Fintech Forward 2026 (FF26), the region’s flagship financial forum, wrapped up at Exhibition World Bahrain with over 60 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), strategic agreements, and key announcements unveiled, securing over 2900 local and international participants. Marking the fourth edition, the forum welcomed its largest number of sponsors and exhibitors to date, underscoring the strength of industry engagement and a shared ambition to shape the next chapter of financial services.
The 65% increase in announcements and signings at FF26 highlights the Forum's growing role as a catalyst for tangible economic outcomes. Several of this year's announcements and MoUs build on connections forged at FF25, demonstrating how Bahrain's agile financial ecosystem converts dialogue and access to decisionmakers into sustained momentum. This is the Team Bahrain approach in action, harnessing public-private partnership to drive innovation, strengthen the ecosystem and unlock new pathways for growth.
Among the developments announced at FF26 was a Google Cloud Universal Ledger pilot showcased by BBK. The project is being delivered in collaboration with ARRAY Innovation, a portfolio company of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund. It explores the use of advanced digital ledger technology within BBK’s core banking operations, with potential applications in tokenized payments and programmable settlement.
Beyon and barq Group’s (Technologies Union) also announced an agreement which brought together Beyon Money’s operations with barq’s fintech platform, with Beyon set to retain economic interest in barq, subject to final documentation and regulatory approvals.
FF26 also saw BENEFIT announce the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) as the first participating bank and anchor banking partner in the Trade Finance Registry pilot. Developed in collaboration with Singapore-based trade finance fraud prevention specialist MonetaGo and Bahrain FinTech Bay (BFB), the pilot aims to reduce risk across trade finance. Bahrain FinTech Bay also launched its fourth Fintech Ecosystem Report (2024–2026), charting Bahrain’s progression to regulated execution and highlighting opportunities in AI, tokenisation, and cross-border payments. FF26 also marked the announcement of the third edition of the NBB Innovation Programme in partnership with BFB, continuing its presence at Fintech Forward for a second consecutive year.
Further announcements included Beyon Connect’s plans to launch an AML Referral Programme, with AMAN Compliance Solutions joining as its first referral partner, helping organisations access specialised financial crime prevention and compliance expertise, alongside an MoU between Beyon Connect and BENEFIT to explore joint fintech opportunities locally and internationally, combining their complementary capabilities across digital identity, payments, credit and information services, as well as data analytics. BENEFIT and Huawei also signed an MoU to explore cooperation in digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies, reflecting the growing intersection between financial services and emerging technology.
Additionally, Kuwait Finance House – Bahrain announced an MoU with stc Bahrain to expand their existing partnership, exploring new areas of collaboration across digital solutions and integrated use cases, while further advancing digital capabilities in cash management, reconciliation, and trade finance.
Together, these announcements reflect the continued evolution of Bahrain's fintech ecosystem, showcasing how financial institutions, technology providers, and ecosystem partners are working together to deliver new solutions, strengthen market infrastructure and unlock opportunities across financial services.
The exhibition also debuted the Tech Talent Hub, featuring Citi, J.P. Morgan and KPMG and highlighting the role of Bahraini talent in supporting global clients and operations from the Kingdom, alongside the skills and career pathways shaping the future of financial services and technology.
FF26 also welcomed high-level delegations from the United Kingdom and Switzerland to engage with Bahrain’s financial and fintech ecosystem and explore opportunities for collaboration and growth. Returning to the forum, the UK delegation brought together 20 fintech and venture capital companies alongside three ecosystem enablers, reflecting the continued momentum between the two markets. Switzerland, meanwhile, made its debut at Fintech Forward with its first-ever fintech delegation to the event, comprising six companies. Together, the delegations strengthened connections between Bahrain and two leading international financial markets, building on established ties across financial services, investment and innovation.
The forum’s programme brought together prominent policymakers, industry leaders across finance and technology, and internationally recognised innovators, featururing more than 40 local, regional, and global speakers, including: Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy; Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development, Chief Executive of Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB); Khalid Humaidan, Governor, Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB); Sheikh Mohammed bin Saeed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Chairman and Board Member of VIAI; Mo Gawdat, internationally recognised AI expert and former Chief Business Officer at Google X; and Louis Saha, French international footballer and global entrepreneur.
Across the programme, sessions examined a range of topics shaping the future of finance, including artificial intelligence, digital payments and stablecoins, tokenized finance, cross-border financial infrastructure, and the evolving role of technology in banking.
Hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) and programmed by Forbes Middle East, FF26 was supported by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), and Bahrain FinTech Bay (BFB) and was held under the theme “Finance in the Age of Intelligent Infrastructure.”