Burqan Exchanges Views on Growth and Risks Internationally

Burkan 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 bank’s delegation is chaired by Sheikh Abdullah Nasser Al-Sabah, Chairman of the Board, reflecting the bank’s commitment to strengthening its relations with international financial institutions and engaging in global economic dialogue.

The delegation also includes Vice Chairman Faisal Sarrouh, General Manager of the Treasury and Financial Institutions Department Abdullah Maaref, Deputy General Manager of the Financial Institutions Department Bader Al-Turkiet, and Assistant General Manager of the Brand and Communications Strategy Department Dhafer Al-Qabandi. Participation in the meetings enables the bank to exchange insights on market and banking sector developments and explore areas of cooperation with international financial institutions.

The meetings take place at a time when the global economy is undergoing significant changes, marked by growing impacts of geopolitical developments, shifts in capital flows, evolving monetary conditions, changing growth trajectories, and rapid technological advancements affecting markets and financial institutions.

Commenting on the bank’s participation, Al-Sabah said: “The global economy is experiencing important structural transformations, with increasing interconnections between geopolitical developments, capital flows, technological progress, and shifts in growth paths. The Annual Meetings represent a crucial 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 Burkan, our participation in such high-level forums is part of a strategic approach aimed at staying closely connected to global economic dialogue and continuing to develop our long-term vision in line with the increasingly complex and interconnected global financial landscape.”

Burkan’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 an opportunity for the bank to deepen its relationships with international financial institutions, exchange perspectives on issues impacting the sector, and keep pace with trends that will shape the future of banking and financial services.

Burkan’s participation is not limited to enhancing its ties with international financial institutions; it also extends to 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, treasury, and financial markets, as well as its deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing regional economies. These capabilities are further strengthened by the group’s strengths in investment banking and asset management through KAMCO Invest, represented by Faisal Sarrouh, who serves as Vice Chairman of Burkan and Chief Executive Officer of KAMCO Invest.

This integration of expertise enables the delegation to provide specialized insights on 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 integrating “Burqan Bahrain” (currently undergoing a rebranding process, having previously been known as the United Gulf Bank) into its operations, adding a new dimension to its regional banking and investment expertise, including its experience in Islamic finance. By combining traditional banking, investment management, and Sharia-compliant financial capabilities, Burqan Group participates in annual meetings with a comprehensive vision of the region’s financial sector landscape. 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, Burqan 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.