Manama, Bahrain – 1 November 2026: HE Khalid Humaidan, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), affirmed the financial services sector’s longstanding contribution to economic development and its role in supporting growth and enhancing the Kingdom of Bahrain’s competitiveness, in addition to the importance of facilitating investment attraction and leveraging technology and innovation.
This was highlighted during HE’s participation in a panel discussion titled “Regulating for Scale” at Gateway Gulf Investment Forum 2026, hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), alongside Mr. Hazem Ben-Gazem, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at BlueFive Capital and Mr. Nicholas Pont, Partner and Head of Capital Formation at OneIM, moderated by Mr. Manus Cranny, Geo-Economics Editor at The National.
HE the Governor further showcased the transformative role of technology in shaping the future of financial services, emphasizing the CBB’s initiatives in digital payments, supervisory technology (Suptech) and artificial intelligence (AI), and the role of emerging technologies such as blockchain, smart contracts and programmable money in enhancing efficiency, strengthening regulatory oversight and supporting innovation.
HE the Governor concluded by reaffirming the CBB’s commitment to fostering a regulatory environment that supports innovation, growth and financial stability. He underscored the importance of international regulatory collaboration, alignment with global best practices and engagement with industry stakeholders in strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of Bahrain’s financial services sector.
Gateway Gulf 2026 brings together participants from across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America to explore investment opportunities and examine the key forces shaping the global economic landscape. The forum also seeks to position the wider Gulf region as a leading destination for international investment, showcasing the rapid growth and dynamic transformation of its business-friendly economies and their growing appeal to global companies, further reinforcing the Kingdom of Bahrain’s position as a strategic gateway to the region.