CASE STUDY
Building Unipal Youth Card on Sahel
Bahrain’s Gen Z is digitally native, educated, and eager for innovative financial tools, with literacy levels as high as 99%. Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company (BCFC) partnered with Unipal to launch the first co-branded youth card under the IMTIAZ brand. Leveraging Codebase Technologies’ Digibanc platform and managed services, the Unipal Youth Card was integrated into BCFC’s Sahel App in under two weeks, giving university students and young adults under 30 instant access to rewards, discounts, cashbacks, and exclusive offers across hundreds of everyday lifestyle and spending categories.
Project Overview
Share this page
Bahrain’s banking ecosystem is maturing rapidly, driven by digital infrastructure growth and evolving customer expectations. FinTechs are strategically designing products for Gen Zs – tech-savvy, educated, and digitally inclined, who demand convenience, seamless experiences, and integration into their daily lives. With a median age of 33.2 years and a 99% literacy rate among 15–24 year olds, the Kingdom’s youthful demographic represents a mature, high-potential market ready for digital-first financial solutions.
BCFC, a leading lending institution, saw the opportunity to build on their digital lending platform, Sahel, by extending its value proposition beyond credit to include everyday spending, rewards, and financial lifestyle tools. They partnered with Unipal – the kingdom’s largest student discount platform – to integrate Unipal’s extensive merchant network and exclusive offers directly into Sahel. The resulting prepaid card solution, Unipal Youth Card by IMTIAZ, delivers rewards, discounts, cashbacks, and prizes across food, coffee, fitness, electronics, and more, making it a natural fit for the digital-first lifestyles of young Bahrainis.
This solution was brought to life by Codebase Technologies, BCFC’s longstanding technology partner and Managed Services provider for Sahel, within an aggressive timeline of 2 weeks leveraging Digibanc platform. Codebase’s deep familiarity with Sahel’s infrastructure and the composable architecture of Digibanc enabled seamless integration which translated to the rapid launch.
Share this page
Client's Mission & Expectations
BCFC aimed to empower Bahraini youth with innovative financial tools that simplify how they manage their finances. The mission was to integrate Unipal’s exclusive offerings into the Sahel App, creating a single destination where university students and young adults could access rewards, apply for a prepaid card, and manage their spending—all from their mobile devices.
“At BCFC, we are deeply committed to innovating for the younger generation to empower them with innovative financial tools that streamline how they relate with their finances. We are happy that through our partnership with Unipal, we are able to make life easier for many university students and other young people in the Kingdom, aligned with our vision of making Sahel App an indispensable tool for everyone in Bahrain. This vision is possible, thanks to the efficient support we are getting from our partner and managed services provider, Codebase Technologies.”
Abdulla Bukhowa,
CEO, Bahrain Commercial Facilities Co.
How Codebase Technologies and Digibanc Made It Possible
Digibanc platform, on which Sahel is built, provided the foundation for a fast and frictionless integration through its composable, API-driven architecture. The modular design allowed the team to efficiently plug in Unipal’s capabilities, and cloud deployment delivered the scalability needed to handle growing user demand. Close collaboration between Codebase Technologies, BCFC, and Unipal futher streamlined execution. Codebase’s managed services team drove the project across four specialized functions: UI/UX design, middleware development, channels integration, and mobile development, collectively building a seamless experience from application to card issuance.
“Collaboration has always been the foundation of our success, and this initiative is no exception. The synergy between our Managed Services team, BCFC, and Unipal has been outstanding, enabling us to deliver the Unipal Youth Card integration with remarkable speed and efficiency. We are proud of the growth Sahel App has continued to record, and we believe this integration will further enhance its value among university students and other younger adults, stimulating more growth and impact.”
Ali Alalawi,
Co-Founder
Unipal
What Digibanc Delivered for Unipal Youth Card
Instant Virtual Card Issuance, Backed by Mastercard
Users apply through the Sahel App and receive their virtual prepaid card instantly upon approval, plus an upgrade to the Unipal Haiba tier. The Mastercard product offers global acceptance, fraud protection, and real-time alerts.
