News
Bahrain Plans To Develop 300 Smart Factories By 2026
The iFactories initiative will adopt the top regional and global practices to ensure sustainability and raise productivity.
Bahrain has launched an initiative to support its manufacturing sector as the world moves closer towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The initiative is known as iFactories and will assess factories’ readiness and digital maturity while allowing businesses to invest in new infrastructure and manufacturing automation technologies.
Abdullah bin Abdel Fakhro, Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, said the initiative aims to transform 300 manufacturing facilities into smart factories by 2026.
The initiative will use a four-step process:
- Evaluation by the ministry with technical assistance to conduct self-evaluation.
- Evaluation by a team of accredited evaluators.
- Empowerment, involving the factory creating a digital transformation plan.
- Development, with the ministry monitoring the transformation process.
Dr. Khaled Fahad Al Alawi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industrial Development, explained that smart factories would be evaluated using the SIRI index, an international standard based on applying practices and tools centered around the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
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The latest initiative is part of broader plans to drive growth by modernizing Bahrain’s industrial sector and encouraging businesses to automate and expand their operations.
News
The Petshop Launches UAE’s First Pet Care Super App
Dubai retailer folds shopping, bookings and pet records into one mobile hub that features reminders, personalization, and more.
The Petshop has introduced a “Super App” that pulls together shopping, service bookings and pet records into a single platform, pitching it as the first integrated pet care app of its kind in the UAE.
The release turns the company’s stores, services and e-commerce operation into one connected system. Instead of juggling calls, WhatsApp chats and paper notes, customers manage everything from one account.
Each pet gets a dedicated profile. Age, diet, medical notes and behavioral traits sit in one place and update over time. For households with multiple animals, it’s a practical fix: fewer lost details, fewer repeat explanations at the counter.
That data feeds the app’s personalization. Reminders, recommendations and service options adjust to the specific pet rather than defaulting to broad prompts.
Grooming, boarding, relocation, aquatics and wellness services are booked through the same flow. Users can check availability, lock in appointments and see past visits without hopping between tools. All of the key services can be accessed and booked with a few taps.
The company says records and documents are stored with added safeguards, including verified digital paperwork for sensitive information, while usage signals trigger timely prompts without exposing private data.
“Over the past fifteen years, we’ve grown alongside the pet community in the UAE and seen how pet ownership has evolved,” said Amr Hazem Youssef, CEO of The Petshop. “For pet families, care now depends on continuity, accurate information, and services that match real life, not isolated transactions. This app brings those elements into one place with a structure that supports reliable care”.
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He added: “Pets have individual needs that change over time, and those needs shape daily decisions around routines, health, and wellbeing. By keeping information organized and connecting services within one system, we can reduce friction for pet families and deliver greater consistency across the experience.”
Founded in 2011, The Petshop now operates 11 outlets across the United Arab Emirates, including megastores in Dubai Investment Park and Abu Dhabi’s Al Reem Island, plus an online catalogue of more than 12,000 products.
The Petshop Super App is available on both the App Store and Google Play.
