Fintech Forward 2025 Marks a Milestone with 38 Strategic Partnerships Signed

Fintech Forward 2025 Concludes with Historic Partnerships

The Fintech Forward 2025 (FF25) event, organized by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), concluded successfully on October 10, 2025, at Exhibition World Bahrain. The event hosted policymakers, investors, founders, and thought leaders from various sectors globally. This year marked a milestone, as FF25 attracted the largest number of sponsors and participants to date, culminating in 38 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and strategic agreements that span several key areas, including financial technology and digital infrastructure.

As an island nation strategically located in the Gulf, Bahrain continues to strengthen its position as a leader in global financial services and technology. The event saw a turnout of around 2,000 attendees from across the globe, and it emphasized Bahrain's role as a pioneer in the fintech space. Representatives from countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the UK, the US, and India participated actively in the discussions and collaborations formed throughout the event.

A significant highlight was the announcement of a successful pilot project involving Google Cloud's new payments infrastructure. This collaboration was facilitated by Bahrain Fintech Bay and partnered with the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB), the Islamic Bank of Bahrain (BisB), the Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK), and BENEFIT, enabling instant payments using digital money between banks. This project underscores Bahrain's capability to serve as a testing ground for next-generation financial technologies and its capacity for significant cross-border collaboration.

In addition to the local representation, Bahrain EDB was honored to welcome a delegation from the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), which consisted of 70 delegates from 36 fintech companies—the largest delegation ever sent by the DBT to any country. This highlights a shared commitment to promoting international innovation and financial collaboration. Notably, three UK firms announced their launch in Bahrain during the event, reinforcing the kingdom's growing attractiveness as an international fintech hub.

The theme of this year’s event focused on “The Era of Integration: The Maturity of Fintech”, featuring over 40 speakers, including global regulatory leaders, financial strategists, and renowned fintech innovators like Binance's Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and Shazam’s co-founder Dhiraj Mukherjee. This gathering proved to be a premier global platform for innovation, bringing together leaders who have transformed industries and reshaped how millions interact with technology and financial services.

The agenda of the event covered an array of topics that are shaping the future of finance, including the rise of integrated infrastructures, AI adoption, open banking, Islamic fintech, digital payments, and the future of regulation.

Bahrain has seen a transformation in its financial services landscape over the past decade due to progressive regulation and advanced digital infrastructure. With the financial sector contributing 17.2% to the country’s GDP in 2024, it serves as a fundamental driver of economic growth, benefiting from a forward-looking regulatory framework led by the Central Bank of Bahrain - the only agile regulator in the kingdom.

Guided by its Financial Services Sector Development Strategy (2022-2026), Bahrain continues to promote innovation, talent development, and sustainable growth through its strategic location, business-friendly environment, skilled workforce, and sophisticated digital infrastructure. Thus, it is positioned as a launchpad for scalable cross-border fintech solutions and a gateway to the $2.15 trillion GCC market, establishing itself as the leading destination in the region for fintech investment and collaboration.

Fintech Forward remains pivotal in driving investment, fostering innovation, and shaping the future of finance in the region. With renewed momentum, the event is set to return in 2026, continuing its mission as the leading platform for dialogue, collaboration, and transformation in digital finance. For more information about next year's edition, FF26, visit our website.