grand Prix returns to Malaysia’s Sepang circuit after nearly a decade, with race day on Sunday 4 October at 8am UK time, and live coverage on Sky Sports F1. Heat & Safety Tech: The event is flagged as a heat-hazard race, allowing optional in-car cooling systems while non-users carry ballast. Bahrain Digital Housing Push: iGA is showcasing digital housing and real estate services at the Social Housing Sector Innovation Summit, including eKey 2.0, housing finance requests, e-contract registration, and an open data portal. GCC Housing Cooperation: Bahrain hosted GCC housing ministers, approving a guide for digital housing finance platforms and highlighting digital transformation in housing services. Tamkeen AI for SMEs: Tamkeen launched an enhanced Digital Enablement and AI Program, offering eligible firms support covering up to 50% of software and related services to boost productivity and competitiveness. Local Innovation in Tourism: A Bahrain student built “Raven AR” AI-powered augmented reality glasses to add context to heritage sites like Bahrain Fort, the National Museum, and Manama Suq. Infrastructure & Project Updates: Sanad Engineering and DG Jones have been appointed for Naseej’s Amwaj Avenue mixed-use waterfront development. Gulf Markets: GCC stocks slid in September amid higher rates, crude oil moves, and regional geopolitics, with Bahrain among the smaller decliners.

AI for SMEs: Tamkeen launched an enhanced Digital Enablement and AI Program for micro, small and medium firms, covering up to 50% of eligible costs for software and related services to boost productivity and competitiveness. Digital Housing: Bahrain’s iGA is showcasing digital housing and real estate services at the Social Housing Sector 2026 Innovation Summit, including eKey 2.0, MyGov access, e-contract registration, and an Open Data Portal. Agentic AI Readiness: A Google Cloud executive said autonomous AI agents struggle when enterprise “dark data” stays trapped in unstructured documents, pushing the need to connect tables with contracts and fragmented files. Digital Identity Upgrade: iGA enhanced its Personal Record Data Update Service so secondary school graduates can update civil and ID data in two steps, cutting the service level agreement by 25%. Transport Tech at F1: Grab updated Sepang drop-off rules for the Bahrain GP weekend, restricting direct access to authorised shuttle hubs and specific vehicle categories. Sustainable Motorsport: F1’s 2026 rules mandate 100% advanced sustainable fuels and a 50:50 power split, with teams preparing for the Sepang heat-hazard race. Local Industry News: Y K Almoayyed & Sons announced the arrival of the Nissan Tekton in Bahrain. Health Tech: Xenix Medical received FDA clearance for NanoACTIV Surface Technology on its Riva spinal fixation system.

Digital Skills & AI Funding: Tamkeen launched an enhanced “Digital Enablement and AI Program” to help Bahraini micro, small and medium enterprises adopt digital solutions, covering up to 50% of eligible software and related service costs. Government Service Automation: iGA enhanced the Personal Record Data Update Service for secondary school graduates, cutting the process to two steps and reducing the service level agreement by 25% through direct data integration. Smart Housing Delivery: Bahrain opened the Innovation Conference and Exhibition in the Social Housing Sector 2026, announcing a contract to develop 2,500+ homes in Khalifa City under a government land development rights programme, with public-private delivery and new financing models. Marine Monitoring Tech: Xylem named Ecocoast its GCC systems and service partner, integrating Xylem sensing into Ecocoast configurable data buoy platforms for real-time marine and coastal intelligence across Bahrain and the region. Health Awareness Push: Bahrain’s Health Ministry set to launch “Nahtam” campaigns, with “Itmi’nan” for breast and cervical cancer awareness throughout October and “Nahtam Bih’” for prostate cancer in November. Insurance Goes Digital: Solidarity Bahrain was named “Best Digital Transformation Company Bahrain 2026,” highlighting AI-powered vehicle inspection replacing physical checks for underwriting and motor claims. Tech in Motion: Deepal powered a Wheels 2 Heels marathon relay using Vehicle-to-Load to run seven treadmills from its electric vehicles.

