Manama – Mubasher: The CEO of Beyon Connect, Richard Budel, said that digital identity has become an essential foundation for building trust in an increasingly digital economy, particularly as more transactions and services move online.
In an interview with Mubasher.info on the sidelines of Fintech Forward 2026, Budel highlighted the growing opportunity for trusted interoperable digital identity solutions across the region and confirmed that Beyon aims to expand its solutions and connect digital identity systems between the Gulf markets.
Budel explained that the accelerating transformation toward digital services has led to a decline in reliance on traditional verification mechanisms, making user identity verification an essential necessity, especially in financial transactions.
Digital Identity is Foundation of Trust
The CEO said that as the ability to transfer money has become increasingly fast and convenient, establishing trust in the identity of the sender and recipient remains fundamental. He added that secure digital identity verification has become fundamental for a wide range of online transactions and services.
Budel highlighted that Bahrain’s Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) recognized digital identity as a foundational building block in the Kingdom’s digitization, and that with iGA’s support and partnership, Beyon Connect developed the eKey 2.0 service. He pointed out that protecting personal data is a key element in building trust, with eKey 2.0 enabling users to verify their identity when accessing digital services. This helps organizations establish trust while supporting the secure handling of personal information and reducing the risks of data breaches or misuse.
Expanding from Financial Sector to Other Segments
Regarding Beyon Connect's plans in Bahrain, Budel told Mubasher.info that the company has seen strong opportunities for adoption within the financial sector, as it is one of the sectors most in need of reliable identity verification solutions, to expand the use of its solutions to other sectors, including healthcare and education.
The CEO added that the interconnected nature of Bahrain’s market provides an opportunity to reach a large number of institutions and companies, noting that Beyon Connect aims to gradually expand the use of digital identity solutions across a broader range of services and sectors.
Cross-border Digital Identity
Regarding opportunities in the Middle East, Budel confirmed that Beyon Connect is in talks with several companies and countries in the region, emphasizing the importance of developing digital identity systems that are capable of operating across borders.
The CEO further said that a Saudi citizen in Bahrain, for example, should be able to prove identity using the Saudi ID, considering that the countries in the region need systems that can interact and deal with each other.
Fintech Forward
Budel described his participation in Fintech Forum 2026 in Bahrain as an important opportunity to engage with key players in the fintech sector in Bahrain and the wider region and build new collaborative relationships.
He confirmed that the forum provided an opportunity to discuss ways to potential areas of collaboration in developing better and more secure digital services, in addition to supporting the Kingdom’s digital transformation.
The fourth edition of the Fintech Forward, which is taking place on 7-8 October 2026, brings together more than 40 speakers from Bahrain, the region, and the world, along with officials and leaders of financial and technological institutions, investors, and experts, to discuss the transformations the sector is witnessing and the role of technology, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks in shaping its future.
