Kuwaiti banks participate in IMF and World Bank meetings
National Bank of Kuwait participates in the annual events and meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, scheduled to take place from October 12 to 18 in Bangkok, Thailand, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance international cooperation and exchange expertise in the fields of finance and economics. The NBK delegation is led by Essam Al-Saqer, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bank of Kuwait Group; Salah Al-Fulaij, CEO of National Bank of Kuwait – Kuwait; Sulaiman Al-Marzouq, Deputy CEO of National Bank of Kuwait – Kuwait; Omar Bu-Hudaybah, CEO of the Overseas Branches and Subsidiaries Group; Khaled Al-Sayer, Head of Financial Institutions; and Abdulmohsen Al-Rashid, Head of Digital Engagement.
The bank’s delegation will participate in the annual meetings, which will discuss the most prominent economic and financial challenges, as well as several key topics, including how governance reforms contribute to enhancing economic growth and social integration, and how such reforms can foster economic growth and social inclusion.
The delegation will also attend the seminar organized by the Global 30 Group in conjunction with the IMF and World Bank annual meetings. This seminar annually brings together central bank governors, financial sector presidents and chief executive officers, and academics to discuss the most pressing financial and systemic issues facing the global central banking community. Additionally, the delegation will attend the annual meeting of the Institute of International Finance (IIF) members.
Furthermore, the bank’s delegation will attend a reception hosted by the Kuwait Banks Association for senior global banking executives on the sidelines of the events and meetings. The event will be attended by Kuwaiti banking executives, presidents of global banks, and central banks from Europe and the Arab world, alongside numerous prominent global figures and policymakers. The delegation will also attend a luncheon hosted by the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Thailand and the GCC-Asia Forum, as well as receptions hosted by other financial institutions.
The IMF Executive Board and the World Bank Group hold these meetings to bring together a select group of central bank governors, finance and development ministers, private sector executives, representatives of civil society organizations and think tanks, and academics, to discuss issues of global interest. These include global economic outlooks, global financial stability, poverty eradication, inclusive economic growth, and job creation. The National Bank of Kuwait delegation will hold a number of bilateral meetings with senior international officials on the sidelines of the meetings, which take place during the same period. The meetings and discussions highlight the most significant and prominent challenges facing the global banking and financial industries in recent times.
The annual meetings include sessions of several committees, notably the Development Committee, the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), the G10, the G24, and several other circles. The IMFC meeting is expected to focus on the future of the global economy, developments in financial markets, and other urgent issues.
Burqan Bank keeps pace with financial transformations through a long-term strategic vision. Burqan Bank announced its participation in the 2026 annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, scheduled to be held in Bangkok from October 12 to 18, 2026.
The Kuwait Bank delegation is led by Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Al-Sabah Al-Sabah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bank Al-Bahrain, reflecting the bank’s commitment to strengthening its relations with international financial institutions and participating in global economic dialogue. The delegation also includes Vice Chairman Faisal Mansour Sarrouh, General Manager of the Treasury and Financial Institutions Department Abdullah Abdulmajid Maaref, Deputy General Manager – Financial Institutions Department Bader Al-Turkiet, and Assistant General Manager – Brand and Communications Strategy Dhafer Al-Qubaisi.
Participation enables the bank to exchange views on market and banking sector developments and to explore areas of cooperation with international financial institutions. The meetings take place at a time when the global economy is undergoing significant changes, as the impacts of geopolitical developments, shifts in capital flows, evolving monetary conditions, changing growth trajectories, and rapid technological advancements increasingly affect markets and financial institutions.
Commenting on the bank’s participation, Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Al-Sabah Al-Sabah said: “The global economy is undergoing important structural transformations, with growing interconnections between geopolitical developments, capital flows, technological progress, and shifts in growth paths. The annual meetings represent an important opportunity to comprehensively assess these developments, exchange views with global financial institutions and policymakers, and enhance our understanding of the risks and opportunities that will help shape market trajectories in the coming years.”
He added: “For Bank Al-Bahrain, our participation in forums of this high level is part of a strategic approach aimed at maintaining close engagement with global economic dialogue and continuing to develop our long-term vision in line with the increasingly complex and interconnected global financial landscape.”
Bank Al-Bahrain’s participation also aligns with its long-term vision to strengthen its position as a leading regional banking institution, while contributing to the continuous development of the banking sector and its role in supporting Kuwait’s economic priorities. The annual meetings provide the bank with an opportunity to deepen its relationships with international financial institutions, exchange views on issues affecting the sector, and keep pace with trends that will shape the future of banking and financial services.
The importance of Bank Al-Bahrain’s participation extends beyond strengthening ties with international financial institutions; it also involves contributing to discussions on the future of the global financial sector, drawing on the group’s extensive experience across multiple markets and its specialized expertise in corporate and institutional banking services, treasury, and financial markets, as well as its deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing regional economies.
These capabilities are further enhanced by the group’s strengths in investment banking and asset management through Kamco Invest, represented by Mr. Faisal Mansour Sarrouh, in his capacity as Vice Chairman of Bank Al-Bahrain and Chief Executive Officer of Kamco Invest. This integration of expertise enables the delegation to provide specialized insights into capital markets, investment trends, cross-border capital flows, and the evolving role of financial institutions in enhancing economic resilience and supporting sustainable growth.