Automated Eligibility & Verification
Real-time checks to confirm applicants are between 21 and 29. Integrated ID verification and alternative contact collection to ensure only eligible users receive the card.
Rolled out across BCFC's existing channels
The channels team integrated the new product with BCFC’s existing channels and platforms, ensuring the Unipal card was effectively rolled out and communicated to its target audience as part of the wider deployment strategy.
UI/UX Tailored to Gen Z
The UI/UX team aligned the Sahel App interface with both Unipal and Sahel brands, creating a consistent visual identity and intuitive application flow. Further enhancements optimized the journey specifically for university students and young adults.
Scalable Cloud Deployment
Built on Digibanc’s cloud-enabled architecture, the solution scales effortlessly. BCFC can add features, expand users, and evolve the proposition over time without re-architecting.
“Partnering with BCFC augments our efforts at Unipal to enable not just students but even more young adults to access different types of benefits, rewards, discounts, and other offers more conveniently from their mobile devices. We are delighted by the positive impact this initiative will have on the Bahraini market and are excited to see how it will empower users to better manage their financial lives. Special regards to Codebase Technologies’ managed services team for the support accorded throughout this process.”
Tamer Mauge,
Managing Director for MENA, Codebase Technologies
Outcomes
The partnership between Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company and Codebase Technologies has delivered a fresh experience in the Bahraini market. Beyond the technology, the Unipal Youth Card by IMTIAZ brings significant value across the three different stakeholders involved.
For Bahrain's Young Adults
The card provides access to over 500 exclusive offers with substantial savings, including 30% off restaurants, 25% off movies, and 40% off stadium bookings. It also serves as a practical financial education tool, helping young adults learn money management through the convenience of a prepaid card.
For BCFC
The card opens a quick route to a new market segment, connecting BCFC with the younger generation. Managed services reduced implementation costs by eliminating the need for in-house development, and ongoing support from Codebase Technologies ensures continued optimization. The card drives both engagement and long-term loyalty.
For Unipal
The integration allows Unipal to serve a broader audience through Sahel and solidifies its position as a key player in Bahrain’s digital financial landscape. Wider adoption is expected to drive greater financial inclusion and literacy across the Kingdom.
“We are incredibly proud of the milestone we’ve achieved through our partnership with Unipal. This success wouldn’t have been possible without the support we have received from our managed services provider, Codebase Technologies…We look forward to continuing this collaboration as we drive further innovations in Bahrain and beyond.”
Mohamed Jehad Bukamal ,
Deputy CEO, Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Unipal Youth Card?
The Unipal Youth Card by IMTIAZ is Bahrain’s first co-branded youth card, launched by Bahrain Commercial Facilities Company (BCFC) and Unipal, giving university students and young adults access to rewards, discounts, and cashback through BCFC’s Sahel App.
What platform powers the Unipal Youth by IMTIAZ Card integration?
The integration runs on Codebase Technologies’ Digibanc platform, which powers BCFC’s Sahel App, delivered through Codebase Technologies’ managed services.
Who is eligible for the Unipal Youth Card?
University students and young adults between the ages of 21 and 29 are eligible to apply through BCFC’s Sahel App. Applicants must pass identity verification and provide university details as part of the application process.
How long did it take to integrate the Unipal Youth by IMTIAZ Card into the Sahel App?
The integration was completed in less than two weeks, thanks to Digibanc’s™ composable, API-first architecture and cloud deployment.
How do customers get the Unipal Youth by IMTIAZ Card?
Customers register on the Sahel App, apply for the Unipal prepaid card, complete an eligibility and ID verification process, and submit university and contact details, after which their virtual card is issued instantly and upgraded to the Unipal Haiba tier
What benefits does the Unipal Youth by IMTIAZ Card offer?
Cardholders get access to over 500 exclusive offers, including discounts such as 30% off restaurant bills, 25% off movie tickets, and 40% off stadium bookings, alongside the security and global acceptance of a Mastercard-branded prepaid card.
