20.83 Million Dinars Net Profit for 'Boursa' by End of September

35.9 million dinars in total operating revenues over nine months; EPS of 103.76 fils

Badr Al-Kharafi: The Kuwaiti capital market has demonstrated its resilience despite geopolitical challenges... Enhancing investor confidence is a priority

Mohammed Al-Asimi: Developing the use of new products, improving investor experience, and expanding participation by local and international institutions

Kuwait Stock Exchange announced its financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, recording a net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company of 20.83 million dinars, total operating revenues of 35.90 million dinars, operating profit of 25.76 million dinars, and earnings per share of 103.76 fils.

Compared to the same period last year, net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company declined by 9.63%, while operating revenues and operating profit decreased by 3.12% and 9.17%, respectively.

In a press release yesterday, the company stated that on the financial position front, total group assets rose by 1.48% to approximately 134.94 million Kuwaiti dinars, while equity attributable to shareholders of the parent company grew by 0.62% to reach 74.60 million dinars.

It added that Kuwait Stock Exchange continued to implement its strategic priorities for market development and maintaining operational efficiency, in collaboration with the Capital Markets Authority and the Kuwait Clearing Company, amid a regional environment characterized by ongoing geopolitical challenges that intensified during the third quarter of 2026, impacting the economic and investment landscape and investor sentiment.

These circumstances highlighted the importance of institutional readiness and operational flexibility in maintaining trading continuity, particularly during periods of volatility and heightened uncertainty. The exchange relied on the robustness of its business model, diversification of revenue sources, and prudent risk management approach to navigate these developments, thereby enhancing its ability to adapt to changes and continue implementing its development initiatives.

This approach reflects Kuwait Stock Exchange’s commitment to balancing operational stability requirements with long-term objectives, building on reforms and investments implemented in previous years to strengthen the market’s capabilities and competitiveness, and expanding the benefits for participants from the infrastructure and products developed in earlier phases of the market development program.

Commenting on the financial results, Badr Al-Kharafi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kuwait Stock Exchange, said: “The region experienced ongoing geopolitical challenges during the first nine months of the year, with their effects extending to the economic and investment landscape and investor decisions. Amid these conditions, Kuwait Stock Exchange has demonstrated its resilience and capacity to withstand and adapt, relying on a solid regulatory framework and an institutional and operational structure that has evolved through years of reform. This experience underscores the importance of investments directed toward building a resilient market capable of handling changes and continuing to serve the national economy.”

Al-Kharafi added: “We have confidence in the fundamentals of the Kuwaiti capital market and its ability to continue evolving. We place paramount importance on maintaining the trust of local and international investors in our strategic direction. This trust is reinforced by the integrated roles of the market ecosystem under the leadership of the Capital Markets Authority, as well as our commitment to governance, disclosure, and service quality. Our responsibility also lies in building on these fundamentals and preserving an investment environment characterized by clarity and fairness, enabling participants to assess opportunities and risks and make decisions based on reliable information.” He emphasized that addressing changes requires maintaining a long-term vision, while closely monitoring performance and risks and carefully prioritizing investments. He noted that the Kuwait Stock Exchange continues to work on enhancing the sustainability of its business model and diversifying its activities, thereby supporting its ability to generate value for shareholders and capitalize on growth opportunities offered by market development.

He said: “We strive to combine financial discipline and prudent investment in market development, directing the company’s resources toward priorities that support its competitiveness and growth potential. The progress toward a multi-asset market represents a crucial path to expanding investor options and meeting the financing needs of companies, thereby strengthening the role of the capital market in linking capital with productive opportunities. This supports the growth of the private sector and the diversification of the national economy, in alignment with the objectives of Kuwait Vision 2035.”

