Kuwait Finance House Strengthens International Presence and Presents Strategic Visions for Economic Development and Sustainable Growth

Kuwait Finance House (KFH) concluded its active participation in the 2026 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, hosted in Bangkok, Thailand, with a high-level delegation led by Hamad Abdulmohsin Al-Marzouq, Chairman of the Board of Directors of KFH Group, and including Khaled Yousef Al-Shamlan, Chief Executive Officer of the Group, along with several senior executives.

KFH’s participation underscored its influential international presence at major global economic and financial forums, where it presented strategic insights on the outlook for economic development and rapid transformations in regional and global markets, explored promising opportunities, and highlighted the growing role of Islamic finance in supporting financial stability and financing sustainable growth, alongside strengthening partnerships with international financial and investment institutions.

High-Level Meetings

The KFH delegation participated in a series of meetings and dialogues bringing together finance ministers, central bank governors, senior executives, and representatives of global financial and investment institutions. They discussed key global economic and financial developments, growth prospects, and ways to strengthen the resilience of the banking sector and its role in supporting sustainable development.

Strengthening Partnerships and Showcasing Leading Expertise

During the meetings, KFH showcased its pioneering experience in Islamic finance, digital transformation, financial innovation, and enhancing customer experience, while emphasizing its role in providing innovative banking and financing solutions that contribute to supporting economic development and enhancing financial stability. The Group’s delegation affirmed that participation in these global meetings represents an important opportunity to strengthen relations with international financial institutions and to learn about best practices and future trends in the banking sector, thereby supporting the Group’s ability to capitalize on unique opportunities, enhance its competitiveness, and continue delivering added value to customers and shareholders.

Prominent Participation in the GCC-Asia Economic Forum

Hamad Abdulmohsin Al-Marzouq, Chairman of the Board of Directors of KFH and Chairman of the Kuwait Banks Association, participated in a dialogue session at the GCC-Asia Economic Forum, held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings. The session was titled “Banking, Investment, and Digital Infrastructure.”

During the session, Al-Marzouq highlighted the growing strategic importance of relations between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Asia, and the pivotal role played by the banking sector in enhancing economic integration between the two regions.

Khaled Yousef Al-Shamlan, Chief Executive Officer of KFH Group, also participated in a dialogue session titled “Core Banking and Balance Sheet Partnerships,” which addressed the growing banking cooperation between GCC countries and Asia, increasing trade flows, and rising demand for Sharia-compliant financing solutions.

The Forum was attended by a distinguished group of senior officials and decision-makers, including Jassem Mohamed Al-Bedaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Kuwait’s Minister of Finance, Dr.

Yaqoub Yousef Al-Rafai, and Bassem Ahmed Al-Haroun, Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait, alongside central bank governors, ambassadors of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and leaders of financial, investment, and technology institutions from across the Gulf and Asia.

Participation in the Kuwaiti Banks Reception

The Kuwait Finance House (KFH) delegation also participated in the Kuwaiti Banks Reception organized by the Kuwait Banks Association, under the patronage of Central Bank of Kuwait Governor Bassem Al-Haroun. The event was attended by governors of Arab central banks, chairmen of the boards of directors of Kuwaiti banks, senior leaders from the financial and banking sectors, and several prominent international economic figures. The reception is one of the most prominent side events of the Annual Meetings, serving as a platform for exchanging views and expertise and discussing regional and global economic and financial challenges and developments.

Participation in the Kuwaiti Embassy Reception

The KFH delegation also attended the dinner hosted by the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in the Kingdom of Thailand, in the presence of Kuwait’s Ambassador to Thailand, Dr. Meshal Al-Mansour, along with several government officials, Kuwaiti banking leaders, and participation in reception events organized by several GCC central banks.

KFH Delegation

The Kuwait Finance House delegation included Chairman of the Board Hamad Abdulmohsin Al-Marzouq, Group Chief Executive Officer Khaled Yousef Al-Shamlan, Group Executive Vice President for Treasury and Financial Institutions David O’Loughlin, Kuwait Treasury Head Ahmed Al-Samit, Chief Executive Officer of Baitak Capital Abdullah Al-Haddad, Group Head of Public Relations and Media Yousef Al-Ruwaih, Chief Executive Officer of KFH Turkey Afk Ouyan, and Executive Vice President for Treasury and Investment at KFH Bahrain Bassam Al-Ali.

The Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are among the most important global economic events, bringing together policymakers and leaders of financial and economic institutions to discuss the most pressing global economic and financial challenges and to forecast the future of sustainable growth and development.

Seven Global Awards from Global Finance

On the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank meetings, the Kuwait Finance House Group delegation received seven prestigious awards at the 19th edition of the Global Islamic Finance Awards 2026, presented by Global Finance magazine, affirming the Group’s leadership in the Islamic finance sector and the success of its strategy in achieving sustainable growth and enhancing its global presence.

The awards included:

- Best Islamic Bank in the World

- Best Islamic Bank for Corporate Banking in the World

- Best Islamic Bank for Social Responsibility in the World

- Best Provider of Islamic Project Finance in the World

- Best Islamic Bank in Kuwait

- Best Islamic Bank in Bahrain (Kuwait Finance House - Bahrain)

- Best Islamic Bank in Turkey (Kuwait Finance House - Turkey)