International Union of Arab Bankers Awards KIB 'Best Bank in Real Estate Banking and Innovation in PropTech in Kuwait for 2026'

Kuwait International Bank (KIB) won the “Best Bank in Real Estate Banking and Innovation in PropTech in Kuwait for 2026” award from the World Union of Arab Bankers (WUAB), in recognition of its leadership in providing integrated real estate banking services and its efforts to develop innovative digital solutions that enhance the experience of customers and investors.

KIB was honored at the 2026 Arab Banking Excellence and Achievement Awards ceremony, held in Istanbul, Turkey, attended by a select group of Arab banking executives and international and regional figures and institutions. Representing the bank at the event were Fahd Adel Al-Saleh, Senior Manager of Real Estate Advisory and Digital Solutions Department at KIB’s Real Estate Division, and Hussam Al-Kolayk, Real Estate Expert and Head of Digital Solutions Development Unit at KIB’s Real Estate Division.

The recognition reflects KIB’s deep-rooted expertise in the real estate sector, spanning more than five decades since its establishment in 1973 as Kuwait Real Estate Bank, alongside its success in leveraging technology to develop an integrated suite of real estate solutions encompassing financing, advisory, valuation, and real estate asset management.

Commenting on the occasion, Al-Saleh said: “We are proud that KIB has received this award, which recognizes our extensive experience in the real estate sector and reflects the success of our approach in combining specialized expertise with innovation to deliver services and solutions that keep pace with market developments and the needs of customers and investors. We continue to build on this expertise to enhance service efficiency and support the development of Kuwait’s real estate sector.”

For his part, Al-Kolayk stated: “At KIB, we focus on leveraging technology to simplify the customer experience and develop tools that enable easier and more efficient access to real estate services and information. This recognition serves as an incentive to continue developing our digital solutions and keeping pace with advancements in PropTech to further enhance the experience of customers and investors.”

In the field of PropTech, KIB has continued to develop its digital ecosystem, led by the “KIB Aqari” platform, which consolidates a range of real estate services, including property valuation, third-party property management, real estate financing, and electronic rent collection. The bank also launched the first construction cost calculator for residential plots in the banking sector, the first electronic calculator for financing real estate investment and commercial projects, as well as a real estate database and an electronic platform for certified real estate appraisers, aiming to accelerate valuation processes while enhancing their accuracy and transparency.

Furthermore, KIB reinforced its commitment to professional best practices by joining the International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC), becoming the first bank in Kuwait to join the organization, a move that supports the implementation of international standards and enhances the quality and reliability of real estate valuation processes.

These efforts align with KIB’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, through enhancing transparency and efficiency in real estate services, developing digital solutions that support more accurate decision-making, and adopting international professional best practices and standards in real estate valuation and advisory activities.

It is worth noting that the International Union of Arab Bankers organizes the “Arab Banking Excellence and Achievement Awards” through The Banking Executive Magazine, with the aim of highlighting the most prominent achievements of Arab banks. Since their launch in 2015, the awards have become one of the flagship events in the Arab banking sector. The Union, headquartered in Beirut, comprises more than 500 members from the Arab banking sector, and works to enhance cooperation and communication among Arab banking institutions and leaders, as well as to develop the banking sector in the region.