Al-Watani Strengthens Its Leadership in Human Capital Management
- Emad Al-Abdullah:
- “National” is the first Gulf bank to receive the comprehensive suite of international certifications
- We continue to translate global best practices into sustainable value for our employees and our institution
- We are committed to developing an integrated system that enables employees to realize their full professional potential
- Our continuous investment in our workforce is a key factor in enhancing “National’s” competitiveness and consolidating its leadership
Kuwait National Bank continues to reinforce its position as one of the leading institutions in human capital management in the region, through an integrated strategy that places human capital at the core of its priorities, considering it the fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable growth and enhancing the Group’s competitiveness.
Over the past years, the Group’s Human Resources department at the Bank has continued to implement distinctive plans and initiatives encompassing the development of policies and procedures, strengthening a culture of performance and excellence, investing in professional and leadership development programs, and adopting the latest practices in recruitment, talent management, and workforce planning. These efforts have contributed to building an integrated institutional system for human capital management based on governance, efficiency, and sustainability, keeping pace with the changing requirements of the business environment at both local and international levels.
These efforts were crowned by “National” recently obtaining four specialized global ISO quality certifications for human resources, including: “ISO 23326:2022,” “ISO 30414:2025,” “ISO 30405:2023,” and “ISO 10015:2019.”
This achievement demonstrates the level of progress reached by the Group’s human resources system and its success in applying global best practices across all stages of the employee journey, qualifying “National” to become the first and only bank in the Gulf countries to receive the comprehensive suite of international specialized certifications in human resources.
On this occasion, the Group’s Head of Human Resources, Emad Al-Abdullah, said: “At ‘National,’ we view human capital as the primary driver of our business success and the sustainability of our growth. Therefore, we are committed to developing an integrated system that enables employees to realize their full professional potential and provides them with a motivating work environment aligned with global best practices. Our continuous investment in our human resources has been one of the most important factors contributing to enhancing the Group’s competitiveness and consolidating its leading position within the banking sector.”
Al-Abdullah added: “We are proud at the Bank that we are the first Gulf bank to receive the comprehensive suite of ISO certifications specialized in human resources, which confirms the success of the strategy we have adopted over the past years to develop various aspects of human capital management. Importantly, this achievement reflects the Bank’s ability to translate global best practices into an integrated operational system that supports innovation, enhances operational efficiency, and elevates the employee experience, thereby contributing to achieving our long-term institutional objectives.”
He clarified that “ISO 23326:2022,” which focuses on measuring and enhancing employee engagement, reflects the Bank’s success in building a positive and motivating work environment that enhances levels of interaction and job belonging, and consolidates an institutional culture based on trust, communication, and empowerment. Employee engagement is among the most prominent indicators related to productivity, talent retention, and achieving sustainable performance, which the Bank places great importance on within its human resources strategy.
He noted that “ISO 30414:2025,” concerning human capital reporting and disclosure, underscores the bank’s commitment to the highest standards of transparency and governance by adopting global methodologies for measuring, analyzing, and disclosing human capital indicators. He emphasized that these practices contribute to enhancing decision-making by providing accurate data and metrics that facilitate effective workforce planning and talent management.
Regarding talent attraction, Al-Abdali pointed out that “ISO 30405:2023,” which focuses on recruitment guidelines, serves as evidence of the efficiency of the bank’s recruitment processes and their alignment with international best practices. This ensures the attraction of top-tier talent and expertise, while providing a professional, fair, and transparent recruitment experience that supports the bank’s future plans and objectives.
He continued, “As for ISO 10015:2019, which is adopted in competency and training management and effectiveness measurement, it embodies the integrated approach the bank follows in developing its human capital. This spans from identifying training needs and designing development programs to measuring their actual impact on individual and organizational performance, thereby ensuring the realization of the highest possible value from investments in learning and development.”
Collectively, these standards cover a broad range of human resources functions, including talent attraction and recruitment, performance management, talent and competency management, learning and development, employee relations, compensation and benefits, human capital reporting and disclosure, as well as human resources governance. This reflects the integration of the policies and procedures adopted by the bank to manage its human resources in accordance with an advanced global framework.
The National Bank continues to invest in developing its human resources through the launch of flagship initiatives and programs aimed at enhancing leadership and professional skills, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and providing a supportive work environment that promotes inclusivity and innovation. These efforts strengthen its position as an employer of choice in the region and affirm its ability to sustain growth and create long-term value for various stakeholders.
