Manama: Al Baraka Islamic Bank has signed an agreement with Beyon Connect, a part of the Beyon Group, to adopt eKey 2.0 for Business (EKEY-B), Bahrain's national digital identity authentication and consent-based eKYC platform for the private sector. The signing ceremony was held at Beyon's Hamala Campus, with the agreement signed by Christoper Hild, CEO of Beyon Connect, and Dr. Adel Abdulla Salem, CEO of Al Baraka Islamic Bank, in the presence of Hesham Ebrahim AlHashemi, Director of Government Systems Support and Maintenance Directorate at iGA, along with other senior officials from Beyon, Al Baraka, and the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA).
According to Bahrain News Agency, Al Baraka Islamic Bank is among the first financial institutions in Bahrain to begin onboarding to the EKEY-B platform through this agreement. Once integrated, the bank will leverage advanced biometric authentication and secure digital onboarding to offer customers a seamless, passwordless banking experience.
The collaboration reflects Al Baraka's strategic focus on enhancing digital service delivery in line with its Shari'a-compliant values, while maintaining full adherence to Bahrain's Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) and the highest standards of data security, regulatory compliance, and privacy. Beyon Connect CEO, Christoper Hild, expressed satisfaction in welcoming Al Baraka Islamic Bank to the EKEY-B ecosystem, highlighting the banking sector's growing confidence in national digital identity as a foundation for secure, frictionless customer engagement.
Dr. Adel Abdulla Salem, CEO of Al Baraka Islamic Bank, emphasized that adopting EKEY for Business is a significant step in their digital transformation journey. This collaboration with Beyon Connect enables the bank to offer customers faster, safer, and more convenient access to banking services, while ensuring full alignment with regulatory and compliance frameworks.
iGA's Deputy Chief Executive for Operations and Governance commended Al Baraka Islamic Bank for joining the national digital identity authentication journey through eKey for Business. The step reflects growing private sector alignment with Bahrain's vision for secure, user-centric digital services. The iGA remains committed to expanding access to trusted identity authentication infrastructure that enhances convenience, compliance, and public confidence.
EKEY for Business (EKEY-B), delivered by Beyon Connect in partnership with the iGA, serves as the private-sector extension of Bahrain's national digital identity authentication platform eKey 2.0. The service enables private companies to perform eKYC and biometric authentication through a secure, consent-based model, reducing fraud risks while enhancing regulatory compliance.
As adoption of eKey 2.0 and EKEY-B continues to grow across the finance, telecommunications, and insurance sectors, it reinforces Bahrain's position as a leader in digital identity innovation, helping to advance the Kingdom's vision of a secure and inclusive digital economy.