Bahrain hosted the UK Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) largest-ever fintech delegation, comprising more than 70 delegates from 36 UK-based companies, cementing a shared commitment to digital economy growth and innovation in financial services.
The extensive three-day visit, co-ordinated by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and the UK DBT, leveraged the kingdom’s role as a regional gateway for fintech expansion.
A strategic centrepiece of the mission was the participation of the UK firms in Fintech Forward 2025 (FF25), the region’s premier two-day fintech event, held under the banner of ‘Advancing Bahrain-UK Partnerships in Fintech and Innovation.’
High-level remarks were delivered by Sustainable Development Minister and EDB chief executive officer Noor Al Khulaif, Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) Governor Khalid Humaidan, and British Ambassador Alastair Long.
The event spotlighted leading UK innovators – including Aman Powered by Themis, Oxford Risk, and Money Squirrel – who presented their cutting-edge solutions to regional investors.
Katie Ramsey, head of fintech at the UK DBT, participated in a key panel on ‘Charting the next frontier for digital assets,’ discussing how innovations like stablecoins, blockchain, and AI-driven wallets are blurring the lines between payments and assets.
The delegation engaged in high-level exploratory meetings with key local stakeholders, including the CBB, Benefit, Tamkeen, and Bahrain FinTech Bay. Discussions focused on regulatory innovation, digital transformation, and enhancing “cross-border financial connectivity”.
Ms Ramsey praised the partnership, saying, “The collaboration between the UK and Bahrain continues to set an example of how open dialogue, regulatory innovation, and shared ambition can drive growth across the global fintech landscape. Bahrain’s forward-thinking ecosystem makes it an exceptional partner for UK fintechs.”
Bahrain EDB executive director of financial services business development Dalal Buhejji added that the delegation’s size and high calibre were “a testament to our island nation’s growing reputation as a gateway for innovation,” adding to the “depth and diversity of our thriving financial technology ecosystem.”
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