MSCI Upgrades 'Al-Ahli' Sustainability Rating to 'AA'
MSCI upgrades National Bank of Kuwait's sustainability rating to AA
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
In a new confirmation of its leadership in sustainability and responsible banking, global firm MSCI announced the upgrade of National Bank of Kuwait’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) rating from “A” to “AA,” moving it from the “Average” category to the “Leader” category, which includes the most advanced institutions globally in managing sustainability issues and integrating them into their strategies and operational processes.
National Bank of Kuwait is the first and currently the only Kuwaiti bank to receive an “AA” rating. This achievement gains additional significance as the new rating places National Bank of Kuwait among just six banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to hold this classification, reflecting the bank’s advanced position in managing sustainability and governance issues compared to its international peers, and confirming its success in adopting global best practices in environmental, social, and governance areas.
This rating caps a long journey of organized institutional work undertaken by the bank over the past years, through integrating sustainability considerations into various aspects of business, financing, investment, and risk management, in line with global best practices and standards. It also confirms the robustness of the institutional framework developed by the bank to support responsible growth and create sustainable value for all stakeholders.
MSCI’s decision reflects the growing appreciation for the bank’s approach in several key areas, including sustainable and green financing, applying sustainability standards to financing activities, enhancing due diligence processes and managing environmental and social risks, analyzing climate-related risks, as well as protecting data privacy and information security, strengthening customer protection, and fostering a culture of business ethics and corporate transparency.
This rating also confirms the bank’s success in developing an integrated sustainability system based on integrating environmental, social, and governance considerations into various aspects of business, contributing to enhancing the bank’s resilience and its ability to create long-term sustainable value for all stakeholders.
This positive assessment is based on a series of achievements the bank has recently made in the field of sustainability, with continued progress in implementing the bank’s long-term goals. The value of sustainable assets and financing reached approximately $5.92 billion, on track to achieve its target of $10 billion by 2030.
The bank also continued its efforts to reduce its environmental footprint, recording a 37.3% decrease in operational emissions compared to the 2021 baseline, alongside strengthening climate risk management practices and raising disclosure and transparency levels in line with regulatory requirements and the growing expectations of investors and stakeholders.
Sustainable loans at the group level reached $3.06 billion in 2025, an increase of 23% compared to $2.48 billion in 2024.
On the social front, the bank continued its investment in human capital and the development of national competencies, recording more than 83,000 training hours for its employees in Kuwait during 2025, reflecting its commitment to building a work environment based on continuous learning and the development of skills and leadership capabilities.
On this occasion, Group Communications Head Amir Hanna said: “The upgrade of National Bank of Kuwait’s rating to ‘AA’ by MSCI represents an important milestone in our journey toward enhancing sustainability and consolidating its status as a fundamental part of the bank’s strategy and way of working. More importantly, it constitutes independent international recognition of the progress we have made in developing governance practices, risk management, responsible financing, and enhancing transparency at the institutional level.”
Hanna added, “We are proud to be the first Kuwaiti bank to receive this rating, an achievement that reflects the collective efforts of the various departments and teams working at the bank. The bank’s professional system has helped entrench an institutional culture that makes sustainability an integral part of the decision-making process.”
Hanna emphasized that the bank will continue to build on this achievement by developing sustainable finance initiatives, strengthening the management of climate, environmental, and social risks, and enhancing transparency and disclosure levels, thereby supporting its role in achieving sustainable development and creating long-term positive impacts on the economy and society.
This achievement adds to Al Ahli’s distinguished record of international recognitions, reflecting the success of its strategy in embedding responsible banking practices and reinforcing its position among financial institutions most committed to sustainability standards at both the regional and international levels.
The upgrade by MSCI represents a significant addition to a long series of international awards and recognitions that have crowned Al Ahli’s journey in sustainability over the past years. These honors include accolades from leading global institutions in recognition of its efforts in sustainable finance, corporate governance, risk management, and social responsibility. This sustained momentum underscores the bank’s standing as a regional reference in responsible banking and its ability to align financial growth with positive, sustainable impacts on the economy, society, and the environment.