Marine Monitoring Deal: Ecocoast has been appointed Xylem’s Authorised Systems and Service Partner for the GCC, integrating Xylem YSI and Aanderaa sensing into Ecocoast’s configurable data buoy platforms for continuous real-time water quality, oceanographic and meteorological monitoring across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. Digital Insurance Upgrade: Solidarity Bahrain was named “Best Digital Transformation Company Bahrain 2026” after expanding its online portal and rolling out AI-powered vehicle inspection that replaces physical checks for new underwriting, renewals and motor claims. Anti-Corruption Cooperation: Bahrain’s Interior Minister hosted GCC delegations for the 12th GCC Ministerial Committee meeting on combating corruption, highlighting integrity, transparency and a GCC research competition that drew 246 entries. Smart Housing Push: Bahrain is evolving social housing with government as guarantor of fairness while private developers and banks play a bigger delivery role, with AI being explored to speed construction. Cancer Awareness Campaign: Bahrain’s Health Ministry will launch “Nahtam” and “Itmi’nan” campaigns in October, focusing on breast and cervical cancer screening, followed by prostate awareness in November. Business Services Digitised: Bahrain upgraded its commercial registration ownership transfer service on Sijilat, cutting steps from six to four and reducing approvals by 25%. Regional Tech & Finance: AX Coin and ARP Digital plan to connect regulated stablecoin issuance with institutional OTC liquidity and cross-border settlement rails, starting in Bahrain and the UAE.

Digital Finance & Payments: AX Coin (CBB-licensed stablecoin) and ARP Digital plan to link regulated stablecoin issuance with institutional OTC liquidity and cross-border settlement rails, starting in Bahrain and the UAE. Capital Markets Connectivity: Iraq Stock Exchange went live on ADX’s Tabadul platform, expanding direct access between Abu Dhabi and Baghdad and linking multiple regional exchanges. Smart Government Services: Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce upgraded the commercial registration (CR) ownership transfer service on Sijilat, cutting steps from six to four and migrating to Sijilat 4.0. Industry & Tech Partnerships: Almoayyed Contracting Group and Daikin opened a Daikin Experience Centre in Bahrain to showcase advanced HVAC solutions and after-sales support. Marine Monitoring for the GCC: Ecocoast was appointed Xylem’s authorised systems and service partner across the GCC, integrating YSI/Aanderaa sensing into real-time monitoring buoys for Bahrain and neighbours. Energy Security: Gulf states are seeking alternative oil and gas export routes as Hormuz risks expose pipeline and maritime vulnerabilities. Local Business & Growth: Bank NXT signed an EGP 2.1bn credit facility for automotive expansion, including a new paint plant. Education & Skills: BIS held a Grade IX parent orientation on CBSE updates, including third language and advanced subject options. Tourism & Infrastructure: Bahrain’s Housing Innovation Conference and Exhibition 2026 opens, spotlighting new projects, housing finance and digital transformation.

Gulf Hospitality Watch: Saudi and the UAE are driving a major hotel expansion, with Saudi planning nearly 94,500 rooms by 2030 and the UAE adding 23,000+—but occupancy is still sliding across GCC markets, with Bahrain down 31% to just under 37% as travel disruption bites. AI for Work: A futurist says AI will make some banking roles “obsolete,” pushing banks toward agentic operations and forcing large-scale retraining. AI in Business Ops: Google Cloud’s Doha summit highlighted the shift from chat-style AI to “agentic” systems that can carry out multi-step tasks like invoice reconciliation, with human oversight still key. Bahrain Chamber Leadership: Bahrain Chamber approved new chairs for its 31st term, including a Technology, AI and Digital Transformation committee chair—signaling a push to sharpen private-sector competitiveness. Local Tech & Skills: Bahrain Chamber and the Institute of Public Administration discussed joint training and research to align education with labour-market needs. Housing Innovation: Bahrain’s Housing Innovation Conference opens today, spotlighting new projects, financing options, and digital transformation in social housing. Energy Sector Update: HRH Crown Prince Salman visited Bapco Refinery, stressing efficiency, sustainability, and security for Bahrain’s energy system. Education Tech: Bhavans Bahrain Indian School ran a Grade IX parent orientation on CBSE updates, including third language and advanced subject choices.

