Artificial intelligence-powered surveillance cameras could soon become the newest guardians of Bahrain’s public parks, beaches and walkways as authorities move to crack down on littering, vandalism and violations while accelerating the kingdom’s smart city transformation.
The ambitious plan was revealed yesterday by Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry Municipalities Affairs Under-Secretary Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa during the opening of the ninth edition of the Bahrain Smart Cities Summit 2026 at the Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention and Spa.
The conference was inaugurated yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. Senior officials, industry leaders and participants from within Bahrain and abroad are attending the event that ends later today.
The summit features participation from GCC countries, alongside experts and specialists from across the Arab region and beyond, with a programme of sessions and workshops focused on urban development and smart city advancement.
Shaikh Mohammed yesterday confirmed that smart cameras equipped with artificial intelligence systems are already being tested in limited locations, with authorities planning a gradual rollout across more than 200 public sites under the supervision of the ministry.
“Today, you cannot realistically place security personnel or employees everywhere to monitor these issues,” said Shaikh Mohammed. “The Interior Ministry has already shown how successful smart surveillance can be. When people drive today, every violation is monitored and people follow the rules. More than 500 cameras have helped regulate traffic movement in Bahrain.”
He said municipal authorities now want to replicate that success in public spaces frequently affected by irresponsible behaviour.
“We’re working so that all locations under the ministry’s responsibility are monitored using artificial intelligence systems connected to control rooms capable of analysing activity,” he explained. “We have already started on a limited scale, but in the coming years our direction is clear. We want all ministry sites to eventually be covered.”
The sites expected to be monitored include public gardens, beaches, seafronts, parks and walking tracks spread across Bahrain.
“Today we have more than 200 locations under the ministry. It is impossible to place security guards at every single site,” said Shaikh Mohammed. “That is why we have prepared an integrated study and we will gradually implement it annually until we can cover all these locations.”
He stressed that enforcement was only one part of the plan.
“Our message to people is simple – respect these places and protect them,” he added. “These parks and facilities belong to you, your families and your children. But monitoring is also necessary from every aspect, including security.”
Speaking at the summit, he said Bahrain’s wider smart city strategy is now heavily focused on transforming Manama into the kingdom’s first fully integrated smart city.
“We’re concentrating heavily on Manama as our first smart city and working closely with ministries and government bodies to make this happen in the near future,” he said.
The two-day summit, held under the patronage of the Deputy Prime Minister, has brought together regional and international experts discussing artificial intelligence, smart transport, digital government services, sustainable housing, renewable energy and next-generation urban development.
Officials say the event highlights Bahrain’s growing ambition to move beyond traditional urban planning and build cities powered by technology, sustainability and smarter living.
“We have plans for a new central market in the Northern Governorate – that will be bigger and better from what we have,” said Shaikh Mohammed. “Early designs are being worked on – aspects related to markets, logistics and accessibility are changing and we’re seeking something that is futuristic and easily could be expanded on.”
An exhibition runs alongside the conference, offering companies the opportunity to showcase their services to government decision-makers, developers, investors and industry leaders.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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