The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) launched an Artificial Intelligence Academy, consolidating its AI training programmes under a single institutional framework.

"AI skills are in demand across various sectors and jobs, and are no longer limited to technology specialists," BIBF CEO Dr Ahmed Al Shaikh said in the launch statement, adding that the academy aims to help individuals and institutions apply AI "efficiently and responsibly."

The academy draws on training infrastructure BIBF has developed since 2022, during which the institute delivered more than 45 AI-related programmes to over 3,000 participants. The new structure brings together professional certifications, executive education, advanced technical courses and customised enterprise solutions, with learning pathways designed to accommodate participants ranging from foundational AI users to board-level leadership.

The curriculum spans AI fundamentals, business applications, governance, risk management and technology ethics. Afnan Al Saleh, Acting Head of the Digital Transformation and Project Management Centre, said the academy is designed around real-world use cases and applied tools, with responsible use, including transparency and accountability in smart systems, embedded throughout.

The launch reflects a broader shift in how Gulf institutions are approaching workforce development. AI competency is increasingly treated as a cross-sectoral requirement rather than a specialism confined to technology teams, with financial services, insurance, human resources and risk management among the fields now integrating AI literacy into professional standards. For BIBF, the academy consolidates existing capacity into a more scalable and visible offering as regional competition for AI training provision intensifies.