Khaleeji Bank

What Khaleeji Bank does

Khaleeji Bank BSC is a Bahrain-based Sharia-compliant retail Islamic bank licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain and listed on the Bahrain Bourse under the ticker 'Khaleeji'. Founded in November 2004 with an initial paid-up capital of 30 million Bahraini Dinars, the bank is a subsidiary within the GFH Financial Group ecosystem, with GFH Financial Group as its major shareholder (10%+). The bank operates four physical branches across the Kingdom of Bahrain — Bahrain Financial Harbour (headquarters), Hidd, Sanad, and Riffa — and serves both retail individuals and corporate clients with a comprehensive suite of products including current and savings accounts, Mudharaba and Murabaha investment accounts, Al Waffer prize-linked savings, Ajyal youth/student accounts, personal/home/auto financing, Sharia-compliant debit and Visa credit cards, and VIP and corporate banking services.

The bank's technology stack includes an internet banking platform, a mobile application on iOS and Android, an electronic trading platform (eTrade), Apple Pay integration, Open Banking APIs, an IBAN calculator, and a Cyber Security & Anti-Fraud Center. In 2026, Khaleeji Bank became the first bank in Bahrain to deploy 'Sheikha', a 24/7 AI-powered natural-voice conversational assistant for phone banking, and is also deploying AI for fraud detection, regulatory compliance, and process automation. The bank is PDPL and GDPR compliant, holds PDPL and GDPR-aligned privacy policies, and is overseen by a dedicated Sharia Supervisory Board.

Khaleeji Bank generates revenue across six core streams: retail banking (deposits and profit-sharing on Mudharaba/Murabaha), consumer financing (personal, home, auto, plus targeted schemes for doctors and SIO employees), credit card services (merchant commissions, interchange, and profit on outstanding balances), corporate banking (business accounts, letters of credit, corporate prepaid cards), investment and treasury services (real estate, technology, commercial financing, and liquidity management), and fee-based services. Distribution is hybrid: direct via branches and call center, self-serve via mobile/internet banking and Sheikha, and indirect via card networks and partnerships such as the November 2025 financing agreement with Bahrain Marina Development Company. In February 2026, the bank completed the acquisition of a 71.95% stake in GFH Tower Group Limited, extending its footprint into real estate and tower operations.

Name

Khaleeji Bank

Legal name

Khaleeji Bank BSC

Website

https://khaleeji.bank

Company type

Public

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Khaleeji Bank is a Bahrain-based Sharia-compliant retail Islamic bank offering personal, corporate, and investment banking products through 4 branches and digital channels, including the first AI voice assistant deployed by a Bahraini bank.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Islamic Retail Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (522110)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021)

akta.pro primary industry

Islamic Retail Banking (FSABAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Islamic SME & Commercial Banking (FSABAGAB), Islamic Private Banking & Wealth (FSABAGAD), Islamic Investment Banking & Capital Markets Services (FSABAGAG), Shariah-compliant Financing Products (Murabaha, Ijara, Tawarruq, Istisna, Salam) (FSABAGAH)

Keywords

• Islamic retail banking
• Sharia-compliant finance
• Corporate banking services
• Consumer credit cards
• Digital banking platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Manama

HQ country

Bahrain

HQ region

Middle East

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Banking Services: Interest/profit-based financing and deposit-taking services for individual customers including current accounts, savings accounts, and investment accounts (Mudharaba, Murabaha). Revenue generated through profit margins on financing products and profit sharing on deposits.
2. Personal & Home Finance: Home financing, auto financing, and personal finance products generating revenue through profit rates on Islamic financing arrangements.
3. Credit Card Services: Credit card issuance and processing including Visa Classic, Gold, Platinum, Infinite, and Corporate cards with merchant commissions, interchange fees, and interest/profit on outstanding balances.
4. Corporate Banking: Business banking services, letters of credit, corporate prepaid cards, and business financing solutions for corporate clients.
5. Investment & Treasury Services: Investment opportunities in real estate, technology, and commercial financing. Treasury operations managing liquidity and investments.
6. Fee-Based Services: Various banking fees including service charges, account maintenance fees, transaction fees, and charges for services as outlined in the bank's tariff schedule.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Khaleeji Bank is a Bahrain-licensed Islamic retail bank providing Sharia-compliant personal, VIP, and corporate banking products — including deposit and investment accounts (Mudharaba, Murabaha, Al Waffer, Ajyal), consumer and home/auto financing, Visa debit/credit cards, trade-finance and corporate banking services, and treasury/investment offerings. Distribution combines a 4-branch domestic network with a full digital stack (mobile app, internet banking, eTrade, eDinar, eCheque, Open Banking, Apple Pay) and a 24/7 AI voice assistant ('Sheikha').

