Future upgrades to the national emergency alert system are on the way as authorities plan to expand the safety net and further improve response systems in an integrated manner.
This was revealed by Deputy Interior Minister Lieutenant General Adel Al Fadhel during a plenary session of the two-day Bahrain Smart Cities Summit 2026 that ended yesterday at the Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention and Spa.
The Interior Ministry on Tuesday walked away with the Innovation in Public Safety Award for its National Alerts System that was received by Lt Gen Al Fadhel.
He described the recognition as proof of Bahrain’s growing leadership in smart public safety solutions.
“This award reflects the Interior Ministry’s continuous efforts to strengthen civil protection and public safety through advanced technology and proactive risk management,” he said.
Lt Gen Al Fadhel explained that the award-winning system, built under directives of Interior Minister and Civil Defence Council Chairman General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, enables authorities to instantly deliver emergency warnings and life-saving notifications directly to citizens and residents through smartphones during critical situations.
“The objective is clear – ensuring immediate communication with every person in Bahrain during emergencies in record time,” he said.
But officials say this is only the beginning.
Lt Gen Al Fadhel stressed that the platform is expected to undergo continuous development in the coming years, with future upgrades aimed at expanding communication channels, improving reach and making emergency response systems faster, smarter and more integrated.
“We are committed to continuously enhancing national early warning programmes to guarantee faster response, stronger co-ordination between government institutions, the private sector and civil society, while ensuring alerts reach all segments of society through multiple channels,” he said.
The smart system provides essential public information on their smartphones before, during and after emergencies, representing what officials described as a major transformation in how authorities communicate with the public during disasters or urgent incidents.
A leading example of this are the siren alerts that people across Bahrain received on their phones during Iranian drones and missile attacks.
“We are exploring and testing advancements that are set to enhance the system,” he said. “What we have currently has shown high capability and we are looking to expand with new ideas.”
Meanwhile, the ministry’s exhibition pavilion running on the sidelines of the conference with several high-tech projects drew attention, including smart traffic cameras developed by the General Directorate of Traffic to improve road safety and reduce dangerous driving behaviour through automated monitoring.
The General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science Bahrain also unveiled an ambitious AI-powered anti-drug recovery project, designed to analyse behavioural patterns of addicts and help improve rehabilitation success rates using artificial intelligence.
Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Civil Defence Bahrain highlighted its National Civil Protection Platform, launched in 2023 to improve public awareness and preparedness against emergencies and natural disasters.
The portal aims at educating and preparing the public for different emergency scenarios, including exposure from radiation and a dirty bomb.
The strategic objective of this roadmap for emergency preparedness is to educate the public about a unified protocol of risk mitigation programmes.
A series of infographics posted on www.ncpp.gov.bh provide detailed and vital information in English and Arabic.
In another key presentation, Deputy Police Chief Major General Dr Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Khalifa outlined Bahrain’s smart border security strategy, stressing that future security challenges demand deeper technological integration.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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