The six-month program aimed to empower academically distinguished university IT students, preparing them for their graduation projects by providing a practical experience in adopting AI solutions within the government sector. Participants received intensive hands-on training and skills covering teamwork, programming, and the development of AI-based prototypes in the iGA Innovation Hub, a strategic step to link academic education with real work needs.

Participating students from University of Bahrain and Ahlia University worked on two main projects addressing government sector challenges: one for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the other for the Statistics and Population Registry sector.

The Information & eGovernment (iGA) Chief Executive Mohammed Ali Al Qaed praised the graduation of the 1st  batch, affirming that the program aligns with the Government’s vision and reflects iGA’s ongoing commitment to implementing the directives of His Excellency General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communications Technology (MCICT). Al Qaed emphasized that the program’s results demonstrate its effectiveness in preparing qualified national talents capable of transforming academic knowledge into practical solutions that directly enhance government services, in line with Bahrain Vision 2030.

Mr. Al Qaed also highlighted  the collaboration with participating universities and the strategic partnership with AWS, highlighting that investing in students is a fundamental pillar of the national digital transformation journey.

During the event, Al Qaed announced the launch of the 2nd batch of the AI Talent Program, which will include 20 students from six universities: Bahrain Polytechnic, Kingdom University, Arab Open University,  Applied Science University and  also University of Bahrain, Ahlia University,. The 2nd batch will feature an expanded number of applied projects, reflecting the program’s growing impact on government innovation.

On the other side, Ms. Eman Ahmed Al Dossary, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, expressed the Ministry’s pride in the fruitful collaboration with iGA through the AI Talent Program, which resulted in the development of an advanced system by participating students, specifically designed to organize and monitor promotional campaigns and commercial discount activities. She explained that the system, supported by AI engines for document auditing and compliance verification, will significantly accelerate licensing procedures, enhance smart regulatory oversight, and ensure the highest levels of accuracy and transparency in the market. Al Dossary added that this initiative reflects the Ministry’s firm commitment to adopting innovative digital solutions that promote fair pricing, credible advertising, and transparent commercial practices, protecting the rights of all consumers in the Kingdom, in line with national digital transformation efforts and Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.

From his side, Dr. Fuad Mohammed Al Ansari, President of the University of Bahrain, affirmed that the outstanding performance of students in the AI Talent Program reflects the University’s national vision of aligning academic education with the needs of the real market. He noted that students’ worked on developing a smart system to track and analyze foreign investment serves as a strong indicator of their readiness to enter the labor market, their ability to address real-world challenges, work collaboratively, and deliver innovative solutions.

He further stated that the strong interest shown by students in the program demonstrates its effectiveness in empowering youth and leveraging advanced AI technologies to serve the national economy and support decision-makers. Dr. Al Ansari added that the program represents a model of productive collaboration between academic institutions, government entities, and the private sector, contributing to refining students’ talents and equipping them with the expertise required to lead the future

Professor Mansoor Alaali, President of Ahlia University, emphasized that the university’s participation in the AI Talent Program reflects its dedication to advancing digital innovation and building national capabilities. He stated that the program enables students to transform academic knowledge into smart solutions for government sectors, demonstrating the maturity of the Project-Based Learning model and applied innovation. He confirmed the university’s commitment to preparing distinguished national talents combining academic depth, technical proficiency, and national awareness, supporting Bahrain Vision 2030 and national digital transformation, while contributing to enhancing Bahrain’s regional and international competitiveness.

The 1st batch included 13 students, 7 from Ahlia University and 6 from University of Bahrain specializing in IT majors. The students were divided into two groups: one group addressed challenges for the Statistics and Population Registry sector, while the other focused on the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

University of Bahrain students developed a national smart system to track and manage foreign investment in Bahrain. The system aggregates investor, company, and project data into a single platform, producing precise reports to help government authorities monitor investment volumes, investing countries, and the fastest-growing sectors. It utilizes AI technologies for data extraction, analysis, and predictive insights, accelerating procedures, reducing errors, and supporting the national economy.

Ahlia University students developed an AI-enabled smart tool to organize and monitor promotional campaigns and commercial discounts for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The tool integrates with ministry systems to quickly and accurately review campaign requests, enhancing regulatory oversight and improving the quality of services provided to commercial entities.

The AI Talent Program reflects iGA’s ongoing commitment to preparing a generation of young national talents capable of leading innovation and digital transformation in Bahrain. Higher education institutions interested in participating can contact iGA’s Innovation and Advanced Technologies Directorate via AITalentProgram@iga.gov.bh