The Banking Executive Magzine - July 2025 Issue

Bahrain's Al Salam Bank tha Wijesinghe, CTO at Al Salam Bank and Gabriele Obino, Denodo Regional Vice President South Eu- rope and Middle East and General Manager Denodo Arabian Limited. Through the Denodo platform, Al Salam Bank will be able to unify its enterprise data across various sys- tems, enabling faster decision-mak- ing and driving innovation. This step also reflects the Bank’s commitment to leading innovation in digital banking, in line with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s long-term economic vision. Shaikha Dr. Dheya said: "This strategic collaboration represents a significant milestone in Bahrain's digital transformation journey. We are happy to facilitate partnerships that advance our nation's techno- logical capabilities and strengthen our position as a regional fintech hub." "Through initiatives like this, we are building the foundation for a knowledge-based economy that aligns with Bahrain's Vision 2030," she stated. On the deal, Murad said: "At Al Salam Bank, we are committed to remaining at the forefront of digital transformation within the financial sector. This strategic partnership with Denodo and NAIB IT marks a significant step in advancing our digital maturity and optimising the use of data and AI to better serve our clients." "By harnessing real-time data inte- gration and AI-powered analytics, we aim to enhance responsiveness, strengthen operational agility, and deliver a more personalized and seamless banking experience. This initiative goes beyond technology adoption—it represents our dedica- tion to embedding intelligence into core operations, enabling informed decision-making and positioning Al Salam Bank as a forward-looking institution aligned with the aspira- tions of Bahrain’s Vision 2030, he added. Wijesinghe said this partnership re- flects its vision to build a smarter, more agile bank powered by ad- vanced data and AI capabilities. "We believe this initiative will not only enhance the clients experience but also set a benchmark for inno- vation in the region," he added. Al Salam Bank has signed a strate- gic agreement with Denodo and NAIB IT to advance its data man- agement and AI initiatives through AWS Marketplace, enabling faster procurement, cloud-native scalabil- ity, and real-time access to data products to accelerate innovation. The agreement forms a key pillar in Al Salam Bank’s broader digital transformation roadmap, reinforc- ing its position at the forefront of smart banking in the region. With the Denodo Platform’s logical data management capabilities in- cluding a universal semantic layer, Al Salam Bank can connect and manage data from its core systems, cloud-based services, and fintech partners, within minutes instead of weeks. The interoperability among the dif- ferent systems will enable AI-pow- ered analytics and reporting, enabling faster, data-driven deci- sions at the executive and opera- tional levels. Commenting on the partnership, Obino said: "We are proud to sup- port Al Salam Bank in its digital transformation journey. Our plat- form enables real-time data access, governance, and agility, critical components for AI success. This partnership showcases how modern data management can empower fi- nancial institutions to lead in a rap- idly evolving digital economy." "As a local integrator, our mission is to ensure that global innovation translates into local success," said Ebrahim Sonde, COO at NAIB IT. "Collaborating with Al Salam Bank and Denodo, we are committed to delivering a robust, secure, and scalable data architecture that drives meaningful transformation," he added. ISSUE 199 JULY 2025 the BANKING EXECUTIVE 15