Kuwait Finance House Strengthens International Presence

Kuwait Finance House (KFH) concluded its active participation in the 2026 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, hosted in Bangkok, Thailand, with a high-level delegation led by Hamad Abdulmohsin Al-Marzouq, Chairman of the Board of Directors of KFH Group, and including Khaled Yousef Al-Shamlan, Chief Executive Officer of the Group, along with several senior executives from the Group. KFH’s participation underscored its influential international presence at major global economic and financial forums, where it presented strategic insights on the outlook for economic development, rapid transformations in regional and global markets, and the exploration of promising opportunities. It also highlighted the growing role of Islamic finance in supporting financial stability and financing sustainable growth, alongside strengthening partnerships with international financial and investment institutions.

High-Level Meetings and the delegation of KFH participated in a series of meetings and dialogues bringing together finance ministers, central bank governors, top executive officials, and representatives of global financial and investment institutions. They discussed key global economic and financial developments, growth prospects, and ways to strengthen the resilience of the banking sector and its role in supporting sustainable development.

Strengthening Partnerships and Showcasing Leading Experience. During the meetings, KFH showcased its pioneering experience in Islamic finance, digital transformation, and financial innovation, as well as its efforts to enhance customer experience. It also emphasized its role in providing innovative banking and financing solutions that contribute to supporting economic development and enhancing financial stability. The Group’s delegation affirmed that participation in these global meetings represents an important opportunity to strengthen relations with international financial institutions, learn about best practices, and gain insights into future trends in the banking sector, thereby supporting the Group’s ability to capitalize on unique opportunities, enhance its competitiveness, and continue delivering added value to customers and shareholders.

Prominent Participation. Hamad Abdulmohsin Al-Marzouq, Chairman of the Board of Directors of KFH and Chairman of the Kuwait Banks Association, participated in a dialogue session at the Gulf-Asia Economic Forum, held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings. The session was titled “Banking, Investment, and Digital Infrastructure.” During the session, Al-Marzouq highlighted the growing strategic importance of relations between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Asia, and the pivotal role played by the banking sector in enhancing economic integration between the two regions.

Khaled Yousef Al-Shamlan, Chief Executive Officer of KFH Group, also participated in a dialogue session titled “Core Banking and Balance Sheet Partnerships,” which addressed the growing banking cooperation between GCC countries and Asia, increasing trade flows, and the rising demand for Sharia-compliant financing solutions.

The Forum was attended by a distinguished group of senior officials and decision-makers, including Jassim Mohamed Al-Bedaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council; Dr. Yaqoub Yousef Al-Rafai, Kuwait’s Minister of Finance; Bassel Ahmed Al-Haroun, Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait; as well as central bank governors, ambassadors of GCC countries, and leaders of financial, investment, and technology institutions from across the Gulf and Asia.

Kuwaiti banks’ reception: A delegation from Kuwait Finance House (KFH) participated in the Kuwaiti banks’ reception organized by the Kuwait Bankers Association, under the patronage of Bank of Kuwait Governor Bassel Al-Haroun, and attended by Arab central bank governors, chairmen of Kuwaiti banks’ boards of directors, senior leaders from the financial and banking sectors, and several prominent international economic figures. The event is among the most prominent side activities of the annual meetings, serving as a platform for exchanging views and expertise and discussing regional and global economic and financial challenges and developments.

Kuwaiti embassy reception: The KFH delegation also attended the dinner hosted by the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in the Kingdom of Thailand, attended by Kuwait’s ambassador to Thailand, Dr. Meshal Al-Mansour, along with several Kuwaiti government officials and banking leaders. The delegation also took part in reception events organized by a number of Gulf central banks.

KFH delegation members: The Kuwait Finance House delegation included Board Chairman Hamad Abdulmohsen Al-Marzouq, Group Chief Executive Officer Khaled Youssef Al-Shamlan, Group Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Treasury and Financial Institutions David O’Loughlin, Head of Treasury – Kuwait Ahmed Al-Samit, Chief Executive Officer of Baitak Capital Abdullah Al-Haddad, Group Head of Public Relations and Media Yousef Al-Rouaih, Chief Executive Officer of KFH Turkey Afak Uyan, and Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Treasury and Investment at KFH Bahrain Bassam Al-Ali.

The annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund are among the most important global economic events, bringing together policymakers and leaders of financial and economic institutions to discuss the most pressing global economic and financial challenges and to look ahead to the future of sustainable growth and development.

Seven global awards from Global Finance: On the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank meetings, the Kuwait Finance House Group delegation received seven prestigious awards at the 19th edition of the 2026 Best Islamic Financial Institutions Awards presented by Global Finance magazine, underscoring the Group’s leadership in the Islamic finance sector and the success of its strategy in achieving sustainable growth and strengthening its global presence. The awards included:

- Best Islamic Bank in the World

- Best Islamic Bank for Corporate Banking in the World

- Best Islamic Bank for Social Responsibility in the World

- Best Provider of Islamic Project Finance in the World

- Best Islamic Bank in Kuwait

- Best Islamic Bank in Bahrain (Kuwait Finance House – Bahrain)

- Best Islamic Bank in Turkey (Kuwait Finance House – Turkey)