Issam Al-Saqqa: The Most Powerful CEO in the Kuwaiti Banking Sector for 2026

Forbes magazine selected Ismail Al-Saqqa, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of National Bank of Kuwait Group, as the most powerful CEO in the Kuwaiti banking sector in its annual list, “Most Powerful CEOs in the Middle East 2026,” which highlights 100 business leaders who head the largest and most influential companies in the region. Al-Saqqa also ranked third on Forbes’ list of the most powerful CEOs in the Middle Eastern banking sector. Forbes based its selection for the list on the CEOs’ achievements and performance over the past year, as well as the innovations and initiatives they implemented, their impact on the region and the countries in which they operate, the markets they oversee, and the size of the companies they lead.