The Central Bank of Bahrain reported a rise in licensing activity, with 16 new financial firms approved and 52 additional applications in progress from early 2024 through mid-2025. The 68 licence applications span wholesale banking, payments, investment services, insurance and crypto-asset services, with nearly 75% submitted by international applicants. Of the 16 firms licensed during the period, two were wholesale banks, and further bank licence applications remain in the pipeline; the central bank said it is working with remaining applicants to support them in meeting licensing requirements. The Central Bank of Bahrain linked the licensing process to its unified regulatory model, under which licensees have a single point of contact across financial sub-sectors to streamline compliance and oversight.
Central Bank of Bahrain 2025-07-03
Central Bank of Bahrain reports 16 new financial institution licences granted and 52 applications in progress
The Central Bank of Bahrain reported increased licensing activity, approving 16 new financial firms and processing 52 applications from early 2024 to mid-2025. The 68 applications cover wholesale banking, payments, investment services, insurance, and crypto-asset services, with nearly 75% from international applicants. The bank's unified regulatory model provides a single contact point for licensees to streamline compliance and oversight.