Bahrain's Central Bank to Triple Fintech Investment Over Three Years
Bahrain’s Central Bank to Triple Fintech Investment Over Three Years #
The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has announced plans to triple its investment in financial technology over the next three years, with the aim of expanding the kingdom’s digital regulatory infrastructure.
CBB Governor Khalid Humaidan announced the commitment at the fourth edition of FinTech Forward 2026, held at Exhibition World Bahrain. Senior government ministers, regulators, and financial industry leaders attended the forum. It is the largest edition in the event’s history and includes a newly launched Tech Hub, supported by workforce development agency Tamkeen, designed to demonstrate new capabilities and train Bahraini workers.
Humaidan placed supervisory technology, known as SupTech, and artificial intelligence at the centre of the CBB’s expansion strategy, arguing that tech-enabled oversight changes the trade-off between financial stability and economic growth. Real-time visibility across Bahrain’s banking, insurance, and capital markets sectors, he said, allows regulators to monitor transaction flows continuously and detect sophisticated financial fraud at an early stage. He described a modern, tech-driven CBB licence as a quality signal to global investors and said the regulator’s primary responsibilities are protecting user privacy and maintaining a level playing field.
Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, also speaking at the forum, said the financial world has entered an intelligence-driven era, with AI, digital payments, and stablecoins reshaping global capital flows. He said more than 60 new partnerships are expected to be announced during the forum.
Bahrain Economic Development Board CEO and Sustainable Development Minister Noor Al Khulaif said local talent accounts for approximately 70 percent of the kingdom’s financial sector workforce, a figure she cited as a draw for international institutions. She noted that global banks including Citi and JP Morgan have established regional technology centres in Bahrain.
Humaidan also projected that financial services will continue to represent roughly 20 percent of Bahrain’s GDP through 2036. That share is expected to hold steady but will represent a larger absolute contribution as the Bahraini economy grows and diversifies.
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