Skip to content
Bahrain
File

Bahrain: Mumtalakat and ARP wholesale bank project

This dossier follows Mumtalakat and ARP’s bank project in Bahrain, its authorisations and rollout, distinguishing an announced venture from available services.

Last updated : 1 key moments

Where things stand

On 1 November 2026, the partners announced an AI-native, blockchain-enabled bank project. They report in-principle approval, with final authorisation still required.

Mumtalakat and ARP announce AI-native wholesale bank project in Bahrain

Mumtalakat and ARP Group announced a partnership to establish an AI-native, blockchain-enabled wholesale bank in Bahrain on 1 November 2026. Final authorisation remains necessary before regulated activities can begin.

Bahrain flag, photograph from February 2010.
Archive geographical illustration; it does not depict the reported event. — Allan Donque / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ — 19 février 2010 ; version recadrée publiée sur Commons.

The partners say the venture has received in-principle approval from the Central Bank of Bahrain. The proposed bank targets financial institutions, payment companies and businesses with cross-border operations.

Its design includes services connected to clients’ systems, with human oversight and risk controls. This is an announced operating model: the statement does not establish a commercial launch.

Sources 4