The company award February 2026

King Hamad Youth Empowerment Award to Achieve the SDGs

BCFC was awarded the King Hamad Youth Empowerment Award to Achieve the SDGs, in recognition of its pioneering institutional contributions to supporting and empowering Bahraini youth and enhancing their active participation in sustainable development pathways.

Recipient
Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company
Award category
Youth empowerment and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Announced
Monday, 16 February 2026

“It is a great honor for us to receive this prestigious award, which bears the name of His Majesty the King, this recognition reaffirms our strong commitment to empowering youth as a central pillar of our institutional strategy and our contribution to achieving Bahrain Economic Vision 2030. We are also proud to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to decent work and economic growth, reducing inequalities, quality education, and building sustainable cities and communities.”

Mr. Abdulla Bukhowa Chief Executive Officer, Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company

Youth empowerment, he added, “is not merely a corporate responsibility, but a strategic necessity for building a sustainable and prosperous future for the Kingdom of Bahrain.”

2023 & 2024 · Al Bilad Two consecutive years

Top 50 Strongest Companies in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Named by Al Bilad in 2023 and again in 2024 - recognition of BCFC's continued leadership and its contribution to the Kingdom's economy.

Top 50 Strongest Companies in the Kingdom of Bahrain
Security & standards

Certified against international standards

Two independent audits govern how BCFC handles information and card data: the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 information security management standard, and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, version 4.0.1.

International certification in information security management
ISO/IEC 27001:2022

International certification in information security management

BCFC holds the global standard for information security management systems, covering how the company governs, monitors and protects information across its operations.

"This milestone marks a significant step in our strategy to enhance cybersecurity readiness and advance risk management practices in line with leading international standards. We reaffirm our commitment to investing in security infrastructure and implementing advanced policies to ensure a secure and resilient payment ecosystem, further strengthening customer confidence and solidifying our position as a leading and responsible financial institution."

Ms. Huda Janahi , Chief Risk Officer & Acting Head of Compliance, BCFC
Certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2022 - Bahrain Commercial Facilities Co. B.S.C.
Re-certification for the latest payment security standard
PCI DSS 4.0.1 · December 2025

Re-certification for the latest payment security standard

BCFC completed re-certification for PCI DSS version 4.0.1 following comprehensive audits, working with SISA, a leading information security assessment company in the Middle East.

"Achieving re-certification under the latest PCI DSS version reflects our ongoing commitment to applying the highest standards of cybersecurity and protecting customer data. We continue to invest in cutting-edge technologies and strengthen our security infrastructure to ensure a safe and reliable environment for all electronic payment transactions, reinforcing customer trust and keeping pace with global developments in digital services and payment security."

Mr. Ali Al Marzooq , Chief Technology Officer, BCFC
Assessed by SISA · scope includes head office, data centre and branches

"This milestone marks a significant step in our strategy to enhance cybersecurity readiness and advance risk management practices in line with leading international standards. We reaffirm our commitment to investing in security infrastructure and implementing advanced policies to ensure a secure and resilient payment ecosystem, further strengthening customer confidence and solidifying our position as a leading and responsible financial institution."

Ms. Huda Janahi Chief Risk Officer & Acting Head of Compliance, BCFC

"Achieving re-certification under the latest PCI DSS version reflects our ongoing commitment to applying the highest standards of cybersecurity and protecting customer data. We continue to invest in cutting-edge technologies and strengthen our security infrastructure to ensure a safe and reliable environment for all electronic payment transactions, reinforcing customer trust and keeping pace with global developments in digital services and payment security."

Mr. Ali Al Marzooq Chief Technology Officer, BCFC
BCFC management and the assessment team at the certification handover.
BCFC management and the assessment team at the certification handover.
Strategic initiatives

Growing how Bahrain can finance

A new window for customers who finance by Sharia principles.

Now launched Tas'heelat Islamic

BCFC's first Islamic finance window

Sharia-compliant financing, and the newest step in BCFC's expansion of the financial solutions it offers.

Watch the launch announcement
The full record

One group, four years of external recognition

Awards and certifications held by the company, by its cards brand IMTIAZ, and by Sahel - the Group's flagship mobile application.

Year Recognition Awarded by Entity
2026 King Hamad Youth Empowerment Award to Achieve the SDGs Kingdom of Bahrain BCFC
2025 PCI DSS 4.0.1 re-certification SISA BCFC
2025 ISO/IEC 27001:2022 information security certification Accredited certification body BCFC
2025 Bahrain Digital Content Awards - Winner, Business & Commerce BTECH Sahel
2024 Award for Bahrain's first Mastercard UEFA Champions League credit card Mastercard IMTIAZ
2024 Bahrain Digital Content Awards - Winner, Fintech BTECH Sahel
2024 IBSi Digital Banking Awards 2024 IBS Intelligence, UK BCFC
2024 Top 50 Strongest Companies in Bahrain Al Bilad BCFC
2023 Top 50 Strongest Companies in Bahrain Al Bilad BCFC
2023 Disruptor Awards - Digital Transformation Champion Codebase Technologies BCFC
Technology leadership

Where the recognition comes from

01 Pioneer

Government e-salary, verified through Benefit

A pioneer in integrating customers' government e-salary via open banking - fewer documents, faster decisions.

