Kingdom Ahead on AI

The Shura Council President H.E. Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh affirmed Sunday that the royal directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa have positioned Bahrain among the world's leading nations in artificial intelligence adoption and knowledge economy development.

Speaking at the opening of the Fifth AI Governance Conference, held via video link, Al-Saleh credited HM the King's vision on investing in modern technologies with driving Bahrain's accelerated progress in the global AI landscape. He also highlighted the sustained efforts of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in advancing AI integration across national programmes aligned with Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030.

Legislative Support  

Al-Saleh said Bahrain has launched a range of initiatives to maximise AI's benefits across key sectors, most notably the Sheikh Nasser Centre for AI Research and Development, which fosters innovation in data sciences and invests in the capabilities of Bahraini youth. He added that the legislative authority has enacted forward-looking legislation to regulate the rapidly evolving AI landscape and sustain Bahrain's appeal as an investment destination.

Call for Global Collaboration

The Shura Council president stressed that harnessing AI effectively requires close coordination between legislative and executive authorities, alongside civil society institutions. He called for intensified academic dialogue among international stakeholders to share expertise and chart the best approaches to AI governance.

Al-Saleh also commended the Global AI Group, chaired by Dr. Jassim Haji, for its contributions to promoting AI awareness and advancing responsible adoption across institutions worldwide.