Boubyan crowned with 3 global awards from Global Finance among best Islamic financial institutions of 2026

Boubyan Bank was awarded three prestigious global honors by Global Finance magazine as part of the Best Islamic Financial Institutions Awards 2026, recognizing its progress across various areas of Islamic banking, thereby strengthening its presence among Islamic financial institutions worldwide.

The awards included “Best Islamic Bank for Banking Transactions” globally, “Most Innovative Islamic Bank” globally, and “Best Islamic Bank for Personal Banking Services” globally. This recognition reflects the bank’s successful strategy in developing an integrated suite of banking services that meet customer expectations and keep pace with rapid transformations in the financial sector.

The awards were presented during the annual Global Finance Awards ceremony in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, held on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The event was attended by Adel Al-Majed, Vice Chairman and Group CEO; Abdullah Al-Muhairi, Chief Operating Officer; Ahmed Al-Fahad, General Manager and Company Secretary; and Mohammed Al-Jasser Al-Ghanim, General Manager of Corporate Finance and International Financing, alongside a select group of global banking and financial leaders.

Global Finance awards are among the most prominent specialized global honors in the financial sector, based on evaluations of Islamic financial institutions’ performance, including the development of banking solutions, service and transaction efficiency, enhancement of customer experience, adaptation to industry transformations, and investment in modern technologies.

Commenting on the achievement, Al-Muhairi expressed his pride in this recognition, noting that what distinguishes it is the direct link between each award and tangible advancements in the bank’s services and solutions. This reflects the success of Boubyan’s long-term strategy in innovation, operational excellence, service development, and leveraging modern technologies, further reinforcing its global presence and leadership among Islamic financial institutions.

He added that the “Best Islamic Bank for Banking Transactions” award holds particular significance, as it was awarded for the first time within the Global Finance Awards, making Boubyan the first Islamic bank globally to receive this distinction.

He explained that the efficiency of corporate banking operations is linked to the ease of managing payments, collections, liquidity, and the speed of executing commercial transactions, which requires integrated banking services and solutions that streamline procedures and enhance operational management and monitoring. From this perspective, Boubyan continues to develop its services to provide companies with greater flexibility in planning and executing their transactions, aligning with their business requirements and operational needs.

Regarding the “Most Innovative Islamic Bank” award, Al-Muhairi stated that it reflects Boubyan’s approach to leveraging modern technologies in accordance with best practices to enhance its operations and services, improve efficiency, and strengthen its ability to respond to customer needs.

He added, “We are working to apply technology in areas that contribute to continuously enhancing the customer experience, improving operational efficiency, and empowering employees. The institutional transformation program in artificial intelligence is part of this direction, based on a multi-year roadmap and clear frameworks for governance and responsible use.”

He noted that the program integrates with the modernization of the core banking system, the development of payment systems and digital services, and the expansion of strategic partnerships with leading global technology and fintech companies. He emphasized that the integration and scaling of these initiatives support the bank’s future plans for investment and growth.

Personal Banking Excellence

Al-Muhairi continued, “We strive to understand our customers’ needs and diverse aspirations, developing flexible and distinctive products and services that add value to their transactions and provide them with a comprehensive banking experience through digital channels and branches.”

He noted that trust forms the foundation of strong relationships with customers, and this recognition reflects Bayan’s ability to combine innovative solutions and products with a high-quality experience, thereby consolidating its position at the forefront of personal banking globally.

Al-Muhairi concluded by emphasizing the bank’s continued development of its business, services, and solutions, along with investments in modern technologies, artificial intelligence, and human capital, as well as strengthening strategic partnerships. These efforts support its capacity to lead the next phase of Islamic banking evolution and build a smarter, more flexible, and future-ready banking model.