In implementation of the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to launch the Irrigation Solutions Innovation Competition, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture have announced the opening of applications for the competition’s second edition, from November 5, to February 5, 2027.
The competition aims to encourage creative ideas and innovative solutions that make use of surplus treated water and enhance its efficient use in agriculture and afforestation. It also seeks to support the sustainable management of resources, protect the environment and expand irrigation networks, in line with the goals of the comprehensive development process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Applications can be submitted through the Ministry of Works’ website at www.works.gov.bh.
The competition seeks to promote a culture of creativity and innovation and encourage participants to put forward ideas and solutions that help develop irrigation methods, improve their efficiency and provide practical, sustainable ways to expand green spaces and strengthen afforestation efforts. The winning ideas will be implemented by the relevant authorities.
The competition is open to individuals, engineering offices, contractors, universities, institutes, scientific research centres and other institutions. Participants are invited to submit practical innovations that improve water-use efficiency and ensure the balanced distribution of irrigation water to trees and crops, thereby enhancing agricultural and urban landscaping practices across the Kingdom.
Three ideas won the first edition of the competition and will be implemented by the relevant authorities. They include a smart water transportation concept aimed at developing the irrigation network through a smart irrigation system using Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies; the reuse of the rainwater drainage network by conveying treated wastewater through it during dry periods for irrigation purposes; and a smart irrigation system for detecting leaks and using AI to optimise irrigation schedules and water quantities.
The Irrigation Solutions Innovation Competition supports the Afforestation Plan, which aims to double the number of trees by 2035. It does so by encouraging innovative solutions and practical applications that make use of surplus treated water and improve its efficiency in irrigation. This will support the expansion of green spaces and align with national priorities for environmental sustainability and climate action, as well as the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.