Marking its fourth edition, this year's forum brings together global thought leaders and industry trailblazers shaping the next phase of innovation across financial services
MANAMA, Bahrain, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Fintech Forward, the region's flagship financial services forum, is set to take place in Bahrain on 7-8 October 2026 at Exhibition World Bahrain. Hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) and programmed by Forbes Middle East, Fintech Forward 2026 (FF26) is set to convene global thought leaders, leading financial innovators, and policymakers, to examine the most pressing ecosystem challenges that lie ahead, as well as the high-potential investment opportunities that are powering the financial services industry's next phase of growth in Bahrain, the broader region and beyond.
Supported by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) and Bahrain FinTech Bay, this year's edition is held under the theme "Finance in the Age of Intelligent Infrastructure", building on its reputation as a space for groundbreaking collaboration, visionary thought leadership, and industry advancement.
"Now in its fourth year, Fintech Forward has emerged as a leading industry gathering, underscoring both the dynamism of Bahrain's financial services ecosystem and the robust backing of industry stakeholders collectively committed to advancing its future. Bringing together a broad network of leading financial institutions and ecosystem partners, the event convenes thought leaders and chief executives from across Bahrain, the region, and international markets. The curated programme of keynote sessions, panel discussions, exhibitions, and strategic networking opportunities provides a space for knowledge exchange and building partnerships at a time of profound transformation across the global financial landscape," said Mohammed AlAlawi, Chief of Marketing and Communications at Bahrain EDB, adding, "With financial services contributing over 17% to Bahrain's GDP, FF26 serves as a powerful platform to showcase the sector's continued progress, resilience, and pivotal role in driving the next wave of innovation and economic growth."
Amid ongoing global economic uncertainty, the financial services sector continues to demonstrate resilience and agility in adapting to shifting market conditions. In Bahrain, this is reflected in a proactive regulatory environment and strong public-private collaboration, supporting stability while enabling innovation and growth. As the fintech sector continues to evolve, the 2026 edition will focus on practical pathways for growth, including closer integration across financial systems, regulation, and infrastructure, while highlighting opportunities for collaboration and scalable innovation.
The forum provides a dynamic platform for participants to gain insight from discussions on the latest industry developments. For more information or to register interest in attending FF26, please visit the website.
About Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB)
Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB) is an investment promotion agency with overall responsibility for attracting investment into the Kingdom and supporting initiatives that enhance the investment climate.
Bahrain EDB works with the government and both current and prospective investors to ensure that Bahrain's investment climate is attractive, to communicate the key strengths, and to identify where opportunities exist for further economic growth through investment.
Bahrain EDB focuses on several economic sectors that capitalise on Bahrain's competitive advantages and provide significant investment opportunities. These sectors include financial services, manufacturing, logistics, ICT, and tourism. For more information on the Bahrain EDB, visit www.bahrainedb.com.
About Fintech Forward
Fintech Forward is Bahrain's flagship financial services forum, first hosted in 2023 and now in its fourth edition, convening global investors, policymakers, financial institutions, and technology leaders to explore the next phase of financial innovation. Hosted by the Bahrain EDB and supported by key ecosystem partners, the platform brings together international and regional stakeholders to exchange insights, build partnerships, and unlock investment opportunities that are shaping the future of financial services, while connecting global perspectives with regional opportunities.
For more information, visit www.fintechforward.bh.
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Bahrain Gears Up to Host Fintech Forward 2026 this October
Advanced 2nm SoC delivers leap in performance and efficiency for agentic AI, gaming, imaging, and compute, including 61% drop in multi-core power consumption
HSINCHU, Sept. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MediaTek, the world's number one provider of mobile chipsets, today announced the launch of the Dimensity 9600 Pro. This flagship SoC achieved a significant technological milestone, adopting the new 2nm process node; as the first company to announce reaching this threshold, MediaTek is showcasing its leadership in innovation with the Dimensity 9600 Pro. With the next generation of silicon now available in the Dimensity lineup, the Dimensity 9600 Pro will enable many transformative capabilities, combining flagship performance and power efficiency with advanced agentic AI experiences.
"AI is central to the smartphone experience, and devices need greater performance, efficiency, and intelligence to keep pace with rapidly evolving user demands," said JC Hsu, corporate senior vice president at MediaTek and general manager of the Wireless Communications Business Unit. "The Dimensity 9600 Pro meets these demands with a Native AI architecture and dual improvement in performance and power efficiency to deliver new agentic AI experiences."
