Fintech Forward 2026 Concludes in Bahrain With Over 60 Strategic Agreements
The Fintech Forward 2026 forum in Bahrain concluded with the signing of over 60 strategic agreements, attracting 2,900 participants from local and international financial and technology sectors.
Fintech Forward 2026 (FF26), a key financial forum for the Gulf region, concluded its fourth edition in Manama, Bahrain, with the signing of over 60 strategic agreements and major announcements. The event drew more than 2,900 local and international participants, underscoring its role in driving collaboration between the financial services and technology sectors.
The forum featured over 40 speakers and international delegations, alongside the launch of the "Tech Talent Hub" aimed at nurturing industry expertise. A record number of sponsors and exhibitors participated, reflecting the sector's commitment to shaping the future of financial services. This year's event saw a 65% increase in announcements and signings compared to the previous year.
The "Team Bahrain" initiative was highlighted, emphasizing the use of public-private partnerships to foster innovation and unlock new growth avenues within Bahrain's financial ecosystem. Several key collaborations were announced, including BBK's pilot project with Google Cloud for a Universal Ledger, exploring advanced digital ledger technology for banking operations.
Other significant developments included an agreement between Beyon and barq group to merge Beyon Money into barq's fintech platform. The National Bank of Bahrain partnered with BENEFIT for a pilot "Trade Finance Registry" to mitigate risks in international trade finance. Bahrain FinTech Bay also released its fourth report on the fintech ecosystem, detailing progress and opportunities in areas like AI and tokenization.