Bahrain-India collaboration to support cross-border payments

Details: Vaughan O'Grady; Category: Consumer Ecosystems; 10 November 2025; 11148 views

BENEFIT, a leading Bahrain company in fintech and electronic financial transactions, licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) as an ancillary service provider to the Kingdom’s financial services industry, has announced a deal that will help to enable real-time cross-border payments between Bahrain and India.

BENEFIT has signed a linkage agreement with India-headquartered payment system company NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) to enable seamless integration between Bahrain’s Electronic Fund Transfer System (EFTS), specifically the Fawri+ service, a near-real-time electronic fund transfer service, and India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

The initiative is being carried out under the supervision of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI), marking what is described as a significant step towards advancing cross-border payment connectivity between the two nations.

UPI facilitates nearly 20 billion transactions every month, amounting to over US$280 billion in value. With a user base of 500 million and commanding approximately 84% of India’s retail digital payment market, UPI has emerged as a global benchmark in digital payments.

This collaboration is described as marking a pivotal milestone in the ongoing expansion of Bahrain’s Fawri+ service into international networks and systems. Furthermore, the agreement opens new horizons for users in both countries to perform cross-border real-time transfers, securely, and seamlessly.

As Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, Chief Executive of BENEFIT, notes: “The signing of the linkage agreement with India’s NPCI International represents an important strategic milestone in strengthening Bahrain’s presence in the global digital financial landscape. The new service will enable citizens and residents in both countries to send and receive money instantly and securely, reflecting our continuous efforts to meet the growing demand for fast, reliable, and cross-border financial solutions.”

He adds: "We look forward to fostering more similar partnerships and collaborations, which will enhance the reach of Bahrain’s payment ecosystem and ensure seamless integration with global markets.”