San diego: Building Permit Portal 'Benayat' (benayat.bh) has been honored with the international Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award in the Government and Production Sector category. This accolade, presented by Esri, a US-based leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), was announced at the annual Esri User Conference in San Diego, the world's largest GIS event.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the conference annually gathers tens of thousands of specialists, including senior government officials, technology and innovation leaders, and GIS experts from over 130 countries. The event featured Jack Dangermond, President of Esri, and highlighted winners from sectors such as local governments, public safety, retail, and public services.
Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, emphasized the significance of Benayat's selection from more than 100 global projects. He noted that this achievement underscores the system's role as a pioneering model in GIS application, integrating effective governance, modern legislation, and innovative operations to streamline building permit procedures, reduce processing times, and enhance stakeholder integration in the real estate sector.
Al Mubarak highlighted that Benayat has transitioned the government's role from operational to supervisory, advancing sustainable urban planning and improving the efficiency of public utility services through GIS technology integration. This shift has increased transparency, accuracy, and speed, boosting user satisfaction. The recognition marks a national milestone for Bahrain, reinforcing its leadership in digital transformation and innovation, showcasing national talent's global competitiveness, and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030.
Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, iGA Chief Executive, remarked that Benayat has expedited building permit issuance for all projects by integrating with the National Spatial Data Infrastructure "Bahrain Spatial Data Infrastructure BSDI". The portal facilitates complete digital integration with key data-providing entities, including property violations, infrastructure Spatial data, and real estate records.
Al Qaed added that Benayat offers over 15 eServices that simplify the permitting process by reducing paperwork, eliminating in-person visits, and cutting processing times by up to 90%, with approvals now taking between one and three working days. Services provided include permits for additions, which comprise 40% of requests.
By streamlining procedures, reducing government entities involved in approvals by 80%, involving the private sector in reviews, and publishing requirements in a unified guide, the system has accelerated processing and enhanced transparency.
The SAG Awards recognize leading and innovative organizations worldwide in GIS. Nominees must demonstrate outstanding use of Esri technologies in projects that advance GIS development and provide globally applicable solutions.
Benayat was chosen from over 100 international projects for its innovative features that distinguished it within its category. The portal met the award's standards by showcasing effective governance, strong leadership practices, forward-looking legislation and policies, and innovative operational processes, transforming stakeholder relations by integrating GIS into both internal and external interactions.
Benayat demonstrated tangible results, such as reduced approval times, enhanced digital integration, and improved coordination among real estate entities, which led to higher satisfaction rates among beneficiaries. It also strengthened governance, supported urban planning, and improved utility services efficiency by embedding GIS into workflows for real-time tracking, transparency, and efficiency.
The Kingdom of Bahrain previously received the Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award in 2011 from the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). In 2012, Bahrain, represented by the Central Informatics and Communication Organization (CIO), GIS Directorate, was recognized among the top two countries globally in GIS by ESRI.
Furthermore, the Benayat system was awarded the eGovernment Excellence Award in 2019 under the Best Integrated eGovernment Services category and won the Bahrain Digital Content Award in 2022.
These awards celebrate excellence in GIS Systems and innovation across sectors, focusing on spatial analysis, decision support, and digital transformation. The government category honors innovative GIS solutions addressing real-world challenges, inspiring global practitioners to expand geospatial technology use and promote data-driven governance.