Al-Watani Reinforces Its Leadership in Human Capital Management According to the Highest Global Standards
National Bank of Kuwait continues to consolidate its position as one of the leading institutions in human capital management across the region, through an integrated strategy that places human capabilities at the core of its priorities, considering them the fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable growth and enhancing the Group’s competitiveness.
This approach reflects the Bank’s ongoing commitment to developing an integrated work environment that aligns with global best practices, contributing to attracting, empowering, and developing talent, thereby supporting the achievement of its long-term strategic objectives.
Over the past years, the Group’s Human Resources department at “Al-Watani” has continued to implement distinctive plans and initiatives encompassing the development of policies and procedures, strengthening a culture of performance and excellence, investing in professional and leadership development programs, and adopting the latest practices in recruitment, talent management, and workforce planning. These efforts have contributed to building an integrated institutional system for human capital management based on governance, efficiency, and sustainability, keeping pace with the changing requirements of the business environment at both local and international levels.
These efforts were recently crowned with the Bank obtaining four specialized global ISO quality certification standards for human resources: ISO 23326:2022 concerning employee engagement, ISO 30414:2025 related to human capital reporting and disclosure, ISO 30405:2023 providing guidelines for recruitment, and ISO 10015:2019, which is recognized for managing competencies, training, and measuring effectiveness.
This achievement demonstrates the level of progress reached by the Group’s human resources system and its success in applying global best practices across all stages of the employee journey. This has enabled “Al-Watani” to become the first and only bank in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to successfully obtain this comprehensive package of specialized international human resources certifications.
On this occasion, Emad Al-Abdali, Head of Human Resources at the “Al-Watani” Group, stated: “At the Bank, we view human capital as the primary driver of our business success and the sustainability of our growth. Therefore, we are committed to developing an integrated system that enables employees to realize their full professional potential and provides them with an inspiring work environment aligned with global best practices. Continuous investment in our human resources has been one of the most important factors contributing to enhancing the Group’s competitiveness and consolidating its pioneering position within the banking sector.”
Al-Abdali added: “We at Al-Watani are proud to be the first Gulf bank to obtain this comprehensive set of specialized ISO certifications in human resources, which confirms the success of the strategy we have adopted over the past years to develop various aspects of human capital management. More importantly, this achievement reflects the Bank’s ability to translate global best practices into an integrated work system that supports innovation, enhances operational efficiency, and elevates the employee experience, thereby contributing to achieving our long-term institutional objectives.”
He clarified that the ISO 23326:2022 certification, which focuses on measuring and enhancing employee engagement, reflects the Bank’s success in building a positive and motivating work environment that strengthens levels of interaction and job belonging, and establishes an institutional culture based on trust, communication, and empowerment. Employee engagement is considered one of the key indicators linked to productivity, talent retention, and achieving sustainable performance, which the Bank prioritizes significantly within its human resources strategy.
Al-Abdali stated that the ISO 30414:2025 certification, concerning human capital reporting and disclosure, underscores the bank’s commitment to the highest standards of transparency and governance by adopting global methodologies for measuring, analyzing, and disclosing human capital indicators. He emphasized that these practices contribute to enhancing decision-making by providing accurate data and metrics that facilitate effective workforce planning and talent management.
In the area of talent attraction, he noted that the ISO 30405:2023 certification, which focuses on guidelines for recruitment, serves as evidence of the efficiency of the bank’s recruitment processes and their alignment with international best practices. This ensures the attraction of top-tier talent and expertise, while providing a professional, fair, and transparent recruitment experience that supports the bank’s future plans and objectives.
Continuing his remarks, Al-Abdali said, “As for the ISO 10015:2019 certification, which is recognized for managing competencies and training and measuring effectiveness, it embodies the integrated approach the bank follows in developing its human capital. This approach spans from identifying training needs and designing development programs to measuring their actual impact on individual and organizational performance, thereby ensuring the realization of the highest possible value from investments in learning and development.”
Collectively, these standards cover a broad range of human resources functions, including talent attraction and recruitment, performance management, talent and competency management, learning and development, employee relations, compensation and benefits, and human capital reporting and disclosure, in addition to human resources governance. This reflects the integration of policies and procedures adopted by the bank to manage its human resources in accordance with an advanced global framework.
The bank continues to invest in developing its workforce through launching flagship initiatives and programs aimed at enhancing leadership and professional skills, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and providing a supportive work environment that promotes inclusivity and innovation. These efforts reinforce its position as an employer of choice in the region and demonstrate its ability to sustain growth and create long-term value for various stakeholders.
