CBB Governor Receives Tanami as Bahrain-Based FinTech Achieves Regional Success

The Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), HE Khalid Humaidan, received Mr. Faisal Aljalahma, CEO for the Kingdom of Bahrain and Board Member of Tanami, and Dr. Nawaf Almaskati, CEO for Saudi Arabia, Head of Asset Management, and Board Member of Tanami, following the company’s win of the Best FinTech Company award at Money20/20 Middle East in Riyadh. Tanami prevailed among more than 350 participating fintech firms, a milestone the bank described as emblematic of Bahrain’s evolving fintech landscape.

"It reflects the strength of Bahrain’s growing fintech ecosystem and the success of Bahrain-based fintech companies in regional markets," HE Khalid Humaidan said, congratulating Tanami on its achievement and highlighting the firm's trajectory from sandbox participant to licensed operator.

The meeting underscored a series of concrete developments in Tanami’s rise. The company commenced its regulatory journey by joining the Central Bank of Bahrain’s Regulatory Sandbox, subsequently obtaining a licence in the Kingdom. That pathway has enabled Tanami to expand beyond Bahrain, culminating in regional recognition at Money20/20 Middle East — one of the region’s largest payments and fintech gatherings where over 350 firms showcased products and services.

Present at the CBB were Tanami executives who have led the company’s Gulf expansion: Mr. Faisal Aljalahma, serving as CEO for the Kingdom of Bahrain and a member of Tanami’s board, and Dr. Nawaf Almaskati, the group’s CEO for Saudi Arabia, head of asset management and also a board member. The delegation used the visit to brief HE Khalid Humaidan on growth plans and to explore opportunities arising from the continued expansion of digital financial services across the region.

Meeting highlights

• Recognition: Tanami won Best FinTech Company at Money20/20 Middle East in Riyadh, chosen from more than 350 participating fintech firms.
• Regulatory journey: Tanami joined the CBB Regulatory Sandbox and later secured a licence in Bahrain.
• Leadership: Mr. Faisal Aljalahma (CEO, Bahrain) and Dr. Nawaf Almaskati (CEO, Saudi Arabia) met with HE Khalid Humaidan to discuss regional plans.
• Focus areas discussed: growth plans, opportunities from digital financial services expansion, and the role of progressive regulation.

HE Khalid Humaidan emphasised the role of Bahrain’s regulatory framework in enabling fintechs to develop and scale innovative financial solutions, noting the central bank’s commitment to advancing financial sector innovation "through progressive regulation, further reinforcing Bahrain’s status as a leading regional hub for fintechs." The meeting reflects the CBB’s ongoing strategy to balance oversight with market-enabling initiatives such as the Regulatory Sandbox.

Looking ahead, discussions between Tanami’s leadership and the CBB concentrated on avenues for expansion across the Gulf and broader Middle East, leveraging the company’s momentum after the Money20/20 accolade. Tanami’s progress — from sandbox participant to award-winning regional operator — will be watched closely by other Bahrain-based startups eyeing cross-border growth, and by regulators seeking to calibrate frameworks that support innovation while protecting consumers.