News

Thales Deploys Its Security Solution At Bahrain International Airport

Published

5 years ago

February 10, 2021

Thales

Thales, a French provider of integrated security and telecommunications solutions, has recently installed its system at the Bahrain International Airport. The system is part of the airport’s expansion, whose goal is to quadruple the size of the existing terminal and increase its capacity to 14 million passengers per year.

The integrated security and telecommunications system is responsible not just for security, safety, and airport operations but also for communication and infrastructure for the Bahrain International Airport terminal building, car parks, and Central Utility Complex, as stated by Thales in the official press release.

“We have ensured that Bahrain International Airport has been equipped with the latest smart and innovative solutions,” said Alain Correia, Managing Director at Thales Bahrain. “This guarantees optimum protection for passengers, staff, and facilities, and meets the demand for enhanced security at the new airport by Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications and Bahrain Airport Company.”

The French company has been operating in Bahrain for more than 30 years, and it enjoys a strong partnership with many public sector organizations, including the Ministry of Transportation & Communication. As a local technology provider, it contributes to Bahrain’s goal of becoming a knowledge-based economy based around three guiding principles: sustainability, fairness, and competitiveness, as described in the Economic Vision 2030.

“Thales’s strength in innovation and digital technologies perfectly positions the group to become a preferred partner for aerospace, transportation, and public security, the pillars of Bahrain’s smart city ambition,” added Correia.

Also Read: Bahrain Becomes Among The First To Achieve Nationwide 5G Coverage

Digital technology is playing an increasingly important role in airports around the world, and the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus has only highlighted its importance. Airports across the United Arab Emirates have adopted thermal cameras to detect symptomatic passengers, and the country’s largest airline, Emirates, has introduced touchless technology to its check-in facilities.

News

Lebanon Ministers Meet Visa Over National Digital Payment Platform

Finance and technology ministers say a comparative study and roadmap will follow before any decision on adopting a model.

Published

24 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Joanna Melki

lebanon ministers meet visa over national digital payment platform

Lebanon’s finance and technology ministers met representatives from Visa last week to discuss a proposed unified national digital payment platform for government services, according to a readout from the Ministry of Finance.

The meeting brought together Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadeh, a Visa delegation, and experts from both ministries. Discussion focused on whether Lebanon could establish a single platform through which citizens and institutions would pay taxes, fees, fines and other official transactions electronically, using mobile phones and other digital channels.

The Visa delegation presented examples from countries that have adopted unified government payment platforms, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Estonia and Jordan. According to the readout, the examples were presented as having increased collection rates and expanded financial inclusion.

Talks covered settlement mechanisms, direct transfer to the treasury account, financial reconciliation, risk management, cybersecurity, fees, and an operational model that would involve the private sector. The parties agreed to continue technical and institutional consultations, prepare a comparative study, and develop an implementation roadmap before any decision on adopting a model for Lebanon.

Jaber said the Ministry of Finance had already enabled citizens to pay using credit cards and e-wallets through transfer companies, but described the proposed platform as a further step. He framed the development of electronic payment and collection systems as a priority within the ministry’s modernization plan.

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Shehadeh outlined the citizen-facing concept as a single mobile application through which users could settle obligations to ministries, government institutions and other bodies.

“The idea, in short, is that any citizen downloads an application on their mobile phone, through which they can pay all service obligations for all ministries, government institutions, or those owned by the Lebanese state, and others as well, as the platform is not limited only to state institutions,” he said.

Shehadeh added that the platform would not displace banks and money transfer companies that currently provide collection services to the state, calling it complementary to their work.