Women outpace men in banking access in Bahrain

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahraini women are slightly more likely than men to hold bank or payment accounts, giving the kingdom the highest Arab rate for women’s access to licensed financial services, according to a report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.

The ESCWA ‘Financial Inclusiveness Report’ records account ownership among women in Bahrain at 83pc, against 82pc among men. The one-point gap is among the smallest in the Arab world and far below the regional divide.

Arab states

Across Arab states, 42pc of women hold financial accounts, compared with 57pc of men, leaving a gap of 15 points.

The Bahrain figures show that access to banking is almost level between men and women. In several Arab countries, the gap is above 20 points.

Oman follows Bahrain with a four-point gap, while Kuwait stands at five, Qatar at around seven and the Comoros at eight. The divide is wider elsewhere, reaching 20 points in Jordan, 23 in Tunisia and Palestine, and 34 in Algeria.

Struggle to obtain credit

The report links women’s access to accounts, savings, credit and payment services with their ability to take part in paid work and run small businesses. It says more women are running businesses across the region, though many still struggle to obtain credit.

ESCWA also points to barriers that still hold women back in parts of the Arab world. These include poor access to loans, banking products that do not always match women’s needs, and a lack of data split by gender.

Benefit

Bahrain’s standing comes as digital banking and payment services spread further, with Benefit and bank apps now widely used. Digital banking platforms, fintech firms and Central Bank of Bahrain rules have helped widen access to services during 2025 and 2026.

Banks and financial institutions have also placed more weight on reaching women and young people as part of wider work to bring more people into banking.