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At AFS we believe in transparency, accountability, and open communications with our shareholders and diverse stakeholders.

Our story

At AFS we empower the region’s business and banking communities, end-users and consumers with customized payments technologies and solutions.

Regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain and licensed by the Central Bank of Egypt and the Central Bank of UAE, AFS is owned by a total of 37 banks and financial institutions and serves over 60 bank clients in more than 20 countries across the Middle East and Africa region.

The company provides numerous ground-breaking end-to-end digital payment products, services and solutions to banks and businesses. These include card processing services, merchant acquiring, fintech solutions and value-added services.

Our dedication to payments innovation and delivering cutting-edge payments technology has propelled AFS to become a market leader.

We are committed to being the leading enabler for digital transaction transformation and we offer unique, future-driven payments experiences.

We fast-track payments innovation and make superior digital payments experiences a more accessible, secure, convenient, and seamless reality, regionally.

Our board of directors

Guiding our vision and strategy.

Mr. Sael Al Waary

Chairman

Dr. Fakher Buferna

Director

Mr. Maher Kaddoura

Director

Mr. Musab M. Msallem

Director

Mr. Suresh Padmanabhan

Director

Mr. Siegfried Heimgaertner

Director

Dr. Yousif Almas

Director

Resources

Ensuring transparency with unrestricted access to key documents and statements.

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Latest news & announcements

Partnership

Nov 4, 2025

2 min read

AFS and Bahrain Polytechnic Partner to Accelerate Fintech Talent Development

Arab Financial Services (AFS), the premier digital payment solutions provider in the Middle East and Africa, has formalized a strategic partnership with Bahrain Polytechnic by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaboration is a significant initiative aimed at strengthening the synergy between the academic and financial sectors.The agreement was signed by Mr. Samer Soliman, CEO of Arab Financial Services, and Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, CEO of Bahrain Polytechnic in the presence of senior officials from both parties, reflecting their commitment to strengthening this strategic collaboration.The collaboration will provide students with exceptional exposure to the fintech sector, offering opportunities for practical training, immersive field visits, and specialized lectures by industry experts. This alliance extends to joint research projects, the exchange of professional expertise, and the development of a progressive syllabus built on applied case studies. By blending education with the demands of the modern workforce, AFS and Bahrain Polytechnic will empower students through targeted sponsorship programs and joint events, preparing them to lead the next wave of financial innovation.Mr. Samer Soliman, CEO of Arab Financial Services, added: “We believe the next wave of financial innovation will be born in the classroom and perfected in the field. This collaboration is more than just a strategic alignment; it is an active effort to accelerate the development of homegrown fintech leaders, cementing Bahrain's position as a regional hub built on technical expertise and future-ready talent.”Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, CEO of Bahrain Polytechnic, stated: “This partnership represents an important strategic step towards aligning higher education with the actual demands of the financial sector. We are committed to equipping our students with the skills and experience they need to become future leaders, and we are pleased to collaborate with Arab Financial Services to support this vision through training opportunities and joint research. The integration of academia and industry enhances our graduates’ ability to compete and excel in the job market.”

Partnership

Oct 21, 2025

2 min read

Digital Payments Leader AFS Joins Forces with Reboot01 to Cultivate the Next-Generation of FinTech Talent

Arab Financial Services (AFS), the leading innovator of digital payment solutions across the Middle East and Africa, is launching a strategic partnership with Reboot Coding Institute (Reboot01), Bahrain’s pioneering and Ministry of Labor–approved tech institute and talent accelerator. This significant collaboration is set to establish a robust talent pipeline, connecting educational excellence with practical, real-world experience in the dynamic FinTech sector.The partnership aims to accelerate career readiness through comprehensive, hands-on programs. Reboot01 students will also benefit from direct recruitment opportunities, structured internships, and collaborative events like hackathons, specialized tech talks, industry seminars, and career fairs. These joint activities are designed to provide essential practical exposure, mentorship from industry experts, and critical networking opportunities, fully preparing participants for successful professional careers.“We firmly believe it is our responsibility to invest directly in the future of technology talent across the region,” said Mr. Samer Soliman, AFS Chief Executive Officer. “This alliance with Reboot01 is a proactive step toward cultivating a highly skilled, diverse, and future-ready talent pool right here in Bahrain, which directly contributes to the growth of our national digital economy. We are thrilled to be creating clear pathways that empower Bahraini youth with real-world skills needed for professional success, ultimately strengthening the Kingdom’s status as a regional innovation hub”.Mr. Yanal Jallad, Reboot01 Managing Director added, “With a mission to graduate over 350 skilled developers annually, Reboot is dedicated to nurturing a new generation of Bahraini tech professionals. Our partnership with AFS strengthens this mission by providing our students and graduates with direct access to industry leaders, meaningful projects, and exciting career opportunities in fintech.”Reboot01 has established a proven track record for training highly skilled full-stack developers through its globally recognized, project-based curriculum. Students dive deep into in-demand and future-focused specializations, including machine learning, blockchain, mobile app development, cybersecurity, and game design.The Institute is a key engine for talent in the Kingdom, with graduates successfully joining leading local and global technology companies. This success directly contributes to strengthening Bahrain’s growing digital economy.Crucially, the program is built on a foundation of radical inclusion, requiring no prior coding experience or university degree. Reboot01 actively champions diversity in technology and is committed to an impressive goal of achieving 50% female participation in its cohorts.

Partnership

Oct 7, 2025

2 min read

AFS and Planet Power Up to Redefine Hospitality in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Arab Financial Services (AFS), the premier digital payment solutions innovator in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), has announced a strategic partnership with Planet, a leading global provider of integrated payments and technology services, to establish a fully unified payment ecosystem for the hospitality sector. This alliance immediately redefines the guest experience in the Kingdom of Bahrain.The new solution represents a significant leap forward in payments integration. Rolling out first in Bahrain, the joint offering seamlessly combines Planet’s world-class hospitality platform with AFS’s extensive regional expertise across card issuing, processing, acquiring, and POS services.This integration delivers a dual benefit to merchants: it enables them to offer a convenient and transparent guest experience, while simultaneously reducing the cost of operations and minimizing errors in a secure manner. The differentiated offering significantly strengthens AFS's acquiring proposition, positioning the company to capture new business and enhance the value provided to its existing customer base in the competitive hospitality market.“This partnership is a major market differentiator for hospitality payments in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” said Mr. Samer Soliman, AFS Chief Executive Officer. “By seamlessly integrating Planet’s robust payment platform with our extensive market expertise, we are providing a unified digital platform that delivers significant commercial advantage. This solution is our commitment to merchants, designed to unlock new revenue streams and reinforce our leadership in acquiring.”Mr. Colin Close, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Planet, said, “We’re privileged to be partnering with Arab Financial Services. We have a long-established presence as a leading payments provider across the Middle East and this extension of our collaboration will allow us to further expand our hospitality payments solutions across the region.”Following its launch in Bahrain, AFS and Planet have a clear strategic roadmap to extend the joint offering to key regional markets, including Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Egypt.

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