Fintech Forward 2026

Mark your calendar for 7–8 October 2026, as Fintech Forward 2026 returns to Bahrain for its fourth edition. The fintech event will provide a platform for banks, fintech companies, investors, regulators, technology leaders, and innovators to explore AI-powered finance. The event offers an insightful discussion on how technology is changing financial services, from AI-powered banking, stablecoins, tokenization, and digital payments to financial infrastructure, digital identity, cybersecurity, and independent finance.

Organised By

Forbes is a global media and business platform covering finance, leadership, entrepreneurship, technology, and investing, is programming the event through Forbes Middle East.

Event Highlights

• Connect with global fintech leaders, policymakers, investors, and innovators.
• Explore how AI, stablecoins, tokenization, and digital assets are transforming finance.
• Discover Bahrain’s progressive and business-friendly fintech environment.
• Identify new investment, partnership, and cross-border business opportunities.
• Gain practical insights into the future of resilient, intelligent financial infrastructure.

Agenda Highlights

• Day 1- 7th October
  10:00–10:10 am: Building Resilient Financial Infrastructure in the Age of Intelligence
  10:40–11:00 am: Stablecoins and Payment Rails: From Promise to Practical Use
  11:05–11:25 am: Tokenized Finance and Programmable Settlement
  12:10–12:30 pm: Agentic AI in Finance: Who Decides, Who Explains, Who Is Accountable?
• Day 2- 8th October
  10:05–10:15 am: The Regulator View: Turning Innovation Into Investable Markets
  10:20–10:40 am: Smarter SME Finance: Data, Credit and Working Capital Access
  11:10–11:30 am: The Identity Layer: Verifying People, Businesses and AI Agents
  12:50–1:10 pm: Rewiring the Bank: Core Systems for an Always-On Financial Sector

Why Participate in Fintech Forward 2026?

• Learn helpful advice from prominent fintech and financial industry professionals.
• Develop good connections with banks, regulators, investors, and innovators.
• Assess new business, collaboration, and investment opportunities.
• Learn how tokenization, open finance, digital assets, and AI are transforming the financial industry.
• Learn about Bahrain's innovative and business-friendly fintech industry.

Speakers

• Usman Ahmed – Group CEO, National Bank of Bahrain
• Shanker Ramamurthy – Global Managing Partner, Banking and Financial Markets, IBM Consulting, IBM (USA)
• Mohamed Mansour – Regional Head of Banking & Expansion – Middle East, Wise (UAE)
• Osama Ali Nasr – Chief Digital Banking Officer, GFH Bank (Bahrain)

Don't miss Fintech Forward 2026, where fintech innovation meets opportunity. Join the discussion that will shape the next generation of intelligent finance.