In a press statement, CBB Governor Khalid Humaidan said: "This rise in licensing applications reflects the integrated role of the CBB as an institution and the effectiveness of the regulatory framework we uphold in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which fosters innovation while ensuring financial stability. This achievement stems from close collaboration with our partners in both the public and private sectors, highlighting the concerted local efforts to expand regional and global growth opportunities in the financial services sector."

He affirmed that the CBB continues to work closely with license applicants to support them in meeting the necessary requirements for approval.

Humaidan noted that this sustained growth underscores Bahrain’s attractiveness as a leading destination for digital financial services, with international applications representing around 75% of the total 68 submissions. He projected that these institutions would create over 850 jobs in their initial phases, with further employment opportunities expected as their operations expand.

He added that this success is rooted in the CBB’s unified regulatory model, which provides licensed institutions with a single point of contact covering all financial services sub-sectors. This approach eliminates conflicting requirements from multiple entities, simplifies compliance procedures, and ensures consistent oversight.

Humaidan pointed out that this milestone was announced during the "Financial Services Horizons: Accelerating Digital Transformation" forum, organized in partnership with the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB). The event brought together industry leaders to showcase the Kingdom’s progress in developing digital banking services, payment infrastructure, and workforce upskilling to meet the demands of digital transformation.