Manama : Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance and National Economy, delivered the opening keynote address at FinTech Forward 2026.
The Minister of Finance welcomed participants and conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and their wishes for a successful and productive FinTech Forward 2026.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa said artificial intelligence, payments, digital identity and stablecoins are no longer separate stories, but different threads of the same fabric.
The Minister of Finance said the promise of artificial intelligence is extraordinary and that it must be deployed safely, with accountability built in, affirming that “trust is the real currency of digital finance.” The minister added that innovation and integrity go hand in hand, building that trust together.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa said the world’s financial sector once depended on paper to record all of its transactions, then on vast and complicated data networks, while today it depends on intelligence. He said whoever designs that intelligence will shape the next era of finance.
The Minister of Finance called for that intelligence to be designed well, to be trusted, connected and resilient by design.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa noted that more banks, financial institutions and technology companies have joined this year’s FinTech Forward than at any previous edition, including regulators, global banks, local institutions, professional services firms and innovative digital payment providers.
The Minister of Finance said the presence of participants at the forum demonstrates conviction in the future of the sector and its opportunities.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa said public and private sector institutions in Bahrain have built a seamless working relationship and expressed appreciation to everyone who has backed the forum.
The Minister of Finance said this year’s theme, “Finance in the Age of Intelligent Infrastructure”, calls for a holistic view, adding that the question is no longer what is possible, but what will be chosen to build.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa said regulation must be clear, proportionate and open to change, willing to test before it prescribes and willing to learn alongside industry, with the focus on regulating the risk, not the technology.
The Minister of Finance said rules that are too rigid kill good ideas before they can even take shape, while rules that are too loose risk breaking the very trust good business ideas depend on.
“The best regulation is a runway, not a roadblock,” the minister said, noting that this empowers good ideas to turn into tangible investments and take off.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa said many countries are asking the same questions about how to make cross-border payments faster, cheaper and more transparent, how to govern artificial intelligence so that it earns public trust, and how to bring more people into the financial system.
The Minister of Finance noted that 15 years ago, just over half of the world’s adults had a financial account, while today that number is closer to 80%. However, 1.3 billion adults still have no financial accounts, even though over 900 million of them already have a mobile phone.
“The technology is in their hands. The access is not,” the minister said.
The Minister of Finance said nobody has every answer or solution to these issues, noting that leadership is convening those who are working on them to work together and grow the industry responsibly.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa said Bahrain has always looked outward, setting standards others can build on and connect with, adding that ideas travel further than borders, and so should ambition.
The Minister of Finance said the forum is being held at a time when economies and financial systems have been tested, and the sector has met that test with steadfast resolve.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa underscored that resilience is not discovered in a crisis and has to be built in before one. He added that it is not built solely through accumulating buffers, noting that capital and reserves do matter, but they are only part of a resilient ecosystem.
The Minister of Finance said sustainable resilience is designed into every aspect of the financial system, including infrastructure that keeps running, risk management and fraud protection that look ahead, and the institutions and trust that hold it all together.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa called for building strength before crises arrive rather than aiming to rebuild stronger afterwards, emphasising resilience by design.
The Minister of Finance affirmed that FinTech Forward was never meant to be only a conversation. The minister noted that 38 memoranda of understanding and agreements were signed last year, representing 38 partnerships, and that over 60 new partnerships will be announced this year.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa said that behind every one of last year’s partnerships was a handshake that began in a room like the one hosting the forum, reflecting its role in turning dialogue and ideas into tangible partnerships and initiatives.
The Minister of Finance concluded by saying that the best chapters of finance have not yet been written and that, with the gathering of innovators, creators and regulators at the forum, the next chapters will certainly be the brightest.
Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa called on participants to write them boldly, together and to last, underscoring the principle of “Resilience by design.”
The Minister of Finance later toured the exhibition accompanying the forum, which features around 20 exhibitors from the financial services, fintech and technology sectors, as well as government entities. The exhibitors are showcasing innovative solutions shaping the future of finance and enabling participants to engage directly with the companies and ideas driving change in the sector.
