Mumtalakat, ARP Group to Launch AI-Native Wholesale Bank in Bahrain
Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat and ARP Group are partnering to build an AI-native wholesale bank serving institutional clients regionally and internationally.
Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and ARP Group announced a partnership to establish an artificial intelligence-native wholesale bank in Bahrain, according to a statement released on the sidelines of the Gateway Gulf 2026 conference in Manama.
The proposed institution is designed to serve institutional clients with both regional and international banking requirements, positioning Bahrain as a hub for technology-driven financial services in the Gulf. The AI-native designation signals that the bank intends to build its core infrastructure and operations around artificial intelligence from inception, rather than layering the technology onto legacy systems.
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The partnership brings together Mumtalakat's sovereign backing and local market reach with ARP Group's financial and technological capabilities. The announcement at Gateway Gulf 2026, one of the region's prominent investment forums, underscores the profile both organizations sought to give the initiative.
Bahrain has long pursued a strategy of financial sector diversification and fintech development, and the establishment of a wholesale bank with an AI-first architecture aligns with those broader national economic goals. The involvement of the sovereign wealth fund suggests strong institutional support for the venture at the government level.
Full details on capitalization, licensing timelines, and operational scope had not been disclosed at the time of the announcement. Continue reading at All Financial Services & Investing.
