Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Dainah, Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, inaugurated the 2026 International Conference on Frontiers of Engineering and Emerging Technologies (FET’26), organised by the College of Engineering at the University of Bahrain, held remotely, with the participation of a group of academics, experts, and researchers from various countries around the world.
The minister highlighted that the growing acceleration in engineering and technology necessitates directing innovation pathways towards practical solutions that support the achievement of sustainable development goals, through developing reliable systems, enhancing the efficiency of industrial processes, and building resilient infrastructure capable of keeping pace with rapid changes. He noted that employing artificial intelligence technologies and advanced analytics represents a key pillar in supporting engineering decision-making, when used in a studied and responsible manner, contributing to improving performance efficiency, enhancing resilience, and achieving practical, applicable results.
He underscored the importance of integrating roles between academic institutions, government entities, and the industrial sector in preparing national competencies and enabling them to employ emerging technologies efficiently and with clarity of vision and objectives, contributing to supporting development pathways and achieving sustainable outputs.
Dr. Bin Dainah thanked the University of Bahrain for its efforts in organising and preparing the conference, commending the role of the College of Engineering, the organising committees, and all participants in the success of this scientific event.
For his part, Dr. Fuad Mohammed Al Ansari, President of the University of Bahrain, said that the university continues to strengthen its position as a leading academic institution contributing to supporting national development pathways through scientific research and innovation, and by adopting initiatives that keep pace with global developments, particularly in engineering and technological domains. He noted that organising this conference is part of the university’s approach to continue enhancing partnerships with various sectors and providing a stimulating scientific environment for the exchange of knowledge and expertise, contributing to preparing qualified cadres capable of keeping pace with future requirements and various challenges.
Dr. Shaikha Haifa bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Bahrain, said that the college ensured comprehensive preparation and organisation of the conference in accordance with the highest scientific and organisational standards, through a comprehensive scientific programme that keeps pace with the most prominent modern engineering trends and attracts a group of specialists, researchers, and students, thereby enhancing the quality of scientific outputs and supporting the exchange of expertise among participants.
Dr. Shaikha Haifa bint Ibrahim noted that the conference aims to review and discuss developments in the fields of engineering and modern technologies, and to enhance scientific cooperation and knowledge exchange between academic, research, and industrial institutions, contributing to developing innovative solutions that support sustainable development pathways and keep pace with rapid global transformations.
The conference included topics that reflect the most prominent modern trends in the engineering sector, including smart operations and transformation in the energy sector, advanced manufacturing and industrial technology, and engineering management within the framework of Industry 5.0, in addition to applications of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies across various engineering domains, advanced technologies in energy and industrial systems, as well as innovation in sustainable architectural engineering, and the development of smart infrastructure and construction and transport technologies.
The conference also reviewed 216 scientific papers, out of 500 papers submitted by researchers and professors from within the Kingdom and abroad, in addition to 47 parallel discussion sessions reviewing scientific papers submitted from around 50 countries, addressing the latest developments and scientific literature across various engineering disciplines, as well as showcasing practical applications of modern technologies. The accepted papers are scheduled to be published in the IEEE Xplore digital library, in accordance with the quality standards of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