Al-Kharafi stressed that the Board of Directors places significant importance on monitoring the economic impact of development projects and supporting the executive management in translating approved strategies into services that meet the needs of market participants. This approach is based on balancing shareholders’ interests with market development requirements, and adhering to the regulatory and institutional frameworks governing the company’s operations. It also reflects the Kuwait Stock Exchange’s commitment to integrating its role in operating the market, developing its infrastructure, and enhancing its attractiveness to investments, alongside its dedication to advancing transparency, disclosure, and sustainability practices.

For his part, Kuwait Stock Exchange CEO Mohammed Al-Asimi stated that the exchange’s executive operations focus on meeting the needs of various participant categories through service efficiency, procedural clarity, and system readiness. They monitor operational requirements in coordination with their partners, facilitating investors’ access to the market and enabling issuers and brokers to benefit from its services.

Regarding communication with investment institutions, Al-Asimi added: “Engaging with investment institutions and asset managers is a fundamental part of our efforts to broaden the base of market participants. We also strive to listen to their requirements concerning services, information, and market access procedures, while promoting awareness of the opportunities available in the Kuwaiti market.”

Within this framework, the exchange continued to bring together investment institutions and local and international specialists in professional meetings during the third quarter. These included hosting the MSCI Forum for Institutional Investors and organizing a specialized seminar on Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) in collaboration with the CFA Institute. These meetings focused on developments and practical needs related to investment and asset management, as well as leveraging market products.

It added that the Kuwait Stock Exchange continues to build on the reforms implemented with the launch of the second part of the third phase of the Market Development Program in July 2025. These reforms included the implementation of a central counterparty system, the development of cash settlement mechanisms, and the upgrading of brokerage firms’ business models to the “qualified broker” category, thereby supporting the integration of trading, clearing, and settlement operations among stakeholders. Continuing this trajectory, 2026 saw the development of a bond and sukuk trading platform and an exchange-traded funds (ETFs) system.

In this context, Al-Asimi stated: “The Kuwait Stock Exchange’s priorities at this stage are to enhance the utilization of existing products and expand their application, enabling issuers and financial institutions to deploy them in ways that meet the needs of investors and companies. This requires the integration of roles among asset managers, brokers, and market makers, as well as the availability of necessary services for issuance, listing, and trading. The Exchange is working with its partners to address the practical requirements of each product and to develop services that support pricing efficiency and liquidity availability.”

**Rise in Institutional and International Investors’ Share of Trading**

The company’s statement indicated that the share of institutional investors in trading activity rose to 70.08% during the first nine months, compared to 63.94% in the same period last year, an increase of 6.14 percentage points. Meanwhile, individual investors’ share stood at 29.92%.

Regarding geographic distribution, international investors accounted for 17.28% of total trading value.

**15.6 Billion Dinars in Traded Stock Value**

The total value of traded shares during the first nine months of 2026 reached approximately 15.64 billion dinars, compared to about 19.35 billion dinars in the same period in 2025, representing a decline of 19.17%. Trading volume amounted to 59.86 billion shares, down 28.93% year-on-year. The average daily trading value reached 86.42 million dinars, compared to 106.91 million dinars in the corresponding period last year. The total market capitalization stood at approximately 52.58 billion dinars by the end of September, a slight decrease of 0.05%.

**Regional Recognition for Kuwait’s Capital Market Performance**

In late September 2026, the Kuwait Stock Exchange was honored with the “Highest Turnover Rate among Arab Exchanges” award for 2025 by the Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM). The recognition was based on the Exchange’s leading position among the Arab exchanges covered by the award in this indicator, which measures trading value relative to market capitalization. This acknowledgment highlights the level of market activity during the year covered by the award.

**Institutional Commitment... Deepening Liquidity and Broadening the Investor Base**

The Exchange continues to implement its strategy for developing Kuwait’s capital market, in collaboration with the Capital Markets Authority, the Kuwait Clearing Company, and other stakeholders in the capital market ecosystem. The focus is on translating structural reforms and infrastructure investments into tangible results that enhance market efficiency and expand the utilization of its services. The practical significance of these efforts lies in making more diverse investment instruments available.