Improved Compute Performance
The MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro packs a punch, featuring a 2+3+3 All Big Core CPU design which offers faster, more responsive experiences and an impressive 61% reduction in multi-core power consumption. This architecture consists of two C2-Ultra cores with clock speeds up to 4.55GHz, three C2-Pro big cores at 4.35GHz, and three C2-Pro big cores at 3.1GHz. Users will enjoy up to 17% higher single-core performance and up to 15% higher multi-core performance compared to the previous generation.*
Advanced AI Experiences
The Dimensity 9600 Pro's dual-NPU architecture and Agentic AI Engine are designed to power the next generation of on-device AI, enabling smartphones to perceive, reason and act more intelligently while keeping AI experiences secure. Its second-generation Super Efficient NPU reduces power consumption by 40% for always-on AI, while the NPU 1090 delivers 51% higher LLM prefill performance, 55% higher Token generation per watt*, and supports complex on-device applications, including models up to 30B parameters. This enables new agentic AI capabilities such as smart analysis of on-device data, proactive assistance, and personalized responses that learn your preferences and act like a digital twin.
AI Computing Fusion Architecture on the Dimensity 9600 Pro brings together the CPU and NPU to create a powerful foundation for AI computing, supported by a larger 34.5MB cache and, for the first time, LPDDR6 memory and UFS 5.0 storage. Its upgraded Dimensity Scheduling Engine coordinates hardware and software to intelligently allocate computing, power and memory resources, helping smartphone manufacturers deliver fast, power-efficient systems that keep multiple applications running smoothly in the background.
Smoother Gaming
Integrating the G2-Ultra NX GPU, the Dimensity 9600 Pro shines at gaming. The latest GPU delivers up to 27% higher peak performance, 24% lower power consumption at peak performance, and 18% faster raytracing, for higher console-grade gaming on-device at up to 185fps. Building on this powerful GPU foundation, the new MediaTek Dimensity Neural Graphics Architecture combines GPU and AI computing. MediaTek HyperEngine further optimizes gameplay to provide smoother, more immersive, high-resolution gaming.
High-quality Imaging
Additionally, the Dimensity 9600 Pro features the Imagiq 1290 ISP and new Dimensity AI Imaging Fusion Architecture, combining ISP and NPU capabilities to deliver advanced computational photography and content creation. It supports NPU-powered 60fps motion capture and introduces 4K240 native direct-output ultra-slow-motion video to the Dimensity platform, alongside 4K60 AI True Color Tone, 4K120 cinematic log and 17EV imaging for high-quality photos and videos across a range of shooting scenarios.
The MediaTek Dimensity 9600M: Bringing Flagship Experiences to More Users
In addition to the Dimensity 9600 Pro, MediaTek is introducing the Dimensity 9600M. This upcoming chipset will ensure flagship-level performance and power efficiency is accessible to more users, combining MediaTek's signature high-performance computing cores and power efficiency expertise with the company's advanced hardware and software technologies. Across AI, imaging, gaming and everyday performance, the Dimensity 9600M uses the latest Agentic AI Engine and Dimensity Scheduling Engine to deliver intelligent, responsive and power-efficient experiences.
Its powerful NPU enables advanced on-device AI, including always-on perception and real-time AI-enhanced imaging, while its ISP supports professional-quality imaging and real-time tracking. For gamers, MediaTek HyperEngine enables smooth gameplay at up to 185fps, while advanced connectivity technologies help deliver fast, reliable mobile experiences. Together, these capabilities give users a more responsive, intelligent and immersive smartphone experience without compromising power efficiency.
The first smartphones powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro and Dimensity 9600M are expected to launch this quarter. To learn more about the MediaTek Dimensity flagship portfolio, please visit: https://www.mediatek.com/products/smartphones/dimensity-5g
About MediaTek Inc.
MediaTek (TWSE: 2454) is a global leader in fabless semiconductor design, providing solutions from the edge to the cloud. Powering over 2 billion connected devices every year, MediaTek's leading-edge technology keeps the world connected and enhances everyday life. At the forefront of innovation, MediaTek drives advancements in transformative technologies such as AI, 5G/6G, and Wi-Fi 7/Wi-Fi 8. Our high-performance, power-efficient products form the foundation for a smarter, more connected world, enabling devices from smartphones, smart homes and AI PCs to high-performance computing, automotive, and AI data centers. As a trusted partner to the world's leading brands, MediaTek leads the industry in creating solutions that meet the evolving needs of the global community, ensuring access to world-class technology for everyone. Our commitment to accelerating AI underscores our dedication to enriching the future of humanity.
Visit http://www.mediatek.com for more information.
*Performance metrics achieved via demo device testing in MediaTek labs.
CONTACT: Kevin Keating, pr@mediatek.com
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
MediaTek Dimensity 9600 Pro Sets New Standard for Flagship Smartphone Chips
