Bahrain is gearing up for one of the region’s biggest fintech gatherings. From October 8–9, Fintech Forward 2025 (FF25) will take over Exhibition World Bahrain — a summit designed to reimagine how finance, technology, and policy converge in the digital age.
Hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and programmed by Economist Impact, in partnership with the Central Bank of Bahrain and Bahrain FinTech Bay, this year’s edition carries the theme “The Era of Integration: The Maturing Age of Fintech.” It’s a fitting message for a region moving from experimentation to execution.
Over two days, FF25 will dive deep into how fintech is reshaping economies — from embedded finance and open banking to AI-driven compliance and digital identity. Sessions will explore regulation in the age of innovation, sustainable growth models, and how the Middle East can set global fintech standards.
The lineup reads like a who’s who of regional and global fintech voices. Confirmed speakers include H.E. Khalid Humaidan (CEO, Bahrain EDB), Otto Williams (SVP, Visa CEMEA), Punit Shah (AI Lead, Onyx by J.P. Morgan), Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo (Cofounder, Checkout.com), Jad Sayegh (CEO, Sarwa), Tom Greenwood (CEO, Volt), and Yasmeen Al Sharaf (Head of FinTech & Innovation, CBB).
The agenda also features interactive workshops, startup showcases, and fireside chats with investors like Abdulmohsin Al Omran of The Family Office and Vadim Bolotnov of VM Group. With participation expected from more than 2,000 delegates, including 900+ executives and 60 speakers representing 30 countries, FF25 is quickly becoming one of MENA’s anchor fintech events.
Beyond the conference halls, the summit reflects Bahrain’s broader strategy — positioning itself as the region’s most agile regulatory and innovation hub. The country’s early launch of a regulatory sandbox under the Central Bank of Bahrain and the growth of Bahrain FinTech Bay have already turned it into a testbed for fintech solutions that can scale across the GCC.
As fintech investment across the region surpasses $3.5 billion in 2025, Bahrain’s consistency stands out. The Kingdom may be small, but it’s moving fast — combining policy, infrastructure, and global partnerships to punch well above its weight.
Bahrain’s Fintech Forward 2025 to spotlight AI, Open Banking, and digital transformation