Boubyan Bank wins 3 global awards from Global Finance

Boubyan Bank was awarded three prestigious global honors by Global Finance magazine in the Best Islamic Financial Institutions Awards 2026, recognizing its progress across various areas of Islamic banking and strengthening its presence among Islamic financial institutions worldwide. The awards included “Best Islamic Bank for Banking Transactions” globally, “Most Innovative Islamic Bank” globally, and “Best Islamic Bank for Personal Banking Services” globally. This recognition reflects the bank’s successful strategy in developing an integrated suite of banking services that meet customer expectations and keep pace with rapid transformations in the financial sector.

The awards were presented during the annual Global Finance Awards ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, held on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Attending the event were Adel Al-Majed, Vice Chairman and Group CEO; Abdullah Al-Mohairi, Chief Operating Officer; Ahmed Al-Fahad, General Manager and Company Secretary; and Mohammed Al-Jasser Al-Ghanim, General Manager of Corporate and International Financing, alongside a distinguished group of global banking and financial leaders.

Global Finance awards are among the most prominent global accolades specializing in the financial sector, based on evaluations of Islamic financial institutions’ performance, including the development of banking solutions, service and transaction efficiency, enhancement of customer experience, adaptation to industry transformations, and investment in modern technologies.

Commenting on the achievement, Al-Mohairi expressed his pride in this recognition, noting that what distinguishes these awards is their direct link to tangible advancements in the bank’s services and solutions, reflecting the long-term success of Boubyan’s strategy in innovation, operational excellence, service development, and leveraging modern technologies, thereby reinforcing its global presence and leadership among Islamic financial institutions.

He added that the “Best Islamic Bank for Banking Transactions” award holds particular significance, as it was awarded for the first time within the Global Finance Awards framework, making Boubyan the first Islamic bank globally to receive this distinction. He explained that the efficiency of corporate banking operations is closely tied to the ease of managing payments, collections, liquidity, and the speed of executing commercial transactions, which requires interconnected banking services and solutions that streamline procedures and enhance operational management and monitoring. From this perspective, Boubyan continues to develop its services to provide companies with greater flexibility in planning and executing their transactions, aligning with their business requirements and operational needs.

Regarding the “Most Innovative Islamic Bank” award, Al-Mohairi stated that it reflects Boubyan’s approach to leveraging modern technologies according to best practices in developing its operations and services, improving efficiency, and enhancing its ability to respond to customer needs. He added: “We are working to apply technology in areas that contribute to continuously enhancing the customer experience, improving operational efficiency, and empowering employees.”

The institutional transformation program in artificial intelligence comes within this direction, based on a multi-year roadmap and clear frameworks for governance and responsible use. He noted that the program integrates with the modernization of the core banking system, the development of the payments and digital services ecosystem, and the expansion of strategic partnerships with leading global technology and fintech companies, emphasizing that the integration and scaling of these initiatives support the bank’s future plans for investment and growth. Al-Muhairi added: “We strive to understand our customers’ needs and diverse aspirations, and to develop flexible and distinctive products and services that add value to their transactions and provide them with an integrated banking experience across digital channels and branches.” He pointed out that trust forms the foundation of a strong relationship with customers, and that this recognition reflects Bayan’s ability to combine innovative solutions and products with high-quality experience, thereby consolidating its position at the forefront of personal banking services globally. Al-Muhairi concluded by reaffirming the bank’s commitment to continuing the development of its business, services, and solutions; investing in modern technologies, artificial intelligence, and human capital; and strengthening strategic partnerships, all of which will support its ability to lead the next phase of Islamic banking evolution and build a smarter, more flexible, and future-ready banking model.