As part of the Government of Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to provide accessible and innovative services, and undertaken efforts and initiatives to develop the current eServices; citizens and residents can now communicate with a number of ministries through a unified number (8000 8001) to gain easy, prompt access to various public services treated as high confidential. Such ministries include the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Culture, and Ministry of Social Development.
This step makes a positive contribution as it enables clients to gain integrated, high quality services via one number. The National Contact Center (NCC) is a tool that helps the government of Bahrain to improve services provided to citizens, residents, visitors and businesses.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce presents a wide range of services through the National Contact Center (8000 8001). Such services comprise the commercial registration applications follow up and inquiry, agencies inquiry, and the daily price index. The National Contact Center also provides information related to licensing regulations, and legal regulations of setting up businesses.
The Ministry of Culture offers callers a schedule of all the cultural events and information that are needed by tourists and citizens; along with the working hours and weather forecast. Such information include hotels, furnished apartments, restaurants, sightseeing attractions, in addition to the accessible means of transport such as taxis, car rentals and airlines, along with all the details required by tourists before entering Bahrain; such as entry visa rules and fees, as well as the prohibited and restricted items that are not to be carried into the Kingdom.
The Ministry of Housing has launched a batch of services through the National Contact Center to enable users to follow up on housing application status, booking appointments for new applications then requesting to send the applications via post, and enquire related to those applying for a new housing service. Furthermore, it automated appointment scheduling to save users time; reduce the load at the ministry and ensure the delivery of high-quality and efficient services.
The Ministry of Social Development provides a variety of smooth accessible services to citizens through the National Contact Center, ensuring to keep their privacy and confidentiality of information. The ministry provides easy access to all information related to financial support, family and childhood development, NGOs, rehabilitation programs, and social assistance.
The center is the fourth eGovernment service delivery channel concerned with providing integrated eServices. Other channels – National Portal (Bahrain.bh), Mobile Gateway, eServices Centers – are part of the eGovernment program strategic objectives that offer government services through a unified national contact center in Bahrain.
The center is the first of its kind in Bahrain; it forms a vital step towards enhancing channels of communication between the general public, ministries and governmental bodies in the country. The integrated government services are delivered on both local and regional levels through an easy-to-dial, easy-to-remember number. It works 24-hours, 7-days a week in both Arabic and English; and operates in accordance with international standards.