What once stalled projects for months is now approved in days - and the world has noticed

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

What once delayed projects for months can now be done in just days. That stunning leap has placed Bahrain on the world stage, after its Building Permit Portal ‘Benayat’ won the Special Achievement in GIS Award in the Government and Production Sector at the Esri User Conference in San Diego.

The award, presented by US-based GIS leader Esri, recognised Benayat out of more than 100 international projects for its innovative integration of geospatial technology in government services. For Bahrain, it was more than a trophy - it was validation that its digital governance model is among the world’s best.

Cutting through delays

Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak said Benayat has transformed building permit approvals by reducing processing times by up to 90 per cent. “Approvals that once dragged on for months are now completed in one to three working days,” he said, noting that the system boosted transparency, accuracy and user satisfaction.

The minister added that the achievement reflects Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 and supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals, positioning the Kingdom as a leader in innovation and digital transformation.

Information & eGovernment Authority Chief Executive Mohammed Ali Al Qaed said Benayat is integrated with the Bahrain Spatial Data Infrastructure, linking to property, infrastructure and real estate records. The portal now delivers more than 15 eServices that cut paperwork, eliminate in-person visits and handle permits for additions, which make up 40 percent of requests, at record speed.

Government entities involved in approvals have been reduced by 80 per cent, private sector specialists are now engaged in reviews, and requirements are published in a unified guide. Together, these changes have slashed bureaucracy and sped up delivery for citizens and businesses alike.

Track record

Bahrain’s recognition at the Esri User Conference builds on a history of global GIS milestones. The Kingdom won Esri’s SAG Award in 2011 and was ranked among the top two countries worldwide in 2012. Benayat itself has previously won the eGovernment Excellence Award in 2019 and the Bahrain Digital Content Award in 2022.

By turning a months-long ordeal into a process that takes less than three days, Benayat has not just won a global award, it has given Bahrain a blueprint for digital governance that speaks to the world.