Bahrain drew US $72.7 million in new financial-services investment during the first nine months of 2022, strengthening the kingdom’s push to deepen fintech, insurance and open-banking activity.
Figures released by the Bahrain Economic Development Board show nine companies either established regional bases or expanded existing operations, a wave that should create more than 840 jobs over the next three years. Headline names include global blockchain exchange Binance, open-banking provider Spire Technologies and Gulf Insurance Group’s regional headquarters. EDB officials credit the Central Bank of Bahrain’s fast-track licensing and the kingdom’s low operating costs for the uptick, noting that financial services already rank as Bahrain’s largest non-oil GDP contributor at roughly 17 per cent.
The inflow forms part of a broader investment surge—BD 348 million (≈US $921 million) in total commitments across ICT, logistics, manufacturing and tourism during the same period—as Bahrain works toward Economic Recovery Plan targets. For founders, the fresh capital signals a thicker partner ecosystem: more potential clients for reg-tech tools, embedded-finance APIs and cyber-security solutions, plus a larger talent pool as multinationals hire and train locals. It also nudges the government closer to its aim of lifting the sector’s GDP share to 20 per cent by 2026 through deeper capital-markets activity and insurance innovation.
“The size of direct investment attracted this year is a testament to Bahrain’s attractiveness to investors,” said Dalal Buhejji, EDB executive director for financial services.
Firms eyeing Bahrain as a Gulf launchpad can contact EDB’s financial-services desk for details on sandbox entry and setup incentives.
