BAB and The Business Year Sign Strategic MoU for Bahrain Financial Sector Special Report

9 Nov 2025- The Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) and The Business Year (TBY) have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the production of “Bahrain Future of Finance”, a forthcoming special report dedicated to Bahrain’s financial sector.

The agreement reflects a shared commitment to strengthen local and international understanding of Bahrain’s banking and financial landscape and reinforce the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for innovation and financial excellence.

The MoU was signed by Mrs. Zeeba Askar, Chief Executive Officer of the Bahrain Association of Banks and Clara Corominas Rührup, Country Director of The Business Year in Bahrain.

Under the partnership, TBY and BAB will combine BAB’s institutional expertise and broad membership network with TBY’s global research platform to deliver comprehensive coverage of the banking industry within the wider financial ecosystem. The report will feature exclusive interviews with sector leaders, analysis of regulatory and market trends, and editorial designed to highlight the banking industry’s central role in Bahrain’s economic diversification and sustainable growth.

Clara Corominas Rührup said: “This partnership with the Bahrain Association of Banks is foundational to our work. It enables us to convene senior voices across retail, corporate, and investment banking with depth and credibility, and to carry that narrative to an international audience. With BAB’s collaboration, the ‘Bahrain Future of Finance’ report will capture the sector’s achievements, its innovation pipeline, and the practical steps that can accelerate competitiveness and growth.”

Mrs. Zeebar Askar, the CEO of BAB, added: "The financial sector is a cornerstone of Bahrain’s economy, and this partnership with The Business Year is a strategic opportunity to amplify its story. By combining our institutional knowledge and network with TBY’s global reach, we will deliver a comprehensive report that not only showcases the Kingdom’s strengths in banking, and FinTech but also provides a forward-looking roadmap for innovation and sustainable growth as a regional financial hub. To achieve this, the Bahrain Association of Banks will work closely with member financial and banking institutions across the Kingdom to ensure the report reflects the views and expertise of all stakeholders, thereby enriching its content with the deepest and most accurate data and analysis."

The special report ‘Bahrain Future of Finance’ will provide a concise, decision-ready view of the financial sector, capturing the current moment, setting priorities for the years ahead, and bringing together the voices of top decision-makers and industry leaders. Addressed to policymakers, business leaders, investors, and regulators, the report will highlight Bahrain’s international strengths and benchmark its GCC positioning across banking, capital markets, and fintech; present fresh data and insight to surface policy levers that can accelerate private-sector growth; and outline a practical roadmap through 2026 and beyond, emphasizing Bahrain’s cross-border advantage as a cost-efficient base to originate, service, and scale across the GCC.

-ENDS-

Photo Caption: Clara Corominas Rührup, Country Director of The Business Year in Bahrain, and Zeeba Askar, CEO of Bahrain Association of Banks, at the MoU signing.

More About The Business Year

The Business Year is a global media group providing investors, businesses, and governments with in-depth insights into emerging and high-potential markets. TBY specializes in economic research, industry analysis, and exclusive interviews shaping the global business environment.

About the Bahrain Association of Banks

The Bahrain Association of Banks represents the Kingdom’s banking industry,

encompassing conventional and Islamic banks, specialized financial institutions, and key

enablers of Bahrain’s financial ecosystem. BAB plays a pivotal role in promoting the interests of

its members, strengthening the sector’s competitiveness, and supporting the Kingdom’s vision

of becoming a leading regional and global financial hub.