MANAMA — As part of Bahrain’s ongoing push toward comprehensive digital governance, His Excellency Shaikh Ahmed bin Hamad Al Khalifa, President of Customs, conducted an official visit to the Unified Customs Clearance Center at Khalifa Bin Salman Port to mark its successful transition into a fully remote electronic service center.
The visit was conducted alongside Mr. Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Chief Executive of the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) and Chairman of the Government Service Centers Evaluation Committee, along with several subcommittee members. The delegation assessed the center’s alignment with the rigorous standards of the Government Service Centers Evaluation Program.
During the inspection, Shaikh Ahmed affirmed that completing the requirements for full electronic transformation is a major milestone for Bahrain’s customs infrastructure. He emphasized that adopting cutting-edge digital solutions allows Customs Affairs to provide faster, more flexible, and highly efficient services, ultimately elevating the entire customer experience.
“Digital transformation has become a fundamental pillar for improving government performance and meeting the evolving needs of our beneficiaries,” Shaikh Ahmed stated, adding that Customs Affairs will continue to leverage modern technology and innovation to simplify administrative procedures and save time for businesses and citizens alike.
The Unified Customs Clearance Center, which operates under the General Directorate of Customs Clearance and Services, stands out as one of the first customs entities to join the evaluation program since its launch in 2017 under the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
The center achieved a perfect 100% compliance rate with the program’s modernization criteria. This achievement builds on a strong track record of operational excellence; the center previously secured the Silver Shield during its first evaluation in 2019, followed by consecutive Gold Shields from 2020 through 2024.
The visit concluded with officials discussing future strategies to further integrate advanced tech applications across all customs entry points, ensuring Bahrain remains aligned with international best practices in trade and digital logistics.