Bahrain’s capabilities in combating global financial crime have been significantly enhanced with the launch of Aman – the kingdom’s first and only national anti-financial crime compliance platform.
Meaning ‘safety and security,’ Aman is developed and powered by Themis, an award-winning British financial crime intelligence and technology company.
The new platform is designed to provide all Bahraini businesses and public sector entities with a locally customised suite of tools to protect themselves and their customers.
Launched during Fintech Forward 2025 at Exhibition World Bahrain, Aman’s immediate impact will be in supporting the national Anti-Money Laundering (AML) strategy by deploying cutting-edge AI.
“Aman is operating in full support of the national AML strategy, providing Bahrain with the AI tools and training it needs to lead the fight against financial crime,” said Themis Group chief executive officer and Aman founder Dickon Johnstone told the GDN.
Mr Johnstone explained that the company views its presence as a long-term commitment. “Themis has spent the past two years customising our global platform specifically for Bahrain, ensuring it meets the nuanced needs of both the public and private sectors. Our expansion through Aman reflects our commitment to long-term investment here, which is possible thanks to Bahrain’s leadership and vision for innovation.”
He stressed the company’s core mission is to safeguard the kingdom’s economic integrity. “Our mission is simple: protect Bahrain from international money laundering by bringing world-class AI technology and expertise right here. We don’t just import technology; we customise every solution to meet the specific requirements of the Bahraini market.”
Central to the platform is the Aman AI Investigator, which Mr Johnstone hailed as a “game changer.” This new, Large Language Model (LLM)-powered platform is designed to tackle financial crime by making due diligence universally accessible.
“We are democratising due diligence,” he added. “You no longer need a dedicated compliance team to protect your business; you just need the Aman AI Investigator. Our goal is to ensure every commercial registration in Bahrain has the technology to protect itself from criminal associations. Accessibility is our greatest weapon.”
The launch comes amid increasing global concern over financial crime, with trillions of dollars lost annually to money laundering. Aman aims to address this by offering an easy-to-use solution.
“Aman’s mission is to make due diligence so easy and accessible that criminals have nowhere left to hide,” Mr Johnstone said. “We offer protection for every business size, whether through subscription or a one-off check, making it simple to build a wall against international crime.”
By offering a tailored, national solution, Aman is focusing on securing Bahrain’s position as a trusted financial centre.
“Bahrain is a trusted financial centre. Our job is to protect its financial borders and stop dirty money from ever entering the country,” he added. “The threat of international money laundering is real, and our effort is crucial to maintaining Bahrain’s hard-earned reputation as a safe and trusted regional hub.”
The official said the company is also working on a plan to set up a school to combat financial crime in partnership with Tamkeen.
The aim is to create a talent pool of locals equipped with the skills to detect and fight financial crime.
Separately, the British Embassy in Bahrain hosted an official reception to celebrate the investment of Themis into Aman.
Ambassador Alastair Long said: “I congratulate a fantastic British AI pioneering company, Themis, on its investment into Aman in Bahrain. The UK and Bahrain share a deep-rooted partnership built on innovation, trust and shared prosperity — and Aman is a perfect example of how British technology and Bahraini talent can come together to achieve remarkable things.”
Also present at the reception was Aman chief executive officer Fawzi Al Aradi who said, “Aman has been created to help all companies in Bahrain strengthen their compliance capabilities with the latest tools and technologies. We are proud to be building a platform that not only supports businesses but also generates long-term, sustainable impact in this important field.”
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