AFS launches Tap to Pay on iPhone for merchants in Bahrain

Contactless payments without an extra terminal

Arab Financial Services (AFS) has launched AFS PRO Tap to Pay on iPhone in Bahrain. The service allows merchants to accept contactless payments using an iPhone they already own, with no additional hardware.

The company announced the launch at the fourth edition of Gateway Gulf, a forum hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board under the theme ‘Reimagining Global Partnerships, Powering Sustainable Growth’.

Customers can hold a payment card, smartphone, or wearable device near the merchant’s iPhone to complete a transaction. The phone handles payment acceptance, so merchants do not need to connect a card reader or other equipment.

For businesses on the move

AFS is targeting businesses that operate in different locations and cannot always use a dedicated terminal. These include independent retailers, entrepreneurs, service providers, and pop-up businesses.

The service can also give merchants an additional way to accept payments and more flexibility at checkout. Samer Soliman, Group Chief Executive Officer of Arab Financial Services, said merchants are looking for technology that fits how they run their businesses rather than requiring them to change their operations. He described the iPhone-based service as a practical response to that demand.

UAE launch planned

Bahrain is the first stage of a wider rollout. AFS said it plans to launch the service in the United Arab Emirates in early November 2026, in partnership with Mawarid Finance and Mastercard. The expansion is part of the company’s efforts to broaden access to digital payment solutions.

AFS and Mastercard already work together on other products. In August 2026, the companies launched corporate credit and prepaid cards integrated with the AFS Pro app. The rollout was set to begin in the UAE and then extend to Egypt.

AFS Pro brings together corporate spend management and incoming payment services. Its features include SoftPOS tap-to-phone payments, pay-by-link for remote transactions, and dashboards with real-time transaction data. Tap to Pay on iPhone adds another payment acceptance channel under the AFS Pro brand.

AFS operates in the UAE under its existing regulatory permissions. It is licensed by the Central Bank of the UAE and has offices and data centres in the country. The company also operates in Bahrain, Egypt, and Oman.