The group’s capabilities have also recently been strengthened by the integration of Bank Al-Bahrain Bahrain, currently undergoing a renaming process after previously being known as United Gulf Bank, into its operations. This adds a new dimension to its regional banking and investment expertise, including its experience in Islamic finance.
By combining traditional banking services, investment management, and financial capabilities aligned with Islamic Sharia principles, Boubyan Bank Group participates in the annual meetings with a comprehensive vision of the financial sector landscape in the region. This diversity of expertise enables it to contribute effectively to dialogues on financial innovation, the evolution of financing models, and the growing importance of regional financial institutions in linking local markets to the global economy. As Kuwait continues its path toward economic diversification and achieving the objectives of Kuwait Vision 2035, Boubyan Bank remains focused on the role the banking sector can play in supporting investment, strengthening ties with regional and international capital markets, and building a resilient financial system capable of supporting long-term sustainable growth.
Al Ahli explores investment opportunities and global banking partnerships: Kuwait Finance Group (Al Ahli Group) is participating in the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Board of Governors of the World Bank Group, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 12 to 18, 2026. The event will be attended by a select group of finance ministers, central bank governors, senior bankers, and financial decision-makers from various countries around the world. The delegation includes Abdullah Al-Samit, Executive Vice President of Kuwait Finance Group; Omar Wahbi, Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Finance Group – United Arab Emirates; Noura Al-Duwish, General Manager of Treasury and Investment Management; and Lina Haddad, Assistant General Manager of Executive Affairs at the bank. The delegation will participate in a reception organized by the Kuwait Banks Association on the sidelines of the meetings, to exchange views on the latest economic and financial developments and explore a foundation for cooperation that contributes to supporting and enhancing long-term sustainable growth.
In this regard, Al-Samit said: “Our participation in the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank holds particular significance, as they provide a global platform to discuss the latest economic trends and exchange expertise with a select group of leaders from the international financial and banking sectors. This aligns with our commitment to strengthening our relationships and enhancing our operational processes, as well as staying abreast of the latest systems to develop our banking services and meet the expectations of our clients and shareholders.”
He added: “Such international forums contribute to opening new horizons for extended partnerships and enable us to identify new investment opportunities, advance digital transformation and sustainable finance, thereby reinforcing Kuwait Finance Group’s leading position and its role in supporting the pace of economic growth in Kuwait. They also allow us to benefit from pioneering discussions on the future of the global economy, gain insights into modern perspectives on financial stability and banking developments, keep pace with global economic changes, and learn about international best practices in the banking sector.”
Al-Samit concluded his statement by noting that these annual meetings help strengthen Kuwait Finance Group’s relationships with global banks and institutions, support growth opportunities in Kuwait and the region, and enable the bank to leverage future insights to innovate solutions, services, and products that support its leading position.
KIB Looks Ahead to the Future of the Banking Sector
Kuwait International Bank (KIB) announced its participation in the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, hosted by the Thai capital, Bangkok, from October 12 to 18, 2026. The event will feature broad participation from central bank governors, finance ministers, development officials, policymakers, leaders of financial institutions and the private sector, academics, and representatives of international organizations from around the world.
The KIB delegation is led by Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Raed Jawad Bu-Khamseen. It also includes KIB Board of Directors members Marouf Khaled Al-Marzouq and Abdulrazzaq Salah Al-Mutawa; Ahmed Bader Al-Farsi, Board Member of KIB Invest; Maha Al-Qasim, General Manager of KIB’s International Banking and Financial Institutions Division; Mohammed Al-Duwailah, General Manager of the Treasury Department; and Fahad Al-Sarhan, Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Vice Chairman and CEO.
Raed Jawad Bu-Khamseen, Vice Chairman and CEO of KIB, stated that the bank’s participation in this year’s IMF and World Bank Group annual meetings stems from the importance of this international platform, which offers an opportunity to follow key global economic and financial developments and exchange views and expertise with a select group of policymakers and leaders of financial and banking institutions from various countries.
He emphasized that the significance of the participation extends beyond mere attendance at events to benefiting from specialized discussions covering markets and the financial sector, gauging trends in the global banking industry, and learning about best practices and experiences in financing, investment, digital transformation, and risk management. Additionally, the bank will explore opportunities for cooperation and partnerships that can support business growth and expand the horizons of the Kuwaiti banking sector.
Bu-Khamseen added that the timing of the meetings adds further importance to the participation, given the rapid transformations underway in the global economy and financial markets, and the new opportunities and challenges imposed on the financial sector by successive technological developments and artificial intelligence.
He noted that the meeting agenda allows for the follow-up and discussion of a range of issues gaining increasing importance on the global financial stage, including financial stability, artificial intelligence and the global economy, the future of financial infrastructure, cross-border payments and cybersecurity, sovereign risks, as well as labor market developments in Asia and the capacity to enhance resilience in the face of global shifts.
He affirmed that such meetings enable financial institutions to compare their experiences with global trends, understand the transformations reshaping customer and market needs, and help them develop their products and services while better preparing for upcoming opportunities and challenges.
The annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group bring together government, banking, and financial leaders, as well as representatives of the private sector, civil society, and international organizations, to discuss global economic and financial issues, development challenges, and ways to find practical solutions.
The 2026 meetings will be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, reflecting Asia’s growing role in shaping the global agenda for economic and financial stability.
