The Bahrain Association of Banks
The Bahrain Association of Banks is a Manama-based trade association founded in 1979 that represents and advocates the collective interests of all licensed financial institutions operating in Bahrain, led by Chairman Yasser Al-Sharifi and CEO Zeba Majid Askari.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersManama, Bahrain
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Bahrain Association of Banks does
The Bahrain Association of Banks (also referenced as Bahrain Banks Association) is a Manama-headquartered trade association founded in 1979 that represents and advocates the interests of all licensed financial institutions operating in Bahrain. It functions as the unified industry voice for the country's banking sector, coordinating collective responses to national economic and security matters and promoting sector-wide unity. The organization is led by Chairman Yasser Al-Sharifi and CEO Zeba Majid Askari, supported by a small team of 11-50 employees, and operates primarily within the Bahraini market in the Middle East region.
As a membership-based association rather than a commercial enterprise, it does not sell discrete products or services, and no underlying technology platform, pricing model, or revenue mechanics are disclosed in the available sources. Its primary deliverables are sector representation, policy advocacy, coordination among member banks, and public communication on matters affecting financial stability. The most recent documented activity is a 2026-05-03 public statement in which the association reaffirmed the banking sector's support for national leadership and its commitment to uninterrupted banking services.
The Bahrain Association of Banks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Bahrain Association of Banks
- Legal name
- The Bahrain Association of Banks
- Website
- https://banksbahrain.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Bahrain Association of Banks is a Manama-based trade association founded in 1979 that represents and advocates the collective interests of all licensed financial institutions operating in Bahrain, led by Chairman Yasser Al-Sharifi and CEO Zeba Majid Askari.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Bahrain Association of Banks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Banking Industry Association
- NAICS
- Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Federations/Centrals & Cooperative Banking Networks (2nd-Tier Co-ops) (FSABAEAL)
Keywords
Where The Bahrain Association of Banks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manama
- HQ country
- Bahrain
- HQ region
- Middle East
Markets served
The Bahrain Association of Banks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations
The Bahrain Association of Banks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Bahrain Association of Banks is a trade association that represents and advocates the collective interests of licensed banks and financial institutions operating in Bahrain. It coordinates sector-wide initiatives, issues public statements on national economic and security matters, and works to maintain financial stability and uninterrupted banking services in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use The Bahrain Association of Banks
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
The Bahrain Association of Banks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Bahrain Association of Banks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves2 records
The Bahrain Association of Banks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Qatar Association of Banks: Qatari banking industry association. Closely comparable in structure and mission, representing licensed banks in Qatar and coordinating on regulatory, economic, and national-interest matters.
- Saudi Banks (Saudi Banking Association): Trade body representing banks operating in Saudi Arabia. Comparable in role, mandate, and structure as a national banking industry association coordinating sector interests in the GCC.
- UAE Banks Federation: National trade association representing licensed banks in the UAE. Most directly comparable to BAB as a GCC banking industry body performing advocacy, coordination, and crisis-response functions for member banks.
- Kuwait Banking Association: Association of banks operating in Kuwait performing similar advocacy and coordination functions. Same industry, same regional context, same member-driven mandate.
- Association of Banks in Jordan: Jordanian banking industry association serving a similar coordinating and representative role for licensed banks. Regional peer in the MENA banking trade body landscape.
Emerging players
- Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI): Bahrain-based international standards-setting body for Islamic finance. Co-located in Manama, partial mandate overlap with BAB on shariah and Islamic banking governance, and a potential partner or competing convening body.
Regional players
- Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Bahrain's broader private-sector chamber representing all industries including banking. Adjacent mandate in the same geography, with potential overlap and coordination with BAB on cross-sector economic issues.
Broad incumbents
- UK Finance: UK banking and financial services trade body (successor to the British Bankers' Association). Comparable in role and services, with a much larger membership and productized advocacy/training offerings.
- American Bankers Association: US banking trade association representing the full spectrum of American banks. Comparable in mandate and operating model, but vastly larger scale and broader product/service portfolio than BAB.
- Institute of International Finance: Global association of financial institutions with strong MENA/GCC membership overlap. Comparable as a banking advocacy body but operates globally rather than nationally.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
The Bahrain Association of Banks social profiles
Digital presenceThe Bahrain Association of Banks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Bahrain Association of Banks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Bahrain Association of Banks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Bahrain Association of Banks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Bahrain Association of Banks
What does The Bahrain Association of Banks do?
The Bahrain Association of Banks is a trade association that represents and advocates the collective interests of licensed banks and financial institutions operating in Bahrain. It coordinates sector-wide initiatives, issues public statements on national economic and security matters, and works to maintain financial stability and uninterrupted banking services in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Is The Bahrain Association of Banks a public or private company?
The Bahrain Association of Banks is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was The Bahrain Association of Banks founded?
The Bahrain Association of Banks was founded in 1979. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Bahrain Association of Banks based?
The Bahrain Association of Banks is headquartered in Manama, Bahrain, in the Middle East region.
Who are The Bahrain Association of Banks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Qatar Association of Banks, Saudi Banks (Saudi Banking Association), UAE Banks Federation, Kuwait Banking Association and Association of Banks in Jordan. Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) is listed as an emerging player. Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are UK Finance, American Bankers Association and Institute of International Finance.
Does The Bahrain Association of Banks have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Bahrain Association of Banks.
What industry is The Bahrain Association of Banks in?
The Bahrain Association of Banks's product category is Banking Industry Association. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABAEAL, Federations/Centrals & Cooperative Banking Networks (2nd-Tier Co-ops). Its NAICS code is 522 and its SIC code is 6159.