Bahrain Partners with Ant to Launch Alipay+ and Boost Digital Payments by 2026

Bahrain’s fintech scene is gearing up for a notable shift, with BENEFIT joining forces with Ant International to roll out Alipay+ in the kingdom from 2026. On paper, it’s all about QR codes and cross‑border payments, but the move hints at something bigger: Bahrain wants to cement its place as a digital payments hub for the wider region. I’ve seen plenty of similar announcements around the Gulf, but this one feels a bit more spot on, mainly because it connects a national payment rail directly with one of the world’s largest wallet networks.

According to the details shared publicly, the two companies have signed an MoU that sets the groundwork for integrating Alipay+ with Bahrain’s national BENEFIT QR payment scheme. If all goes to plan, more than 15,000 merchants in Bahrain will be able to accept QR payments from visitors using any of the international digital wallets linked to Alipay+. That network is already massive, reaching over 1.8 billion user accounts across more than 40 payment partners. And believe it or not, the same gateway also touches 150 million merchants in over 100 markets, which gives Bahraini businesses access to a huge pool of potential customers without too much faff.

For everyday users in Bahrain, the partnership could eventually go both ways. The two sides say they will explore outbound capabilities, meaning people in Bahrain might one day pay abroad using their usual local payment methods, routed via BENEFIT’s banking network, at millions of Alipay+‑enabled points of sale. I reckon travellers will be chuffed to bits if that actually materialises, especially given how fragmented global payment options can be.

Executives from both organisations highlighted the strategic angle. BENEFIT’s chief executive, Abdulwahed AlJanahi, described the partnership as aligned with Bahrain’s ambition to strengthen its digital payments infrastructure and connect local services with international platforms. He also spoke about attracting high‑value partnerships and supporting the kingdom’s transition towards a more knowledge‑based digital economy. On the flip side, Pietro Candela, who oversees EMEA operations for Alipay+, said the team is pleased to collaborate with one of the Middle East’s key fintech operators and wants to empower Bahraini merchants to accept seamless payments from international travellers.

From my own experience covering fintech across MENA for Arageek, it’s interesting to see Bahrain pushing this kind of interoperability. Years ago, I remember chatting with a small merchant in Manama who told me digital payments were “a headache and a half” because so many systems didn’t talk to each other. Moves like this—well… I mean if they’re implemented properly—can actually make a difference on the ground.

The collaboration isn’t just technical. Both companies plan to exchange knowledge, share expertise and coordinate joint marketing campaigns to encourage adoption among consumers and businesses. And with Ant International recently opening an office in Riyadh and already integrating Alipay+ with national QR schemes in countries from Singapore to Sri Lanka, Bahrain seems to be joining a wider regional push for smarter payment connectivity.

For a country that’s been quietly building its fintech reputation since the late 1990s, this step feels like a natural progression, even if the timelines might shift slightly—these things definately tend to. But if everything aligns, Bahrain could become one of the more agile payment gateways in the Gulf, benefitting startups, travellers and merchants alike.

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