Arab Financial Services launches AFS Pay tap to phone service in Bahrain

By Delisha Fernandes

Arab Financial Services (AFS), a digital payment solutions provider and FinTech enabler, has launched its digital payments solution, AFS Pay.

AFS Pay is one of the first solution in Bahrain to transform Android devices into smart Point of Sale (POS) terminals that accept all contactless payments. The service eliminates the need for additional hardware, allowing businesses of all sizes to effortlessly accept payments using their own smartphones.

Amira Ismail, Arab Financial Services Head of Merchant Acquiring Business  in Bahrain said, “AFS Pay marks a leap in the evolution of digital payment solutions. This technology, which is a first in the Kingdom of Bahrain, reflects our commitment to redefining the digital payments landscape and empowering businesses with smart, secure, and cost-effective tools. By transforming Android devices into POS terminals, AFS Pay enables merchants to enhance their operational efficiency while offering customers a frictionless payment experience.”

With AFS Pay, merchants can now provide a seamless and secure payment experience for their customers by simply downloading the AFS Pay app from the Play Store. This innovative solution supports contactless enabled Visa and Mastercard cards, enabling businesses to accept a wide range of payment methods, including Contactless Debit and Credit Cards (Tap & Go), NFC Devices like Samsung Pay and Apple Pay, as well as Smart Link payments.

Malak Alsaffar, Visa’s Country Manager for Bahrain, said, “With more consumers seeking digital – especially contactless – payment experiences it is critical for businesses to expand their acceptance methods beyond cash. AFS Pay will help merchants in Bahrain reinvent the physical shopping experience for consumers in an easy, cost-effective way. We are therefore delighted to partner with AFS on this launch and support the Bahrain government’s cashless agenda.”

AFS Pay’s intuitive portal allows merchants to review transaction reports, track transactions by type, access detailed transaction history, and even raise queries. The platform stores transaction history for up to 6 months, providing valuable insights for business management. Merchants can share electronic receipts (eReceipts) with customers via SMS and email, offering a faster, more eco-friendly shopping experience.