The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), in collaboration with Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company (BKIC), held Bahrain’s first AI hackathon dedicated to the insurance sector recently, at the BIBF campus.
The initiative aimed to strengthen the practical AI skills of insurance professionals and help them use emerging technologies to address workplace challenges and improve business processes. It also supports Bahrain’s wider efforts to advance digital transformation and develop national talent.
The hackathon brought together 26 BKIC employees, who worked in teams to apply the knowledge and skills gained during a three-day AI Readiness Programme.
The teams designed and built AI-powered agents to address real challenges within the insurance workplace, turning ideas developed during the programme into practical solutions with the potential for further development.
The projects were evaluated, and the three strongest solutions were selected to move into the next stage of development. BKIC will assess their potential for use across its operations, with the aim of turning the ideas developed during the hackathon into practical workplace solutions.
Commenting on the initiative, BIBF Chief Executive Officer Dr Ahmed Al Shaikh said: “The value of this initiative lies in moving participants beyond simply learning about AI tools and enabling them to use those tools to solve real workplace challenges. This reflects the importance of linking training directly to business needs and practical outcomes.”
He added: “We are pleased to collaborate with Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Company on this initiative, which gave employees the opportunity to apply what they learned in a practical setting. BIBF remains committed to supporting national organisations through programmes that develop Bahraini talent and prepare the workforce for changes in the labour market.”
Mr. Zeyad Zainal, Chief Technology Officer at Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Co., said: “We believe that investing in the development of national talent and empowering employees to leverage modern technologies is a key driver in enhancing the competitiveness of the insurance sector. This hackathon provided a valuable opportunity to explore the potential of artificial intelligence in addressing operational challenges and creating tangible business value, supporting the company’s aspirations for greater innovation and efficiency.”
Mrs. Aysha Al Mahmeed, Senior Manager – Human Resources at Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Co., said: “This programme forms part of BKIC’s efforts to strengthen employees’ skills and explore how AI can support the way we work. The hackathon gave participants the opportunity to develop solutions based on real business challenges, and we will now review the winning ideas and assess how they can be further developed within the company.”
The collaboration is part of BIBF’s continued efforts to deliver practical AI programmes that help organisations build internal capabilities and connect learning with real workplace needs, supporting national talent development and digital transformation across Bahrain’s key economic sectors.
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