Government e-salary source
Benefit open banking
Faster approval BCFC
Verified at source, with customer consent
02 One of Bahrain's first

Mastercard Click to Pay on IMTIAZ cards

IMTIAZ is among Bahrain's first issuers to offer it - checkout confirmed without re-entering card details.

Mastercard Click to Pay on IMTIAZ cards
One-step online checkout No card details re-entered Available on IMTIAZ credit cards
03 Built in-house

Suhail and Suhaila, Sahel's AI assistants

Built in-house by BCFC’s Bahraini team. They answer in Arabic or English and calculate financing in the app.

Arabic or English
Ask by voice
Chapter two · The flagship application

BCFC's digital front door, judged awarded nationally - twice

Sahel is BCFC's flagship mobile application and a central part of the company's digital transformation journey - the place customers apply for financing, manage IMTIAZ cards and pay installments. From here on, the page follows Sahel's own brand.

Sahel BCFC's flagship app
Bahrain Digital Content Awards
Recognised twice. Trusted daily.

Recognised twice. Trusted daily.

Sahel has been named a national winner at the Bahrain Digital Content Awards twice - in Fintech, then in Business & Commerce - organised by the Bahrain Technology Companies Society under the patronage of the Chairman of the Shura Council.

4 Awards behind the app since 2023
Download Sahel
On stage at the Bahrain Digital Content Awards
The Sahel Application trophy presented on stage at the Bahrain Digital Content Awards.
The Sahel Application trophy presented on stage at the Bahrain Digital Content Awards.
Winners on stage at the Bahrain Digital Content Awards.
Winners on stage at the Bahrain Digital Content Awards.
BCFC representatives with the Sahel trophy and award plaque.
BCFC representatives with the Sahel trophy and award plaque.
BCFC recognised as an event sponsor of the awards programme.
BCFC recognised as an event sponsor of the awards programme.
Aug 2023
Digital Transformation Champion

BCFC selected for the inaugural Disruptor Awards, for re-platforming onto Digibanc and re-inventing how it serves customers.

Award · Codebase
Apr 2024
IBSi Digital Banking Awards 2024

A co-branded win with Codebase Technologies, placing BCFC's digital build alongside past IBSi honourees from across global banking.

Award · IBSi, UK
Jun 2024
Bahrain Digital Content Awards - Fintech

The Sahel Application trophy presented on stage at the Gulf Convention Centre, under the patronage of the Chairman of the Shura Council.

Award · BTECH
Jul 2025
Bahrain Digital Content Awards - Business & Commerce

A second national win for Sahel, in a different category - recognition of the app as a complete financing platform, not a single feature.

Award · BTECH
Apply without a branch visit

Personal loans, car finance and IMTIAZ credit cards requested with digital documents and digital signatures.

Virtual cards, instantly

A virtual credit card ready for online and in-store shopping from the moment it is issued in the app.

Accounts under control

Statements, transaction history, PIN changes and installment payments, tracked in one place.

Beyond financing

Compare and buy Tas'heelat car insurance, and manage loyalty rewards alongside your financing.

Proud to achieve this for the second time - a testament to our commitment to innovation and digital excellence across our operations and our products, and confirmation that our strategy of adopting the latest technology is working for our customers.

Mohamed Jehad BuKamal Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company

From the award ceremonies

Winner, Business & Commerce - presented in 2025
Winner, Business & Commerce - presented in 2025
Event sponsor
Event sponsor
Trophy and sponsor plaque
Trophy and sponsor plaque
Winners on stage · under the patronage of H.E. Ali Bin Saleh Al Saleh, Chairman of the Shura Council
Winners on stage · under the patronage of H.E. Ali Bin Saleh Al Saleh, Chairman of the Shura Council

Financing, cards and payments in one app

Apply for a personal or car loan and an IMTIAZ credit card with digital documents and signatures, use a virtual card the moment it is issued, pay installments, compare Tas’heelat car insurance and manage your rewards - without visiting a branch.

Credit Cards Loans Insurance Offers & Rewards
Download the app Explore app features
Offers & rewards
Offers & rewards
Across the group

Recognition beyond the company itself

BCFC's cards brand IMTIAZ drew its own recognition from Mastercard - for a card customers can apply for inside the Sahel app.

Award for launching Bahrain's first Mastercard UEFA Champions League credit card
October 2024 · Mastercard

Award for launching Bahrain's first Mastercard UEFA Champions League credit card

Mastercard recognised IMTIAZ - BCFC's cards brand - for the launch and performance of the Mastercard UEFA Champions League credit card, the first of its kind in the Kingdom. Customers apply for IMTIAZ cards through the Sahel app or at any BCFC branch.