The Ministry of Labor and Social Development completes the integration of the "Disability ID" data with the developed identity card

14-07-2020

The Ministry of Labour and Social Development has completed the full integration of data for the approved disability card into its own systems and into the population‑registry platform managed by the Information and eGovernment Authority. As a result, the Authority has begun printing a disability code on every new smart ID card and embedding both the code and disability type in the card’s electronic chip, thereby streamlining access to facilities and services for people with disabilities throughout the Kingdom of Bahrain. This achievement is the product of sustained coordination between the Ministry’s Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sector and the Authority’s ID Card and Population Registry Directorate. Under a joint 18‑month plan, all existing disability cards will be upgraded before their current validity lapses, ensuring that cardholders retain uninterrupted benefits until the legacy cards are fully phased out at the end of 2021. By adopting advanced technologies and unified databases, both institutions reaffirm their commitment to delivering high‑quality, cost‑efficient services that enhance the well‑being of every citizen, in line with national objectives to boost service effectiveness, reduce administrative costs and elevate overall performance. People with disabilities who are registered in the Ministry’s electronic system and hold the upgraded smart ID card will continue to receive every benefit previously afforded through the dedicated disability identification card. These privileges include commercial discounts at participating retail outlets and service providers, eligibility for a parking‑permit sticker issued by the General Directorate of Traffic, access to a dedicated lane at the King Fahd Causeway Authority, and a 50 per cent reduction on causeway crossing fees. For further information, beneficiaries may contact the Special Needs Services Department on 17102378, Sunday to Thursday, between 07:00 and 14:00. The Information and eGovernment Authority confirms that all 12,000+ citizens with disabilities who are registered with the Ministry may obtain the updated ID card featuring the disability code either upon the normal expiry of their current card or, if preferred, by renewing early through the ID‑card services available on the National Portal at www.bahrain.bh. Cardholders are requested to ensure that their disability data held by the Ministry are accurate, as the code and related details are now pulled automatically from the Ministry’s database into the national population registry, replacing the previous practice of issuing a separate disability card. The Authority has upgraded its systems to print the disability icon and status on the reverse of the card and has validated all technical procedures to allow immediate processing of renewal requests.