Artificial intelligence, digital payments, and stablecoins are reshaping global finance and must be integrated into a secure, resilient framework, according to Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.
Addressing the opening of Fintech Forward 2026 at Exhibition World Bahrain, Shaikh Salman emphasised that the world’s financial sector has evolved beyond paper records and complex data networks into an era driven by intelligence.
“Today, finance depends on intelligence,” Shaikh Salman told an audience of global regulators, banking executives, and fintech innovators. “Whoever designs that intelligence will shape the next era of finance. So let us design it well—trusted, connected, and resilient by design.”
Speaking under the theme “Financing the Age of Intelligent Infrastructure,” the minister highlighted that emerging technologies can no longer be viewed in isolation.
“Artificial intelligence, payments, digital identity, and stablecoins are no longer separate stories — they are different threads of the same fabric,” he said, adding that the focus for industry leaders has shifted from asking what is possible to deciding what to build.
On artificial intelligence, Shaikh Salman stressed the imperative of safe deployment and accountability.
“Trust is the real currency of digital finance, and innovation and integrity go hand in hand,” he said.
Addressing regulatory frameworks, Shaikh Salman called for balanced oversight that protects consumers without stifling progress.
“Rules that are too rigid kill good ideas before they can even take shape. Rules that are too loose risk breaking the very trust good business ideas depend on,” he cautioned. “Regulation must be clear, proportionate, and open to change – willing to test before it prescribes, willing to learn alongside industry, regulating the risk, not the technology.”
The minister also pointed to significant strides in global financial inclusion over the past 15 years, noting that adult account ownership globally has risen from just over half to nearly 80 per cent.
However, he highlighted a critical gap: 1.3 billion adults remain unbanked, despite more than 900 million of them owning mobile phones.
“The technology is in their hands, but the access is not,” Shaikh Salman noted, urging international stakeholders to collaborate on expanding financial access responsibly.
Reflecting on Bahrain’s economic strategy, Shaikh Salman emphasised the kingdom’s outward-looking approach and the necessity of building systemic resilience prior to economic disruptions rather than reacting to them.
“Resilience is not discovered in a crisis; it has to be built in before one arrives,” he said, noting that while capital buffers and reserves are essential, true resilience must be designed into every aspect of the financial infrastructure, risk management, and fraud protection.
Highlighting the growth of the event, Shaikh Salman revealed that more than 60 new partnerships are set to be announced during this year’s forum, building on the 38 agreements signed during the previous edition.
“The best chapters of finance have not yet been written,” Shaikh Salman concluded. “With this gathering of innovators, creators, and regulators, the next chapter will certainly be the brightest.”
avinash@gdnmedia.bh
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