Zain Group’s API monetization arm, Dizlee, has entered a strategic partnership with Aduna, the global aggregator of standardized network APIs and a joint venture backed by leading operators and Ericsson, in a move that could reshape how banks, fintechs and digital businesses across Bahrain and the wider region build secure services.

Under the deal, Dizlee will serve as the gateway between Zain, Omantel and Aduna, so that new digital services can be rolled out across multiple markets more quickly while opening fresh revenue streams and improving customer experience.

Aduna aggregates standardized network APIs such as SIM swap detection, number verification, identity and fraud prevention, then exposes them to developers through a common platform. With Zain joining Aduna’s ecosystem, the Group will contribute its own APIs in these areas, giving enterprises access to trusted telco grade capabilities for tasks like instant customer verification or fraud checks.

Malek Hammoud, Zain Group Chief Digital and Investment Officer, said, “Dizlee’s regional success in API leadership is the result of collaboration with visionary partners. By combining the Network APIs from all Zain operating companies under a unified platform based on the CAMARA protocol, we ensure global interoperability and standardization.”

He added, “This partnership with Aduna not only opens new revenue opportunities for our B2B clients such as fintech, insurance, e-commerce, and government agencies, but also reinforces our role as a regional leader in the fast-growing network API economy.”

From Aduna’s side, CEO Anthony Bartolo highlighted the regional impact, stating, “Our partnership with Dizlee marks an important milestone in Aduna’s expansion across MENA. By connecting Zain’s extensive footprint and Omantel’s reach with Aduna’s global aggregation platform, we are unlocking the full value of standardized Network APIs. Together, we will accelerate innovation, protect end users, and empower enterprises to deliver next-generation digital services across the region and beyond.”

For Bahrain, the timing aligns with a strong national push on digital finance. The Bahrain Economic Development Board recently promoted the Kingdom’s fintech opportunity story at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025, highlighting a pipeline that includes events such as Gateway Gulf 2025, which secured over 17 billion United States dollars in announcements, partnerships and deals from more than 60 agreements.

At the same festival, Central Bank of Bahrain Governor HE Khalid Humaidan took part in a high level policy discussion on the future of money, where he underlined how regulators need to keep financial services safe while supporting innovation in areas such as fintech and digital assets. That context reinforces why secure network APIs for identity, SIM swap detection and payment authentication are becoming critical infrastructure for Bahraini banks, wallets and government platforms.

Dizlee already centralizes and monetizes Zain APIs and many of the Group’s digital services, providing over 280 services from 47 partners across gaming, entertainment, advertising and APIs to more than 50 million customers in eight markets, as highlighted in the Aduna partnership announcement. Through Aduna, these capabilities can now travel faster across borders and into new sectors.

For founders and product teams in Bahrain, this is a signal to start mapping where telco grade APIs could replace slower or less secure processes. Practical next steps include speaking with local banking and telecom partners about number verification and SIM swap checks for onboarding, exploring carrier billing for regional subscription products, and keeping an eye on how Dizlee and Omantel expose these APIs so that new fintech, insurtech and e-commerce ideas are ready to plug in as soon as they reach Bahrain.