Tamkeen has sealed a deal with J.P. Morgan that will staff the bank’s upcoming Global Technology Centre in Bahrain entirely with Bahraini talent—creating 200 high-quality tech jobs and sharpening the kingdom’s credentials as a fintech hub.
Signed in Manama in the presence of Cabinet Affairs Minister Hamad bin Faisal Al Malki, Tamkeen chief executive Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez and J.P. Morgan’s president Daniel Pinto, the agreement locks in local recruitment and specialised up-skilling for roles spanning software engineering, project management and data analysis. All hires will receive bespoke training, with select cohorts rotating through J.P. Morgan teams in the US and India to ensure their skill sets align with global standards. Tamkeen says the partnership dovetails with its wider strategy to boost Bahrainis’ participation in high-value sectors while meeting labour-market needs.
The financial-services industry already accounts for 17.7 per cent of GDP and employs 14,000 professionals; a technology centre run by one of the world’s largest banks is expected to push those numbers higher and set new benchmarks for workplace learning. J.P. Morgan cited Bahrain’s pro-innovation regulation, deep talent pool and government support as primary reasons for choosing Manama over competing Gulf locations. For local founders, the centre promises a spill-over of advanced tech expertise and potential collaboration opportunities on everything from API infrastructure to ESG-driven analytics.
“The centre will create 200 high-quality jobs in software engineering, IT management, project management and data analysis, with opportunities for Bahrainis to gain global experience,” Tamkeen said after the signing. Bahrainis with tech credentials can monitor Tamkeen’s job portal for the first wave of openings as the Global Technology Centre ramps up hiring.