Product overview

Khaleeji Bank is an Islamic retail bank licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain, offering a comprehensive suite of Sharia-compliant banking products and services. The bank's portfolio includes personal banking (Current Accounts, Savings Accounts, Al Waffer, Ajyal, Mudharaba, and Murabaha accounts), consumer financing (Personal Finance, Home Finance, Auto Finance, Ministry of Housing Products, Doctors Financing Scheme, SIO Finance), card services (Debit Cards, Credit Cards including Visa Classic/Gold/Platinum/Infinite and Corporate variants), VIP services, and corporate banking solutions. Digital banking services include eBanking, the Khaleeji Mobile App, eCheque, Khaleeji eTrade, Apple Pay, and Open Banking. The bank operates through a network of branches in Bahrain (Bahrain Financial Harbour, Hidd, Sanad, and Riffa) and offers services in both Arabic and English.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sheikha: AI-powered smart voice assistant enabling customers to conduct natural voice conversations for banking support 24/7.
• Ajyal
• Al Waffer

Products and services

• Current Accounts Basic transactional bank accounts for everyday banking needs, providing access to deposits, withdrawals, and fund transfers for individual customers in Bahrain.
• Savings Accounts Sharia-compliant deposit accounts designed for individuals to save money while earning expected profit returns.
• Al Waffer Account A year-long Sharia-compliant investment account based on Mudharabah principles that qualifies account holders for monthly prize draws, with expected profit returns.
• Al Waffer+ Account An enhanced version of the Al Waffer investment account with additional benefits and prize eligibility.
• Salary Account A designated account for receiving monthly salary deposits with associated banking benefits.
• Ajyal Account A savings account designed for minors under 21, including students studying abroad, featuring up to 2.7% cashback on US dollar transactions and 2% on foreign currency transactions.
• Mudharaba Account A Sharia-compliant investment account based on profit-sharing principles where the bank acts as entrepreneur (Mudarib) and the depositor as investor (Rabbul Mal).
• Call Mudharaba Account A flexible Mudharaba account that allows depositors to withdraw funds on demand while earning profit shares.
• Murabaha Account A Sharia-compliant account based on cost-plus (Murabaha) financing arrangements.
• Personal Finance Islamic-compliant personal financing solutions for individual needs including debt consolidation, education, and general purposes.
• Home Finance Sharia-compliant residential property financing solutions to help customers purchase or construct homes.
• Auto Finance Islamic-compliant vehicle financing solutions for purchasing new or used automobiles.
• Doctors Financing Scheme Specialized financing program tailored for medical professionals with terms designed for their specific needs.
• SIO Finance Finance product for Social Insurance Organization (SIO) employees in Bahrain.
• Debit Cards Sharia-compliant debit cards enabling cash withdrawals and purchases worldwide with funds directly debited from customer accounts.
• Credit Cards Islamic-compliant credit cards available in Visa Classic, Visa Gold, Visa Platinum, Visa Infinite, and Corporate variants, accepted worldwide with benefits including Gulf Air miles and travel insurance.
• Khaleeji VIP Premium Banking Premium banking services and exclusive benefits designed for high-net-worth individuals and valued customers, with signature-quality dedicated relationship service.
• Corporate Banking Comprehensive Sharia-compliant banking services for corporate clients including transaction banking, trade finance, letters of credit, and relationship management.
• Business Banking Banking services tailored for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and business owners.
• Ratbi (Corporate Banking Service) Corporate banking product/service for business clients (Ratbi).
• Hafeez (Corporate Banking Service) Corporate banking product/service for business clients (Hafeez).
• Corporate Prepaid Card Prepaid card solutions designed for corporate expense management and employee benefits.
• Opportunity Network Portal A digital platform connecting corporate clients with investment and business opportunities.
• Khaleeji Mobile App Mobile banking application available on iOS and Android platforms enabling customers to manage funds, conduct transactions, and access banking services on the go.
• eBanking (Internet Banking) Online banking platform enabling customers to manage accounts, conduct transactions, and access financial services via the internet.
• eCheque Electronic cheque services enabling digital cheque issuance and processing for customers.
• Khaleeji eTrade Electronic trading platform for investment and securities trading services.
• Open Banking Service Secure service connecting customers with global financial companies to maximize their financial potential via Open Banking APIs and reports.
• eDinar Payment Platform Electronic payment platform for digital transactions and bill payments.
• Sheikha AI-Powered Smart Voice Assistant AI-powered smart voice assistant that conducts natural-language phone conversations 24/7 to handle banking inquiries, support, customer feedback, and information on offers, accessible at 77540054.

