Bahrain government is set to issue special Bahraini ID cards to all GCC and global investors in a bid to help them complete their transaction procedures at various service departments in the kingdom without any hassles.

The move comes in line with the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa,  Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to provide more facilities to GCC residents and investors in Bahrain when conducting their transactions at various service departments, said a senior official.

This procedure reflects the strengthening of ties and relations with neighbouring countries and provides the opportunity to attract GCC investments and inter-exchanges," remarked Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, the chief executive of Information & eGovernment Authority (IGA).

This increases the provision of more newly innovative services that achieve greater user satisfaction, he stated.

"This procedure is in line with Royal Decree No. 2 of 2013 regarding the usage of the identity card as a proof of a unified identity when conducting transactions," noted Al Qaed.

"The procedure is consistent with the eGovernment’s national strategy and the authority’s execution of online transactions, which benefit citizens and residents alike. It is also in line with Article One of Law No. 46 for 2006 (regarding the ID card)," he explained.

Al Qaed called upon those GCC citizens - residents and investors in Bahrain – who meet the conditions and requirements to visit the Isa Town or Muharraq branches of the IGA for obtaining the ID card.

"The article is endorsed on every GCC resident or investor (whose residency exceeded six months during the previous year from the date of entering the Kingdom) who own an authenticated, officially recognized address," he added.
 
Al Qaed said this step comes in pursuit of enhancing and supporting the co-ordinating steps taken by the GCC Steering Committee for Smart Cards and its initiatives in support of the directives bestowed by the GCC leaders to promote further integration.

Through the issuance of the Bahraini identity card, IGA is keen on simplifying the transaction procedures for GCC residents and investors in Bahrain as well as accelerating the access of public and private services in the most convenient methods – in accordance with the highest levels of security, confidentiality and quality of services, he added.-TradeArabia News Service