Shaikh Khalifa Al Khalifa
Chief Executive Officer
Bahrain Bourse
Message from Bahrain Bourse
I am pleased to announce the return of the second edition of “The Market 2.0 – 2026” Conference, hosted by Bahrain Bourse in collaboration with the Arab Federation of Capital Markets, taking place on 3rd December 2026 at the Four Seasons Hotel in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Building on the success of last year’s event, we look forward to welcoming an expanded group of participants - including regional exchanges, brokers, custodians, asset managers, technology providers, policymakers, and industry leaders - for a full day of insightful discussions and networking.
The 2026 edition of The Market 2.0 comes at a crucial time, as regional markets navigate uncertainty while continuing to advance efforts that strengthen market resilience. We anticipate conversations that will not only support today’s stability, but also contribute to shaping well‑connected markets and a future-ready financial ecosystem. This year’s agenda will delve into some of the industry’s most pressing themes, including the accelerating role of automation, artificial intelligence, and real‑time market infrastructure—key drivers of stability, continuity, and long‑term sustainability.
I invite all capital market stakeholders to join us at The Market 2.0 – 2026, as we collectively shape the next chapter of growth and opportunity for our markets.
Rami El-Dokany
Secretary General
Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM)
Message from the Arab Federation of Capital Markets
It is with great pride that we announce the third consecutive edition of the Market 2.0, returning again to the Kingdom of Bahrain, hosted by Bahrain Bourse, on December 3, 2026.
The acceleration of technological change across global capital markets is no longer incremental, it is structural. Exchanges and market infrastructure institutions are rethinking their operating models, governance frameworks, and strategic priorities in response to rapid advancements in automation, artificial intelligence, digital connectivity, and evolving investor behavior.
Within this context, the role of regional collaboration becomes more critical than ever. As Arab markets continue to modernize and deepen, our collective ability to exchange knowledge, align on best practices, and anticipate global shifts will determine how effectively we position our markets for sustainable growth.
The Market 2.0 reflects this shared commitment. It represents our determination to ensure that technology adoption is not reactive, but strategic, aligned with market integrity, resilience, and long-term competitiveness.
We look forward to welcoming you to Bahrain as we continue shaping a modern, interconnected, and forward-looking capital markets landscape for our region.
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About AFCM
The Arab Federation of Capital Markets is the industry associa- tion in the region. It serves as a guiding body for best practices in the area. AFCM was established in June 1978, under the recommendation of the Arab Central Banks Conference, held under the auspices of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The headquar- ters Secretariat of the League of Arab States in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The headquarters Secretariat of the League of Arab States in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The headquarters multiple affiliate members (financial institu- tions, brokerage firms and local industry associations)from all around the Arab region (GCC, Levant and Arab African countries). The Federation was set up to contribute to the development of regulations and promoting harmonized and proactive legisla- tions, and exchanging viewpoints and providing opportunities for cooperation among members.
About Bahrain Bourse
Bahrain Bourse Company B S C C is a self-regulated multi-asset marketplace. Bahrain Bourse aims to offer to its investors, issuers, and intermediaries a comprehensive suite of exchange-related facilities including offering listing, trading, settlement, and depositary services for various financial instruments.
We aim to offer our stakeholders with the best investment and trading solutions, and pair it with creative insights and problem solving skills to provide our investors, issuers, and intermediaries with valuable resources to meet their every expectation. Our key growth pillars underpins our way of conducting business and how we interact with our stakeholders: Origination, Innovation, Collaboration, and Pioneering Spirit, and all of them working together is what enables us to offer you with an "Oasis of Investment Opportunities".
About the Conference
Following the outstanding success of the 2025 edition, which welcomed more than 500 participants from across exchanges, regulators, brokers, infrastructure providers and technology firms, the Market 2.0 returns to the Kingdom of Bahrain for its third consecutive year on December 03, 2026.
Hosted by Bahrain Bourse in partnership with the Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM), the Market 2.0 has firmly positioned itself as the region’s leading technology-focused capital markets platform. What began as a conversation about infrastructure modernization has evolved into a strategic forum shaping how markets across the Arab region and beyond are architected, interconnected, and future-proofed.
Designed for exchange leaders, market infrastructure institutions, capital markets technologists, and strategic decision-makers, the Market 2.0 is not a generic fintech event. It is a specialized, high-level gathering focused on the architecture of markets themselves, trading engines, data centers, cloud migration, interoperability, surveillance systems, post-trade innovation, and the design of resilient and inclusive financial ecosystems.
The Market 2.0 is about building the markets we want and the technology that will power them.
We look forward to welcoming the ecosystem back to Bahrain for another landmark edition.
