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As part of the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance service quality and re-engineer public services, the Survey and Land Registration Bureau develops the Marine Survey Request and Application Status Inquiry services

As part of the government’s continuous efforts to improve service quality and re-engineer public services, the Survey and Land Registration Bureau (SLRB) has developed the Marine Survey Request and Application Status Inquiry services. These digital services enable beneficiaries of marine surveying services, including entities involved in marine projects, investors, and real estate developers, to submit requests for marine surveys of specific areas to determine sea depths, current velocities, quantities of sediment deposits, or obtain seabed imagery. The services also allow users to track the status of their applications electronically with ease, reducing the time and effort required to complete transactions and enhancing the quality of government services provided through the national portal Bahrain.bh.

Under the enhanced services, the processing time for marine survey requests has been reduced from five working days to two working days, while the number of application steps has been streamlined to a maximum of four. The Application Status Inquiry service is now provided instantly online, compared to the previous processing time of one full working day. This has been achieved through the automation of service procedures and the complete digital transformation of the services, with 100% of transactions conducted through digital channels. In addition, the service level agreement (SLA) timeframe has been reduced by at least 25%, contributing to simplified procedures and an improved customer experience.

The enhancement also included automating application processing stages, reducing manual procedures and steps, eliminating unnecessary paper-based requirements, and electronically integrating relevant entities. These improvements have contributed to shorter processing times, increased operational efficiency, enhanced beneficiary experience, greater transparency, and easier access to services around the clock.

In this regard, Engineer Bassem bin Yaqoub Al Hamer, President of the Survey and Land Registration Bureau, affirmed that the development of the two services comes as part of the Bureau’s ongoing efforts to enhance services related to the maritime sector and leverage modern digital solutions to improve the efficiency of marine survey requests and the quality of services provided to beneficiaries. He noted that the launch coincides with World Hydrography Day and emphasized the importance of accurate marine data and information in supporting the efficiency of maritime sector operations and contributing to sustainable development. This reflects the Bureau’s commitment to continuously improving and modernizing its services, reducing time and effort for institutions, and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of its operational framework.

His Excellency added that this enhancement is part of the Bureau’s adoption of innovative digital solutions that strengthen the efficiency of government services and support digital transformation initiatives. He explained that the development will contribute to improving the efficiency of processing marine survey requests and accelerating procedures by reducing the time and effort required to submit and follow up on applications.

He further noted that the enhanced services will promote greater transparency by enabling beneficiaries to inquire about the status of their applications electronically throughout all stages of processing. This will support an improved user experience and higher levels of customer satisfaction. He also highlighted that the digital transformation of the services will reduce reliance on paper-based transactions, improve resource utilization, and enhance operational efficiency and the quality of government services provided.

It is worth noting that, as part of the government's ongoing efforts to develop and re-engineer public services, more than 1,300 government services have been documented, translated, and published. Around 800 of these services have undergone development and re-engineering across various government sectors, based on suggestions and feedback received through the national suggestions and complaints system “Tawasul,” investor feedback, and secret shopper reports evaluating government services. Additionally, guidance manuals and service level agreements have been introduced, contributing to greater procedural efficiency, improved service quality, enhanced beneficiary experiences, and support for the government’s digital transformation journey.