11 November 2025
BENEFIT, a leading Bahraini fintech company licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), has announced a strategic partnership with India-based payment system provider NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) to facilitate real-time cross-border payments between Bahrain and India.
This collaboration will enable seamless integration between Bahrain’s Electronic Fund Transfer System (EFTS), specifically its near-instant Fawri+ service, and India’s widely used Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The initiative is overseen by both the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), marking a significant step toward enhancing digital payment connectivity between the two countries.
India’s UPI handles approximately 20 billion transactions each month, totalling over US$280 billion in value, with a user base of around 500 million and holding about 84% of India’s retail digital payment market. Recognised globally as a benchmark in digital payments, UPI’s integration with Bahrain’s Fawri+ will open new avenues for instant, secure, and seamless cross-border fund transfers.
“The linkage agreement with India’s NPCI International is a strategic milestone in reinforcing Bahrain’s role in the global digital financial ecosystem. It will enable citizens and residents in both countries to send and receive money instantly and securely, fulfilling the increasing demand for fast, reliable international financial services,” said Abdulwahed AlJanahi, CEO of BENEFIT.
He also expressed optimism about future collaborations, emphasising that such partnerships will expand Bahrain’s payment ecosystem and promote seamless integration with global markets, fostering greater financial inclusion and connectivity.
