Kuwait Stock Exchange Achieves Net Profit of KWD 20.83 Million in First Nine Months of 2026

Kuwait City, Oct 31 (KUNA) -- The Kuwait Stock Exchange announced today, Saturday, its financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, recording a net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company of 20.83 million Kuwaiti dinars (approximately $64.15 million).

In a press release, the exchange stated that total operating revenues reached 35.90 million dinars (approximately $110.5 million), while operating profit amounted to 25.76 million dinars (approximately $79.34 million), with earnings per share standing at 103.76 fils.

It clarified that, compared to the same period last year, net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company declined by 9.63 percent, while operating revenues fell by 3.12 percent and operating profit dropped by 9.17 percent.

The exchange added that total group assets rose by 1.48 percent to reach approximately 134.94 million dinars (approximately $415.61 million), while equity attributable to shareholders of the parent company grew by 0.62 percent to reach 74.60 million dinars (approximately $229.76 million) by the end of the period.

Quoting Chairman of the Board Bader Al-Kharafi, the statement said, “The region witnessed continuous geopolitical challenges during the first nine months of the year, whose effects extended to the economic and investment landscape and investors’ decisions.” Amid these circumstances, the Kuwait Stock Exchange has demonstrated its resilience and ability to withstand and adapt, relying on a robust regulatory framework and an institutional and operational structure that has evolved over years of reform.

Al-Kharafi added that this experience underscores the importance of investments directed toward building a resilient market capable of handling changes and continuing to serve the national economy. He emphasized that the exchange trusts in the fundamentals of the Kuwaiti capital market and its capacity for continued development, placing paramount importance on the confidence of local and international investors in its strategies. This confidence is reinforced by the integrated roles of the market system under the leadership of the Capital Markets Authority, adherence to governance and disclosure standards, and service quality.

He stated, “Our responsibility lies in building on these fundamentals and maintaining an investment environment characterized by clarity and fairness, helping participants evaluate opportunities and risks and make decisions based on reliable information.”

Al-Kharafi clarified that addressing changes requires maintaining a long-term vision, monitoring performance and risks, and carefully prioritizing investments. The exchange continues to work on enhancing the sustainability of its business model and diversifying its activities to support its ability to deliver value to shareholders and capitalize on growth opportunities offered by market development.

He affirmed his commitment to combining financial discipline and strategic investment in market development, directing the company’s resources toward priorities that support its competitiveness and growth potential. Progress toward a multi-asset market represents a crucial path to expanding investor options and meeting the financing needs of companies, thereby strengthening the role of the capital market in linking capital with productive opportunities, supporting private sector growth, and diversifying the national economy in line with the objectives of Kuwait Vision 2035.

Al-Kharafi stressed that the Board of Directors places significant importance on monitoring the economic impact of development projects and supporting the executive management in translating approved strategies into services that meet the needs of market participants. This approach is based on balancing shareholders’ interests with market development requirements and compliance with regulatory and institutional frameworks governing the company’s operations.

He added, “The Kuwait Stock Exchange’s commitment to integrating its role in operating the market, developing its infrastructure, and enhancing its attractiveness to investments, along with its dedication to advancing transparency, disclosure, and sustainability practices, is clearly reflected.”

The statement also quoted CEO Mohammed Al-Asimi affirming that the company focuses its executive operations on meeting the needs of various participant categories through service efficiency, procedural clarity, and maintaining system readiness. It further noted that operational requirements are monitored in coordination with partners to facilitate investors’ access to the market and enable exporters and brokers to benefit from its services. He emphasized that engagement with investment institutions and asset managers constitutes a core component of efforts to broaden the participant base, highlighting the importance of listening to their requirements regarding services, information, and market access procedures, alongside promoting available opportunities in the Kuwaiti market. He pointed out that these discussions help identify areas for improvement and follow up with relevant authorities, while allowing listed companies to communicate directly with investors to explain their business models and strategies. In line with this direction, the exchange continued to bring together local and international investment institutions and specialists in professional meetings during the third quarter, including hosting the MSCI Forum for institutional investors and organizing a specialized seminar on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in collaboration with the CFA Institute. Al-Asimi stated that the exchange’s priorities at this stage involve enhancing the utilization of existing products and expanding their application scope, enabling issuers and financial institutions to leverage them to meet the needs of investors and companies. This requires integration among asset managers, brokers, and market makers, alongside the availability of necessary services for issuance, listing, and trading. The exchange is working with its partners to address the practical requirements of each product and develop services that support pricing efficiency and liquidity availability. It is worth noting that the Kuwait Stock Exchange has continued implementing its strategic priorities to develop the market and maintain operational efficiency, in cooperation with the Capital Markets Authority, the Kuwait Clearing Company, and other stakeholders in the capital market ecosystem. This has been achieved amid a regional environment marked by ongoing geopolitical challenges, which intensified during the third quarter of 2026, impacting the economic and investment landscape and investor sentiment. These circumstances underscored the importance of institutional readiness and operational flexibility in ensuring continuous trading, particularly during periods of volatility and heightened uncertainty. The exchange relied on the robustness of its business model, diversified revenue streams, and prudent risk management approach to adapt to changes and continue implementing development initiatives. This approach reflects the Kuwait Stock Exchange’s commitment to balancing operational stability requirements with long-term objectives, building on reforms and investments implemented in recent years to enhance market capabilities, competitiveness, and the benefits participants derive from infrastructure and products developed in previous phases of the market development program. (End) M.K.A./T.M.A.