Kuwait Finance House Wins 'Most Innovative Financial Product in the Middle East 2026' from Global Finance
Kuwait Finance House won the Global Finance award for the Most Innovative Financial Product in the Middle East 2026 in recognition of launching 'Fahad', the first AI virtual employee in Kuwait.
Translated by Qiyas from الأنباء — Original source
In a new achievement reflecting its leadership in innovation and digital transformation, Kuwait Finance House (KFH) won the “Most Innovative Financial Solutions in the Middle East for 2026” award at the thirteenth edition of Global Finance’s global awards for innovators in the financial sector, in recognition of its pioneering initiative to launch “Fahd,” the first AI-powered virtual employee in Kuwait. This global honor underscores KFH’s prestigious standing in leveraging cutting-edge digital technologies to enhance banking services and improve customer experience, aligning with its strategic vision to lead the future of smart banking at both the local and regional levels. Criteria for the Award: The award is granted to financial institutions that successfully shape the future of the sector by delivering innovative solutions that keep pace with technological shifts, contribute to enhancing customer experience, and boost operational efficiency.
Winners are selected by the editorial board of Global Finance magazine in collaboration with a panel of experts and specialists in the financial and technology sectors, based on criteria that include innovation, practical impact, the use of advanced technologies, and the creation of added value for customers.
In a comprehensive report on the 2026 Innovators Awards edition, the magazine noted that “Fahed” represents a paradigm shift in the concept of digital banking services, as it is the first virtual employee in Kuwait to combine artificial intelligence (AI) technologies with interactive video to deliver an experience that realistically and sophisticatedly mimics human interaction, surpassing the concept of traditional chatbots.
The magazine added that “Fahed” enables customers to receive instant support and interactive guidance through digital channels, thereby reinforcing the concept of “Phygital Banking,” which combines the efficiency of digital channels with the intimacy of human interaction. This has contributed to elevating the customer experience to new levels of ease and convenience.
The magazine also commended Kuwait Finance House (KFH) for its efforts in leveraging AI technologies to analyze voice calls and convert them into searchable and analyzable data, enabling the bank to measure customer sentiment and analyze their needs in real time, thereby continuously improving service quality.
Mishal Al-Obeid, Deputy Managing Director of Digital and Alternative Channels, said, “This global achievement is a new testament to the success of KFH’s strategy in leading innovation and adopting advanced AI solutions. It also underscores the bank’s leadership in developing new models of digital banking services that are rooted in customer needs and future aspirations.”
He added, “The launch of ‘Fahed’ was not merely a technical project, but a strategic step to redefine the banking customer experience by providing a digital employee available around the clock to offer support, guidance, and answers to inquiries, assisting customers throughout various stages of using banking services, self-service channels, and ATMs, with speed, accuracy, and efficiency.”
Al-Obeid clarified that “Fahed” is a first-of-its-kind innovation in Kuwait. Its launch at KFH’s Avenue branch in 2025, making KFH the first bank to introduce this service, was a continuation of a long journey of investment in digital infrastructure and AI, and strengthening the smart banking service ecosystem that places the customer at the heart of the development process.
He emphasized that the initiative reflects the bank’s vision to build a smarter and easier banking future, offering advanced, secure, and accessible services anytime and anywhere through an integrated digital system based on innovation, efficiency, and reliability.
**Growing Role of AI in the Future of the Financial Sector**
Al-Obeid pointed out that the fintech sector in the region is experiencing rapid growth driven by investment in AI and advanced digital solutions. He affirmed that KFH continues to invest in these technologies to enhance its competitiveness and deliver more advanced and innovative banking experiences.
**Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Magazine**
For his part, Joseph Giarrubbo, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Global Finance magazine, stated that innovation in the financial sector is accelerating at an unprecedented pace thanks to continuous advancements in AI, cloud computing, and digital payment systems. He noted that these technologies contribute to improving operational efficiency, risk management, and delivering more personalized and suitable financial services to customers.
**Continuous Leadership in Digital Transformation**
This achievement further enhances KFH’s distinguished record of international awards and accomplishments in the fields of innovation and digital transformation, confirming the bank’s success
In translating its strategic vision into pioneering practical initiatives, one of the most notable was the launch of “Fahd,” which has become a leading model for leveraging artificial intelligence in the banking sector and a significant step toward a smarter, more interactive future in financial services delivery.
