KIB Wins Two Prestigious IFN Awards

Kuwait International Bank (KIB) announced its win of two prestigious awards from the global Islamic Finance News (IFN) organization for its $300 million second-tranche sukuk. The awards are the “Kuwait Deal of the Year 2025” and the “Regulatory Deal of the Year 2025.” This achievement underscores the significance of the issuance and the strong position KIB holds in Islamic capital markets. The awards were presented at the IFN Awards ceremony, recently held in Dubai. KIB was represented by Mohammed Al-Duwailah, General Manager of KIB’s Treasury Management Department, and Jamal Al-Barak, Chief Executive Officer of KIB Invest.

IFN grants these awards following a rigorous evaluation process conducted by a panel of independent experts, with transactions undergoing comprehensive review before a single standout deal is selected in each category. This recognition reflects KIB’s ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation in Islamic finance, as well as the high level of service that has helped solidify the trust of its clients and partners across the region.

Commenting on the awards, Mohammed Al-Duwailah said, “We are proud that this prominent issuance received recognition in two prestigious categories at the IFN Awards, reflecting the strength of the deal and the efforts made by the team to ensure its success. It further confirms KIB’s ability to access international capital markets through innovative Islamic financing instruments. We continue to adopt a prudent and well-considered approach to capital management, supporting the bank’s long-term growth aspirations while remaining committed to providing financial solutions aligned with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.”

He added, “This achievement drives us to continue exploring innovative, Sharia-compliant instruments, strengthening our financial position and enabling us to seize opportunities in the markets.”

In 2025, KIB completed the issuance of $300 million in sustainable sukuk as part of the second tranche of its capital base. The issuance combined international Basel III standards, Sharia compliance, and sustainability considerations. The sukuk attracted strong investor interest, with subscription orders reaching $2.1 billion, more than seven times the size of the issuance.

For his part, Jamal Al-Barak said, “At KIB Invest, we are proud of our role in supporting KIB in this important issuance as joint bookrunner and joint book manager, reinforcing our position as a trusted strategic partner for leading financial institutions in regional and global capital markets. The two IFN awards demonstrate the strength of collaboration and the successful execution of this prominent deal, which reflected strong investor confidence and achieved the highest oversubscription rate for any issuance by a financial institution in the Middle East and North Africa region in 2025.”

He added, “This exceptional level of demand highlights the strong investor appetite for high-quality, Sharia-compliant issuances.”

The issuance received a +BBB credit rating from Fitch Ratings and was listed on the London Stock Exchange. It was managed in collaboration with a group of leading global and local financial institutions, including Citigroup and Standard Chartered Bank as global coordinators, alongside Al Salam Capital, Arqaam Capital, HSBC Bank, Kuwait Finance House (KFH) Invest, Baitoum Capital, Al Dohali Invest, and QNB Capital as joint bookrunners and joint book managers.

Notably, the Islamic Finance News (IFN) Awards, launched over two decades ago, are among the most prominent global platforms celebrating excellence and achievement in the Islamic finance sector. The awards honor leading institutions and standout deals that contribute to the continued development and global growth of Sharia-compliant financing markets.