Bahraini residents' views on Sustainable Smart City implementation and societal shifts in Manama: a pilot study

Abstract

As the Kingdom of Bahrain increasingly adopts Sustainable Smart City (SSC) frameworks, questions arise about the impact of these models on the social fabric of the urban core in its capital, Manama. SSC frameworks integrate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) with urban planning to promote smart solutions and sustainable development. Manama’s evolution – from pre-oil Islamic-based city planning models to maritime trade towns and post-oil business districts – has rendered it an adaptable, dynamic city and a desirable site for SSC integration. However, as a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds, the city’s modernization process could significantly impact its social and cultural cohesion. Given the limited studies examining Bahraini residents’ perceptions of SSC planning an integration in Manama, this study seeks to answer the following research question: How do residents in Bahrain perceive the impact of sustainable smart city implementations and modernization on cultural and social connections in Manama during the period of January–February 2025? The research uses a cross-sectional and exploratory design to investigate potential correlations between demographic factors – such as gender, education, homeownership, ethnicity, governorate of resident and duration of residence in Manama- and perceptions of cultural significant, modernization, and SSC applications in the city. A Chi-square test was employed to examine potential relationships between independent and dependent variables and to identify statistically significant relationships. Findings reveal that residents from different governorates exhibit varying levels of familiarity with SSC initiatives. Income levels, age groups, and gender also influence perceptions, with some groups expressing heightened concern over privacy breaches and socioeconomic disparities that may arise through SSC integration in Manama. Therefore, this study addresses a research gap on different demographics in Bahrain and their perceptions on different SSC components integration in Manama.