Boubyan Bank Delegation, Led by Board Chairman, Strengthens Kuwait's International Financial Ties at 2026 IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings

Bank Al Ahli Kuwait concluded its participation in the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 12 to 18. The bank’s delegation was led by Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Al-Sabah Al-Sabah, Chairman of the Board, who engaged in dialogues and meetings with representatives of the international financial community. The delegation also took part in several key events that brought together Kuwait and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with Asian nations, reflecting the bank’s focus on measured growth, enhanced institutional connectivity, and strengthening Kuwait’s position in the international financial landscape.

The delegation, chaired by the Chairman of the Board, included Mr. Faisal Mohammed Sarrouh, Vice Chairman of the Board; Mr. Abdullah Abdulmajid Maaref, General Manager – Treasury and Financial Institutions Department; Mr. Bader Al-Turkiet, Deputy General Manager – Financial Institutions Department; and Mr. Dhafer Al-Qubaidi, Assistant General Manager – Brand and Communications Strategy Department. The delegation brought together diverse expertise in corporate banking, treasury, investment, and financial markets, reflecting the varied financial capabilities of Bank Al Ahli Kuwait Group.

Commenting on the bank’s participation, Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Al-Sabah Al-Sabah stated: “The value of the Annual Meetings lies not only in tracking global developments, but also in understanding how they are interconnected and their implications for our markets. Geopolitical developments, monetary conditions, technology, and capital flows have become key factors shaping the decisions banks must make today. For Bank Al Ahli Kuwait, engagement with the international financial community enhances our ability to anticipate changes, make disciplined decisions, and support Kuwait’s aspirations and the markets we serve in the long term.”

These priorities reflected the main topics discussed at the meetings in Bangkok, foremost among them financial resilience, global growth prospects, investment, and the evolving role of technology. For Bank Al Ahli Kuwait, these developments hold particular significance given its strategy, which places Kuwait at its core, its regional presence, and the growing cross-border financial needs of its clients.

As part of its participation program, the delegation, led by the Chairman of the Board, attended the annual reception hosted by the Kuwait Banks Association, attended by H.E. Dr. Yaqoob Yousef Al-Rafai, Minister of Finance; H.E. Basil Al-Haroun, Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait; H.E. Dr. Meshal Al-Mansour, Kuwait’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand; and several banking leaders. The reception served as a platform bringing together representatives of Kuwait’s financial community, enhancing networking opportunities and the exchange of views within the context of the Annual Meetings.

Bank Al Ahli Kuwait also participated in a luncheon hosted by H.E. Dr. Meshal Al-Mansour in honor of the Kuwaiti participating delegation. The occasion provided an opportunity to connect with representatives of official authorities and the Kuwaiti banking sector, and to exchange views on major international economic developments.

The bank also took part in the Asian-Gulf Economic Forum: Banking, Investment, and Digital Infrastructure, organized by the Kuwait Banks Association in collaboration with the Asian Bankers Association on October 14, on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings. The forum discussed three practical areas of cooperation, including banking partnerships and balance sheet utilization, cross-border investment and capital markets and investment transaction flows, as well as digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and the financial infrastructure supporting cross-border financing.

In response to the forum’s key themes, Bank AlBahrain affirmed that the next phase of economic cooperation between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Asian nations will depend on the ability of banks and investors to effectively link capital with available opportunities. Strengthening financial partnerships, deepening ties between capital markets, and developing a secure financial infrastructure will help translate growing regional relations into sustainable financing and investment opportunities.

The bank emphasized that this direction aligns with its strategy of achieving disciplined growth based on partnerships. It noted that Kuwait possesses the necessary foundations to consolidate its role as a financial and investment hub, and that enhancing interconnectivity among institutions can create new opportunities for companies operating across various markets.

The delegation’s vision was grounded in the integrated capabilities of the Bank AlBahrain Group across corporate and institutional banking, treasury and financial markets, as well as investment banking and asset management through “KAMCO Invest,” where Mr. Faisal Sarrouh also serves as Chief Executive Officer. In Bahrain, the group continues to work on the proposed transformation of United Gulf Bank into “Bank AlBahrain Bahrain,” pending the completion of remaining regulatory and legal approvals, as part of broader efforts to build a more integrated regional banking platform with capabilities in Islamic finance.

Through its participation in annual meetings and associated events, Bank AlBahrain has continued to strengthen dialogue with peers in the financial sector at both regional and international levels on key issues shaping the future of banking, investment, and cross-border capital flows. These engagements support the bank’s long-term approach to building institutional relationships and deepening its understanding of international markets.

As Bank AlBahrain continues to strengthen its core operations in Kuwait and selectively explores regional opportunities, it remains focused on building partnerships, developing capabilities, and enhancing financial interconnectivity to support its clients and contribute to achieving Kuwait’s economic priorities under Kuwait Vision 2035.