Manama – Mubasher: Ahmed ElKaffass, Country Manager for Bahrain at Visa, spoke to Mubasher.info about different topics, ranging from consumer payment behavior to fraud reduction.
On the sidelines of Fintech Forward 2026 in Bahrain, at which Visa participated as a Diamond Sponsor, ElKaffass noted that what matters most when it comes to the payment ecosystem is how far the transactions are safe and that any fees are clear.
He also highlighted the collaboration between Visa and The BENEFIT Company, which resulted in enabling transfers across participating GCC markets through a mobile number.
ElKaffass further addressed how each payment option needs to offer practical value, noting that tokenization is a good example of how technology can form a solid support.
The Country Manager for Bahrain at Visa also shed light to reducing fraud attempts and how AI and biometric technologies can play an important role by helping identify potentially suspicious activity.
Consumer Payment Behavior in Bahrain over Recent Years
In Bahrain, the shift is increasingly about what consumers expect from digital payments.
They expect the same level of convenience, speed, and trust whether they are making an online purchase, paying in-store, or sending money abroad.
People do not think about the systems behind a payment. They want to know that it will work, that their money is safe and that any fees are clear.
A practical example is Bahrain Islamic Bank’s launch of Visa+ in 2025, with Visa and The BENEFIT Company, enabling transfers across participating GCC markets using a mobile number. It shows how collaboration can turn complex infrastructure into something familiar and useful for customers.
Simplifying Checkout Experience vs. Adding Payment Methods
The priority is making payments as simple and convenient as possible. Choice still matters, but each payment option needs to offer practical value and be straightforward to use.
For consumers, that means being able to pay with their preferred method without unnecessary steps or repeatedly entering payment details.
For merchants, it means providing a consistent, reliable experience across channels and payment options.
Tokenization is a good example of how technology can support that experience. It replaces sensitive card details with a unique digital identifier, allowing payments to be processed without exposing the underlying card information.
Success is not measured by the number of payment methods available, but by how effectively they make everyday payments simpler, safer, and more trusted.
Choice and improving the experience should work together.
AI & Biometrics and Fraud Reduction
The extent of fraud reduction depends on the type of fraud, the transaction and how the technology is implemented. The priority is to strengthen protection while keeping everyday payments straightforward.
AI and biometric technologies can play an important role by helping identify potentially suspicious activity and supporting secure authentication.
Combined with technologies such as tokenization and advanced risk management capabilities, they help strengthen security while minimizing unnecessary friction for legitimate transactions.
We believe trust is the foundation of digital commerce. As payment ecosystems become more connected, security needs to be built into every layer of the payment journey.
The focus is on helping consumers and businesses transact with confidence by delivering payment experiences that are secure, reliable, and convenient.
