By: Ahmed El Shamsy
Manama – Mubasher: Bader Sater, CEO of Bahrain FinTech Bay, said FinTech Forward continues to build on the momentum established over the past three years, with participant numbers rising by around 20% to 25% in 2026 compared with the previous edition. The number of participating companies and financial institutions has also increased, prompting organizers to expand the space allocated to them.
In an interview with Mubasher.info, Sater said the number of deals, announcements, and projects unveiled at the forum continues to grow. The developments the region witnessed earlier this year may have affected some schedules, but they have not yet impacted the momentum the forum has built over the past three years.
Bahrain as Launchpad for Regional Expansion
Sater explained that the Gulf region is witnessing notable levels of innovation in various countries, emphasizing that Bahrain seeks to benefit from and participate in this regional momentum while focusing on areas in which it excels, foremost among them keeping pace with regulatory developments and providing space for innovators to test their new products before expanding into larger markets.
He pointed out that Bahrain enjoys the advantage of early action in establishing regulatory frameworks, which allows innovative companies to benefit from them in developing their businesses, citing the cryptocurrency sector which has seen companies from Bahrain launch and then expand into other markets.
Sater further added that the recent introduction of regulatory frameworks for stablecoins represents an additional example of Bahrain's approach to developing regulatory frameworks that keep pace with financial innovation.
The CEO emphasized that Bahrain does not position itself as an alternative to larger regional markets, but rather as a suitable launchpad for companies looking to test and develop their solutions before expanding.
Partnerships & Customer Impact Matter More Than Startup Numbers
Sater said the development of the fintech sector should not be measured solely by the number of startups. More important, he explained, is how financial institutions work with fintech companies and how those partnerships improve the customer experience.
He said that the forum is witnessing a transition from the stage of announcing partnerships and exploring opportunities to the stage of developing applicable and productive solutions, noting that some initiatives discussed in the previous edition are making progress, with the announcement of more initiatives during 2026's edition.
He referred to previous initiatives that included exploring solutions to reduce trade finance risks, along with collaboration related to digital ledger technologies, emphasizing that the development of these initiatives into practical solutions is a more significant indicator than the total number of participating companies.
Sater also emphasized that startups naturally come and go, but companies that provide effective solutions to real problems are the ones most likely to endure. He added that the focus in the next phase should be on identifying the problems that need solutions, and then developing the startups capable of addressing them.
Bahraini Innovation & The Role of AI
Sater confirmed that Bahrain has a history in the banking services sector, noting that it was one of the leading markets in this field during the 1970s, and that Bahraini innovation can continue to play an important role in the future of the sector.
Regarding AI, he said that investing in knowledge, adoption, and societal and educational acceptance of these technologies is of utmost importance, expecting the effective contribute to the launch of a new wave of solutions and companies operating in financial technology.
The CEO also explained that having a workforce that understands AI technologies, along with a regulatory framework that allows their use, creates the conditions for developing new applications that can be employed in various sectors when markets are ready to adopt them.
He pointed out the importance of investing in AI education, highlighting the announced initiatives in Bahrain to support this field, which will help prepare the necessary competencies to keep up with technological transformations.
AI & Employment Opportunities
Regarding concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, Sater said that the continued service of companies to larger numbers of customers inside and outside Bahrain could create new opportunities for local talents.
He added that Bahrainis have the opportunity to participate in global markets by exporting talents and expertise, emphasizing the importance of keeping up with technological and regulatory developments so that companies can benefit from the opportunities these transformations provide.
