Forbes: Al-Shamlan Tops Local Banks
Forbes Middle East ranked Khaled Youssef Al-Shamlan first among banks in Kuwait in its 2026 Sustainability Leaders list. The award was accepted by Meshal Al-Shaie on his behalf during a ceremony in Abu Dhabi, sponsored by the Minister of Climate Change and Environment.
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
In recognition of its prominent impact and leadership role in driving sustainability efforts at Kuwait Finance House (KFH), Middle East Forbes magazine ranked KFH’s CEO, Khaled Yousef Al-Shamlan, first among banks in Kuwait and seventh across the Middle East on its 2026 Middle East Sustainability Leaders list. The award was presented at the Sustainability Leaders Awards ceremony held in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, under the patronage of Dr. Amina bint Abdullah Al-Dhaheri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates. The event brought together leaders in sustainability, technology, and finance to promote green practices and advance sustainability. Al-Shamlan’s award was accepted on his behalf by Meshal Al-Shaikh, Head of Compliance and Governance at KFH.
The 2026 Sustainability Leaders list highlights executives who are advancing the sustainability agenda and influencing the trajectory of leading companies in the region. It features 145 participants across 17 sectors, including banking, energy and utilities, family businesses, financial services, food and agriculture, free zones, healthcare, investment and holding companies, industry, oil and gas, real estate and construction, renewable energy, technology and telecommunications, transport and logistics, development funds, and others.
Middle East Forbes noted that KFH expanded its investments in sustainability sukuk to approximately $2.38 billion in 2025, reflecting its leadership role in sustainable financing within Islamic finance markets. The bank’s investments in sustainable and green sukuk rose to around $1.2 billion in 2025, representing a year-on-year growth of 30.7 percent compared to 2024. These investments were distributed as 44 percent in sustainable sukuk and 56 percent in green sukuk.
The magazine also highlighted that KFH launched an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) sustainability plan in 2025, targeting carbon neutrality for its operational activities by 2060, supported by an implementation roadmap for the period 2025–2030. KFH continues to contribute to sustainability through its successful investments in sustainability and green sukuk, integrating sustainable practices into its operations, and proactively adopting ESG principles as a core component of its corporate strategy, in alignment with Kuwait Vision 2035’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Notably, KFH received an “A” rating in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) ESG Index, published by Morgan Stanley, as well as inclusion in the FTSE4Good Global Sustainability Index, owing to its exceptional performance in ESG practices and commitment to sustainable financing. KFH has also achieved LEED Gold certification for several of its branches, bringing the total number of branches with this distinguished rating to five since early 2026. Additionally, KFH’s KFH Auto exhibition received the GSAS Gold Sustainability Rating, making KFH the first bank in Kuwait to earn this prestigious recognition.
It continues its efforts in the field of sustainability in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It also continues to organize the first-of-its-kind “Business Sustainability” program for its small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) clients, aiming to provide them with a competitive edge to achieve their aspirations and to reaffirm its vision of promoting sustainable development and its leadership in fostering an entrepreneurial environment. Additionally, it sustains the “Keep It Green” initiative, which enhances environmental protection and works to reduce carbon emissions for a more sustainable future. Kuwait Finance House was the first institution to begin impact measurement reporting, and it annually publishes a Sustainability Report and a Carbon Footprint Report, which include valuable information, insights, and detailed plans highlighting carbon neutrality and reducing the negative impacts of activities misaligned with environmental protection in the coming years, in line with global initiatives to combat climate change.
