Mumtalakat and ARP Group Plan AI Native Wholesale Bank in Bahrain

Nov 1, 2026
Mumtalakat and ARP Group plan an AI native, blockchain enabled wholesale bank in Bahrain, with in-principle approval from the Central Bank of Bahrain.

Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Co. (Mumtalakat), the sovereign wealth fund of Bahrain, and ARP Group have partnered to establish an AI native and blockchain enabled wholesale bank headquartered in Bahrain, according to a release announced at Gateway Gulf 2026. The venture has received in-principle approval from the Central Bank of Bahrain and will start regulated activities only after it obtains final authorisation.

ARP Group is the holding company of ARP Global Capital and ARP Digital. The proposed bank is intended to serve regulated financial institutions, payment companies and businesses with cross-border operations whose needs span several markets and currencies.

The bank is being designed to use AI across its operations and to offer programmable services that connect directly with clients' systems through APIs, with human oversight, governance and risk controls. Products and services would be introduced in phases.

"We see an opportunity to combine a regulated bank's balance sheet and institutional relationships with blockchain enabled technology and AI designed into its operating model from the outset," said Yusuf Alireza, chairman of ARP Group.

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