Speed boost places Kingdom at fintech forefront

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Al Salam Bank has secured a strategic partnership with global data firm Denodo that promises to cut data integration times from weeks to minutes, a leap executives say could transform how Bahrain’s banks deliver services and strengthen the Kingdom’s fintech ambitions.

From weeks to minutes

The agreement will allow the bank to connect multiple systems instantly, making it easier to launch new services and improve customer experience. Denodo said the shift means everyday banking can feel faster, easier, and more reliable, boosting customer satisfaction.

Gabriele Obino, Denodo’s Vice President for Southern Europe and the Middle East, described the breakthrough as enabling “AI-ready data” - information that is accurate, consistent, and instantly accessible. For banks, it supports quicker decisions and greater efficiency. For customers, it promises services that are faster, more personal, and delivered in real time.

Efficiency and growth

Obino explained that when data is clean and connected, it avoids duplication, reduces costs, and speeds up processes. “What once required going to a branch or waiting on hold now happens quickly and intuitively through digital channels,” he said, noting the benefits for both profitability and customer trust.

Vision 2030 advantage

The partnership aligns with Bahrain’s wider Vision 2030 drive to modernize its financial sector and grow its role as a regional fintech hub. Bahrain’s flexible environment - including sandboxes, open banking, and crypto initiatives - has already set it apart from other Gulf countries in encouraging digital banking innovation.

Al Salam Bank said its choice of Denodo reflects a commitment to modernizing infrastructure, partnering across ecosystems, and advancing innovation through data and AI - an alignment that made the collaboration a natural fit.

Future banking model

Over the next five years, AI-driven data is expected to shift Gulf banking models from reactive to proactive, enabling predictive advice, personalized services, and real-time insights. With a logical data layer at the core, banks will increasingly anticipate customer needs rather than simply respond to them.