Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has appointed Ahmed Elkaffass as the new Country Manager for Bahrain. He will be based at Visa’s regional headquarters in Riyadh, overseeing operations in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman. Ahmed takes over from Malak Alsaffar, who has held the position since 2020 and will now join Visa’s Government Sales team for the GCC.
With Visa since 2019, Ahmed assumes his new role after leading a portfolio of key Visa clients in Egypt. Before Visa, Ahmed spent 15 years in different commercial functions within a worldwide leading telecom operator.
Ahmed Elkaffass, Visa’s Country Manager for Bahrain, said: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead our operations in an exciting market such as Bahrain. I am looking forward to working closely with our clients to introduce new payment innovations that benefit Bahraini consumers and businesses. We are deeply committed to supporting the Bahrain government's cashless agenda and creating an inclusive, resilient digital economy where everyone, everywhere in Bahrain can participate and be empowered by the benefits digital commerce offers”.
Ali Bailoun, Visa’s Regional General Manager for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman, said: “We are excited about Ahmed’s appointment as Visa’s Bahrain Country Manager. He brings proven leadership skills as well as a strong understanding of Visa’s business in Bahrain and deep experience from the wider region. I am confident Ahmed will further deepen our local partnerships to deliver more value for our clients and partners, and make significant contributions to the Bahrain government’s digital commerce agenda”.
With forward-thinking regulations and government support, Bahrain is quickly becoming a regional hub for fintech and digital payments. As the payment ecosystem evolves, Visa remains dedicated to supporting its partner banks, new entrants, and the government. Despite significant strides in the country's digital transformation, cash still accounts for approximately 17% of consumer transactions, according to Visa’s recent Where Cash Hides research. For Visa, this presents an opportunity to further advance financial inclusion and drive the digitization of commerce in Bahrain.