Kuwait Finance House Named Best Institution in Labor Nationalization

The Council of Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries honored Kuwait Finance House (KFH) in recognition of its excellence in housing and nationalization programs and training, and its pioneering results in attracting and qualifying national cadres within Kuwait’s private sector. The award was presented during a special ceremony hosted under the patronage of the GCC ministers of labor and social affairs in Manama, the capital of Bahrain.

The honor was bestowed upon KFH during the 12th meeting of the GCC Ministers Committee for Social Affairs and Development, attended by a number of senior Gulf officials and decision-makers, including Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Jassem Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the GCC; Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailan, Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood; and Jassem Al-Najim, Kuwait’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain. This recognition underscores the bank’s leading position in the nationalization of the workforce and the development of human capital.

Upon receiving the award, Ahmed Hamad Al-Hamad, Acting Head of Human Resources at Kuwait Finance House Group, expressed his pride in this honor, which represents official recognition of the bank’s pioneering efforts in developing national human capital and supporting nationalization programs. He affirmed the bank’s continued cooperation with relevant authorities to enhance opportunities for the qualification and training of national cadres, and to elevate their scientific and professional capabilities in line with best practices and global standards.

Best Institution in Workforce Nationalization in the Private Sector

Al-Hamad explained that KFH was selected as the best institution in workforce nationalization within Kuwait’s private sector based on precise criteria and advanced performance indicators, which enabled the bank to achieve outstanding levels in Kuwaitization rates and training and development programs, according to data and classifications from official competent authorities.

He noted that KFH takes pride in being the largest employer of national cadres among Kuwaiti banks and all private sector institutions. In recent years, the proportion of Kuwaitis among new hires has ranged between 98% and 100%, while the overall Kuwaitization rate has reached 83%.

Al-Hamad emphasized the bank’s ongoing efforts to enhance Kuwaitization rates in accordance with regulatory requirements and controls, with a focus on expanding the participation of national cadres in managerial and leadership positions. He pointed out that Kuwaitis account for approximately 76% of leadership roles.

In the same context, Al-Hamad stated that KFH continues to make tangible progress in sustainability goals related to human resources by reinforcing transparency principles, developing professional policies, and strengthening commitment to environmental, social responsibility, and governance standards. These efforts contribute to building an advanced corporate culture and reinforcing the bank’s values.

He added that the bank places special emphasis on empowering women and enhancing their presence across various departments and job levels, reflecting its belief in their vital role in supporting economic and social development.

Female employees also hold leadership and executive positions, demonstrating high competence in managing various tasks and responsibilities at the bank, with female representation in the bank’s branches reaching approximately 32%.

Award Criteria

The recognition was based on several controls and criteria, including that each member state of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) selects private sector institutions that achieve high and advanced rates in implementing localization and nationalization programs, rely heavily on national workforce employment, and commit to providing appropriate qualification and training opportunities for national employees. The criteria also consider the quality of benefits and incentives offered by the nominated institution, which contribute to stabilizing the national workforce, and the extent to which such benefits are available within the institution.

As part of the selection process, a specialized committee is formed under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, in cooperation with chambers of commerce and industry and other relevant entities, to review and evaluate information about the institution proposed for selection, based on available statistical data and the specified criteria and conditions for the award.

Awards and Recognitions

The Kuwait Finance House (KFH) Group’s record is replete with awards and recognitions that reflect its leadership and distinction in the field of human resources and human capital development.

The Group won seven prestigious awards in 2026, including five awards at the 23rd edition of the Stevie Awards, and two awards from the Association for Talent Development (ATD). This achievement confirms the success of its strategy in building an advanced work environment, adopting innovative best practices in human resource management, enhancing employee experience, empowering talent, and consolidating an institutional culture based on continuous learning, development, and innovation. The awards included:

- Excellence Award for Advanced Use of Employee Analytics and Data.

- Achievement Award in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Standards.

- Award for Employee Experience Development and Enhancement of Internal Career Mobility.

- Excellence Award for Talent Attraction and Recruitment System, won by KFH Tech.

- Award for the AI-Enabled English Skills Development Platform, won by KFH Tech.

- Award for AI-Enabled Learning and Education Development from the Association for Talent Development (ATD) as part of the Middle East Excellence Awards, won by KFH Tech.

- Award for the Talent Attraction Center from the Association for Talent Development (ATD) as part of the Middle East Excellence Awards, won by KFH Tech.

This international recognition reflects the leading position of the Kuwait Finance House (KFH) Group in human resource development and its continuous commitment to investing in its human capital as a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable growth and institutional excellence.

Key Indicators and Figures

- 98% to 100% rate of Kuwaiti hiring among new appointments.

- 83% Kuwaitization rate.

- 76% of Kuwaitis in leadership positions.

- 32% female representation in Kuwait Finance House (KFH) branches.