Quantifiable outcome

• First bank in Bahrain to enable natural voice conversations for banking support around the clock
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bahrain Marina Development Company (BMDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2025Khaleeji Bank and Bahrain Marina Development Company signed a cooperation agreement during Cityscape Bahrain 2025 to provide flexible financing solutions for luxury apartments at Bahrain Marina Residence. This partnership enables the bank to offer real estate financing products to customers interested in Bahrain Marina properties.
• VisacoreTechnology or IntegrationKhaleeji Bank issues Visa credit cards including Classic, Gold, Platinum, Infinite, and Corporate variants. This partnership enables global card acceptance and payment processing infrastructure.
• Gulf AirminorOthersGulf Air miles are offered as a benefit with Khaleeji Bank credit cards, providing frequent flyer rewards to cardholders.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bahrain Islamic Bank (BIB): Direct Bahraini Islamic retail and corporate bank offering Sharia-compliant accounts, financing, and cards; competes head-to-head with Khaleeji for the same Bahraini retail and SME customer base.
• Al Baraka Banking Group: Bahrain-headquartered Islamic banking group with Sharia-compliant retail, corporate, and treasury products across MENA; closest comparable by jurisdiction, business model, and product mix.
• National Bank of Bahrain (NBB): Largest conventional bank in Bahrain and primary domestic competitor for retail deposits, corporate banking, and government-related business; competes with Khaleeji for the same Bahraini customer wallet.
• Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK): Leading Bahraini retail and corporate bank operating in the same domestic market; competes directly with Khaleeji across consumer, SME, and corporate segments.

Broad incumbents

• Kuwait Finance House (KFH): Largest Islamic bank in Kuwait with Bahrain operations; competes in Sharia-compliant retail and corporate banking with materially greater scale, funding cost advantage, and product breadth.
• Dubai Islamic Bank: UAE's largest Islamic bank offering full Sharia-compliant retail, corporate, and treasury products; comparable business model but at significantly larger regional scale.
• Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB): Largest Islamic bank in Qatar with full Sharia-compliant retail and corporate offering; regional peer with similar product structure but at much larger scale.
• Al Rajhi Bank: Saudi Arabia's largest Islamic bank and the largest Islamic bank globally by assets; comparable Sharia-compliant retail model with vastly greater scale and distribution.

Regional players

• Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB): UAE Islamic bank with regional GCC footprint; similar Sharia-compliant retail and corporate model but does not currently operate a retail branch network in Bahrain.

Others

• GFH Financial Group: Bahrain-based diversified financial conglomerate and Khaleeji's controlling shareholder; relevant as parent, capital partner, and counterparty in the GFH Tower Group acquisition rather than as a banking competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/khaleejibank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/khaleejibank

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Khaleeji Bank