How smart technology can drive trade over Bahrain’s King Fahd Causeway

How smart technology can drive trade over Bahrain’s King Fahd Causeway

Pilot scheme to process trucks saw vehicles able to cross the bridge 12-times faster than before

A pilot scheme that used the latest smart technology to process trucks on the King Fahd Causeway between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia is to be rolled out permanently after trucks were able to cross the bridge 12-times faster than before, reducing waiting times of up to four hours to just 20 minutes.

And it is expected the move will reap huge rewards for Bahrain, with ‘billions' of dollars expected to flow back into the country's economy once the Causeway reopens and tourists return.

Dr Ali Al-Moulani, president of the Bahrain Economists Society said: “Trade between Saudi and Bahrain reached SAR10.9 billion ($2.9bn) in 2020 – despite the movement of goods being restricted to essentials only for a few months at the height of the pandemic.”

Dr Ali Al-Moulani, President of the Bahrain Economists Society, said as visitor levels return to pre-pandemic levels Bahrain would receive a much-needed boost.

The pilot had been running since January 2020 and its success led to the Causeway Authority inking and MoU with Saudi Arabian platform provider Tabadul who will be responsible for rolling the scheme out to all cargo traffic on both sides of