Manama : The Ministry of Sustainable Development submitted the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Third Voluntary National Review (VNR) for publication on the United Nations website, ahead of its presentation at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, scheduled to be held at the UN Headquarters in New York in July. This year’s Forum will be convened under the theme: “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all.”
Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), affirmed that with only four years remaining until the 2030 deadline, and at a stage that requires accelerating efforts towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the Kingdom continues to advance steadily in consolidating its comprehensive development approach under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
The Minister added that the Kingdom is maintaining its steadfast commitment to advancing sustainability efforts across the social, economic and environmental dimensions, despite the exceptional circumstances and escalating challenges in the region.
The 2026 Voluntary National Review reflects the Kingdom of Bahrain’s priorities and its approach to integrating the Sustainable Development Goals into the national development agenda. It charts the Kingdom’s development journey from investing in human capital through education, training, social support and healthcare, to preserving its heritage, culture and national identity, while shaping a more sustainable future through environmental protection, climate action, innovation and digital transformation, and advancing economic sustainability and inclusive growth.
Each section of the report highlights examples of strategies, projects and initiatives that reflect the Kingdom’s transformative, comprehensive, innovative and integrated efforts in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goals, in line with the theme of this year’s High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
Voluntary National Reviews serve as an effective mechanism for reviewing national plans related to the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and assessing their effectiveness. They facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices, showcase success stories, challenges and lessons learned, and contribute to accelerating progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Kingdom previously presented two Voluntary National Reviews, the first in 2018 and the second in 2023. The latter reflected the alignment of national plans and strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals, highlighted national efforts to accelerate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic through the launch of the Economic Recovery Plan, and reviewed the policies adopted by the Kingdom and the accelerators supporting the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, including the commitment to carbon neutrality and digital transformation.
The preparation of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Third Voluntary National Review reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to achieve economic, social and environmental sustainability through the projects and initiatives of Bahrain Economic Vision 2030. It also demonstrates Bahrain’s commitment to fostering effective national and international partnerships that contribute to peace and prosperity, while shaping a sustainable future for generations to come.
