Manama : The Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), in partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland to the UAE and Bahrain, Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE), and the Swiss Business Hub Middle East, will host a Swiss delegation at Fintech Forward 2026 (FF26).
Led by Arthur Mattli, Ambassador of Switzerland to the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain, the delegation will visit on October 6-8 for a focused programme connecting Swiss financial services companies with Bahrain’s ecosystem and exploring opportunities for collaboration.
The delegation will include Christoph Buehler, Consul General in Dubai; Alain Luck, Diplomatic Advisor at the Embassy; Suhail El Obeid, Senior Consultant for the Middle East at Switzerland Global Enterprise; and representatives from eight Swiss companies active in financial services and fintech.
In addition to attending FF26, the delegation’s programme will feature meetings with key stakeholders across Bahrain’s ecosystem, including the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), Bahrain FinTech Bay, and the BENEFIT Company, with engagement also focused on Bahrain’s local payments infrastructure.
At the CBB, the Swiss delegates will have the opportunity to engage directly with the licensing and strategy teams.
The programme will also feature a fintech showcase at Fintech Forward, providing Swiss companies with a platform to connect with industry leaders, investors and innovators. Discussions will focus on potential partnerships, shared perspectives, and stronger connections between the Swiss and Bahraini fintech sectors. The delegation will also take part in a cultural tour of the Pearling Path in Muharraq.
The visit builds on the longstanding economic relationship between Bahrain and Switzerland, which has expanded over recent decades across financial services, investment, technology, and innovation. The delegation’s participation at FF26 directly builds on the June 2026 visit to Zurich and Geneva by Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, who led a delegation that engaged with investors and industry stakeholders. This visit brings Swiss financial services companies to Bahrain, building on the connections established in Switzerland and advancing the dialogue between the two markets.
Commenting on the visit, Mattli said: “The longstanding relationship between Switzerland and Bahrain provides a strong foundation for cooperation, with clear synergies across financial services, technology, and innovation. Building on the momentum of our engagement in June, we look forward to engaging with businesses and policymakers in Bahrain. Fintech Forward 2026 will offer valuable insight into the Kingdom’s financial ecosystem and create opportunities to explore potential partnerships between our markets.”
Hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), supported by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), and Bahrain FinTech Bay (BFB), and programmed by Forbes Middle East, FF26 will convene global leaders under the theme “Finance in the Age of Intelligent Infrastructure” to examine how technology and intelligent systems are reshaping financial