Drones vs Defence Economics: A new analysis highlights how cheap drones are forcing militaries into a losing “war of arithmetic,” where low-cost attacks can overwhelm expensive interceptors. Global Tech Strategy: A US strategy paper argues Washington must deepen tech-based engagement with the Global South to compete with China’s growth in tech trade. Bahrain Digital & Crime Tech: The UN Crime Congress in Abu Dhabi adopted the Abu Dhabi Declaration, pushing digital justice, AI use with safeguards, and action against cybercrime and “crime as a service.” Bahrain Workforce Upskilling: Bahrain Chamber and the Institute of Public Administration discussed joint training and research to align skills with private-sector needs. Bahrain Tourism Goes Digital: Bahrain’s tourism ministry says it’s using AI and digital platforms to improve visitor experiences under the “Digital Agenda and AI to Redesign Tourism” theme. Mobile Networks Resilience: A Bahrain-focused report says local mobile networks are among the most resilient globally, with weather-driven traffic patterns affecting peak demand. Local Safety Alert: Hamad Town residents face urgent follow-up after a ceiling collapse left a home structurally unsafe. Energy Sector Spotlight: Bahrain’s Crown Prince visited Bapco Refinery, praising workforce readiness and modernization for energy security. Huawei Smartphone Launch: Huawei unveiled the Mate XT 2 foldable, claiming slim size and a new LogicFolding chip breakthrough.

Workforce & Skills: Bahrain Chamber and the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) met to align research, training, and human-resource plans with private-sector needs, stressing practical, market-based leadership and talent development. Energy Sector Milestone: HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad visited Bapco Refinery, praising workforce competence, energy security, and modernisation efforts to boost efficiency and sustainability. Tourism Tech Push: On World Tourism Day, Bahrain’s Tourism Minister said the kingdom is accelerating digital transformation and AI-enabled platforms to improve visitor services while pairing tech with sustainability. Digital Economy Ranking: Bahrain placed third in the Arab Digital Economy Index 2026, earning a strong digital sovereignty score tied to 5G, cloud-first government, and fintech regulation. Connectivity Resilience: Ookla Research reported Bahrain’s mobile networks are among the most resilient globally during peak demand, with seasonal traffic shifts affecting performance. Public Safety: Authorities urged urgent action after a ceiling collapse in Hamad Town left a home structurally unsafe, highlighting the need for rapid engineering follow-up. Health Cooperation: Bahrain’s health minister met UAE and Singapore counterparts to expand expertise exchange, including AI use in healthcare and emergency readiness. Bahrain in Global Diplomacy: Bahrain joined Abraham Accords talks in New York, with officials discussing trade, connectivity, and technological cooperation. F1 & Local Business: Malaysia pledged safe, smooth hosting for the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, with security and traffic plans aimed at a welcoming visitor experience.

Tourism Digital Push: Bahrain is marking World Tourism Day with a “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism” focus, expanding AI-enabled visitor services and interactive digital platforms under its 2022–2026 tourism strategy. Border Tech Upgrade: Bahrain is testing Smart Corridor and AI tools for faster, safer airport processing, including checks for forged travel documents and image-morphing. AI Governance at UN: Bahrain urged wider technology access and responsible AI governance at the 3G ministerial meeting, calling for digital infrastructure, skills, and an AI-ready state. Digital Economy Ranking: Bahrain placed third in the Arab Digital Economy Index 2026, scoring strongly on digital sovereignty, e-commerce rules, and AI strategy. Mobile Network Resilience: Ookla research says Bahrain’s mobile networks handle peak demand more consistently than much of Europe, with weather and Ramadan patterns shaping traffic. Health Cooperation: Bahrain’s health minister met UAE and Singapore counterparts on pandemic preparedness and AI in healthcare. Public Health Focus: Bahrain Cancer Society’s Walk-A-Thon for breast cancer awareness targets better early detection ahead of October 16. Security & Crime Prevention: Bahrain’s interior minister highlighted AI and tech use against cross-border organised crime at the UN crime prevention congress. Energy Sector Spotlight: HRH Crown Prince Salman visited Bapco refinery, praising energy resilience and supply-chain continuity.

