Manama:Mastercard has renewed its multi-year agreement with Bahrain-based fintech company INFINIOS to enhance business-to-business (B2B) travel payments across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This collaboration is a significant step towards supporting the digital transformation of the travel sector in the region. The agreement reinforces the long-standing partnership between the two companies through the introduction of the Mastercard Wholesale Program (MWP), a virtual card-based B2B payment solution aimed at digitizing travel payments between travel buyers and suppliers.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the announcement was made during the fourth edition of Gateway Gulf, which took place on November 1-2, 2026, at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay. The event was organized by the Bahrain Economic Development Board under the theme "Reimagining Global Partnerships, Powering Sustainable Growth."
The Mastercard Wholesale Program aims to digitize B2B payment flows in the travel sector, thereby reducing the reliance on manual payment processes and addressing associated challenges. Through this program, merchants and travel agencies benefit from increased automation, transparency, security, as well as improved liquidity and flexibility.
The strategic expansion of the agreement between Mastercard and INFINIOS demonstrates the commitment of both companies to expand the program and commercialize it across markets in the MENA region. Sherif Abdelsalam, CEO of INFINIOS, emphasized the impact of this collaboration, highlighting the company's ambition to enable faster, more transparent, and automated B2B transactions, thus reshaping the future of the industry.
The trend of digital payment adoption is growing among travelers in the MENA region, with a notable 63% increase in online travel bookings in 2025 compared to the previous year. The value of bookings made through travel intermediaries in regional markets is projected to surpass USD 100 billion by 2028, driven by ongoing digital innovation and consumer preferences.
Saud Swar, country manager for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, and other Levant regions at Mastercard, reiterated the company's commitment to deepening strategic partnerships and scaling proven solutions to support the growth of the travel sector, which increasingly depends on digital and automated payment options. The renewed agreement signifies a significant evolution in the relationship with INFINIOS, showcasing a successful fintech collaboration in the MENA region.