Digital Economy & Sovereignty: Bahrain placed third in the Arab Digital Economy Index 2026, scoring strongly on digital infrastructure, e-government, cybersecurity resilience and data sovereignty. Telecom Resilience: Ookla Research reports Bahrain’s mobile networks are among the most resilient globally during peak congestion, with distinct weather-driven traffic patterns and Ramadan surges. Border Tech Upgrade: Bahrain reviewed ICAO TRIP tools including Smart Corridor systems and AI-assisted checks for forged documents and biometric fraud at Bahrain International Airport. Health & AI Cooperation: Bahrain’s health minister met UAE and Singapore counterparts in New York, focusing on infectious and non-communicable disease collaboration and using AI to strengthen healthcare systems. Pandemic Readiness & AMR: Bahrain hosted an international conference on antimicrobial resistance and infectious diseases, with pandemic preparedness and AI on the agenda. Tourism Goes Digital: Bahrain is pushing a digital agenda for tourism using AI and interactive platforms, paired with sustainability goals. Public Awareness: Bahrain Cancer Society’s Walk-A-Thon expects 1,000 participants for breast cancer awareness and early detection. Security in the Digital Age: Bahrain’s interior minister highlighted international cooperation against transnational crime at the UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

Border Tech in Bahrain: Bahrain’s Interior Ministry reviewed ICAO TRIP Symposium border-management upgrades, including Smart Corridor systems and AI tools to spot forged travel documents and biometric morphing, aiming to tighten security while speeding passenger processing at Bahrain International Airport. AI, Security, and Crime Compliance: Bahrain’s Ministry of Social Development backed AMAN Compliance Solutions’ five-year partnership with Family Microfinance House to add electronic screening against sanctions lists, strengthening financial-crime controls in line with Central Bank requirements. Regional AI Governance: Bahrain pushed for wider technology access and responsible AI governance at the 3G ministerial meeting in New York, stressing digital infrastructure, skills, and a trusted policy framework. Public Health Tech: Bahrain opened an international conference on antimicrobial resistance and infectious diseases, with pandemic preparedness and AI on the agenda, highlighting the need for cross-border scientific cooperation. Tech Under Conflict: A report says Iran-linked strikes have disrupted or threatened Big Tech data centers in the region, raising new risks for AI infrastructure and cloud operations. India–GCC Tech and Trade: India and the GCC reviewed progress on their Joint Action Plan and welcomed the launch of India–GCC FTA talks, with cooperation spanning trade, energy, health, and new technologies.

Bahrain’s AI in healthcare: Arabian Gulf University will host an Artificial Intelligence in Medicine conference in Manama from Nov 5–7, with Lt Gen Dr Shaikh Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa opening the event and sessions focused on AI for heart-disease risk, diabetes/obesity monitoring, medical imaging, and care in emergency and intensive settings. Fintech compliance in Bahrain: The Ministry of Social Development backed AMAN Compliance Solutions’ partnership with Family Microfinance House, rolling out electronic sanctions screening to strengthen anti-financial-crime checks aligned with Central Bank requirements. AI-native esports from Bahrain: PROCODE, built in Bahrain as an AI-native operating system for competitive gaming, aims to connect competition, training, payments, and deployment in one place. Public health and tech education: A Bahrain study from Arabian Gulf University found a major nutrition-knowledge gap among people with type 2 diabetes, with only 5.7% correctly understanding food labels—highlighting the need for clearer patient education. Regional science push: GCC ministers agreed to set up a joint Gulf centre and fund for scientific research and innovation, plus steps to strengthen the scientific publishing ecosystem as part of a 2027–2032 plan. Cybersecurity and AI scaling: Google Cloud’s regional leadership in Qatar/Oman/Bahrain/Iraq stressed that AI adoption must move with stronger security, better data control, and AI skills.