News & Announcements

Kuwait: Valuable Prizes, Events, and Activities Presented by NBK Run 2025 Partners

Attended by representatives and officials from the bank, organizing company, and strategic partners, National Bank of Kuwait hosted a press conference in its headquarters in which the strategic partners announced the rewards and prizes to be given to the winners, participants, and audiences of NBK Run 2025 scheduled to be held on December 13th.

The list of NBK Run strategic partners this year includes Al Babtain Group, Ooredoo, Ali Abdulwahab Al Mutawa (AAW), EQUATE Petrochemical Company, Chayah Group, Touristic Enterprises Company, United Beverage Company, and SPARK.

On this occasion, Manal Al-Mattar, EVP - Head of Group Corporate Communications at National Bank of Kuwait said: “NBK Run is one of the most significant social and sporting events the bank ensures to hold annually. It is the biggest athletic event of its kind in Kuwait, given the massive public participation and the growing public and media interest it attracts every year”.

Al-Mattar emphasized that NBK run is not only a sporting event, but also a symbol of social solidarity and a public message calling people to adopt an active and healthy lifestyle. This stems from NBK’s firm belief that sports not only strengthen the body but are also a means of spreading positive values such as cooperation, determination, and perseverance. Al-Mattar also added: "It is from this standpoint we fuel our dedication to organizing this race annually, as it serves as a platform through which we reinforce these values, and it also provides participants with the opportunity to enjoy an exciting and fun-filled experience”.

A New Distance

Sharing more details on this mega event, Al-Mattar added: “This year’s version of NBK Run will allow participants from all age groups of both males and females to partake in different challenges under 3 categories in accordance with their physical abilities, with the addition of a 21 KM distance alongside the 5 and 10 KM distances. This should establish an atmosphere of friendly competition among participants”, further highlighting that valuable prizes will be given to the winners and participants to ensure an exciting and fun experience for all. 

In her statements, Al-Mattar made sure to express her deep gratitude to the strategic partners who, by choosing to be part of this year’s race, further confirm the significance of this sporting event and demonstrate their responsibility towards society. Moreover, Al-Mattar thanked all the organizers, sponsors, and teams who worked collaboratively in this event, especially the government institutions that support the bank’s endeavor to spread awareness about the importance of sports in enhancing public health.

And finally, Al-Mattar called everyone, whether sports enthusiasts or professional athletes, to participate in this race that combines competitiveness and festivity: “I ask everyone to register and participate in NBK Run. Let’s all together fill this day with sweet competitiveness and positivity, and with your participation and constant support, we shall achieve remarkable success”.

A Clear Mark

On his part, Ahmed Al-Majed, CEO of Suffix for sports management, said that the company is proud of the continuing partnership with NBK in organizing this grand social and sporting event for the eight consecutive year, which proves every year its uniqueness and success in attracting large numbers of participants from all segments.

Al-Majed added: “NBK Run is the earliest sporting event in Kuwait that has truly left a clear mark and paved the way for many other institutions to conduct similar sporting events, and it stands as a great inspiration to us as well”.

Al-Majed also said that Suffix strives, since its establishment in 2007, to spread awareness about sports and health, guided by its strong belief that sports are part and parcel of any society that aims to achieve development, and they have become widely influential, whether economically or culturally”.

In conclusion, Al-Majed noted: “At Suffix, we look forward to providing all kinds of support so that the participants and audiences enjoy a fun and social sporting event. We always strive to organize distinguished events that contribute to advancing the level of sporting events in Kuwait and the region”.

Strategic Partners

On his part, Mohannad Yousef – Sr Marketing Manager at  Nissan Al Babtain, commented: “At Nissan Al Babtain, we are pleased to be part of this event for the fifteenth year, as we believe that this race is more than just a sporting event, for it aligns with our objectives to promote health and fitness, in addition to spreading positivity among the youth”.

Yousef also mentioned that Al Babtain Group has many surprises in store during this year’s NBK Run, including a Nissan car offer and interactive activities in the race village. Moreover, Yousef Emphasized that through this strategic partnership, Al Babtain Group aims to be closer to the participants and audience by giving them valuable rewards and providing all kinds of support for them to have a unique and fun experience, further noting that this continued partnership stems from its social responsibility commitment and spreading awareness about physical and mental health in Kuwait.

Meanwhile, Sundos Al Shatti - Director Digital Services and New Businesses at Ooredoo Kuwait said: “We are proud of our strategic partnership with NBK throughout the past years, especially that NBK Run is the best sporting event in Kuwait that sees a broad participation from all society segments and is very inclusive of all.

Al Shatti also mentioned that Ooredoo’s partnership with NBK has been going for four years and confirm its commitment to social responsibility, noting that the company is always keen to participate in the activities and events organized by NBK.

Moreover, Lulwah Al-Munifi – HR Organizational Effectiveness Leader at EQUATE Petrochemical Company, said: “We are proud to spearhead and sponsor the track for the special para-athlete category for participants with disabilities in NBK run 2025”, noting that the company’s participation last year encouraged for maintaining this partnership for this race, as it has been very positively influential for the disabled and their families. 

Al-Munifi Also indicated that EQUATE will present cash prizes for the top 5 winners in the para-athletic categories, which are wheelchair users, the partially visually impaired, fully visually impaired, and amputees both males and females, in addition to preparing them through 4 training programs. 

Al-Munifi also called all the para-athletes to participate, and called everyone to attend and support this significant society segment. 

On her part, Sarah Al-Foudari - Senior manager – Corporate Marketing at Ali Abdulwahab Al Mutawa said: “At Ali Abdulwahab Al Mutawa, we are pleased to have a continued partnership with NBK Run, as it’s one of the largest events held in Kuwait, which aligns with our social responsibility values.” 

Al-Foudari also highlighted that Ali Abdulwahab al Mutawa’s participation in this event through its Intersport and Joe and the Juice brands by presenting rewards and exclusive discounts on many products, noting that Joe and the Juice will launch an NBK-inspired drink during the race. 

Abdulmohsen Al-Babtain, CEO of SPARK, stated: “Our strategic partnership in this year’s NBK Run reflects the event’s growing impact as a milestone in community service and a transformative force in public health across Kuwait. This initiative aligns perfectly with SPARK’s vision of promoting sports and wellness within society and leading the way in this field.”

Al-Babtain emphasized that the collaboration between SPARK and the National Bank of Kuwait is not new, noting that participation in this major sporting event further strengthens their ongoing partnership.

He added that SPARK will offer a wide range of prizes for both winners and participants in the NBK Run, including memberships and other services across all SPARK branches for men and women. The center will also provide pre-race warm-up sessions and set up a mini version of the SPARK Lab in the race village, allowing runners to access specialized running-related assessments.

Abdulwahab Al-Qinaei – Public Relations Manager at CHIPS store, emphasized his pleasure in sponsoring this big sporting event and the company’s continued strategic partnership with the bank for the second consecutive year. 

He commented: “At CHIPS, we are always committed to integrating technology with sports, especially as the field of electronics is strongly tied to all sports”, further  Noting that the company will give two Apple Family box prizes that includes Apple products, in addition to organizing activities in a booth at the village of the race.

Abdullah Alrafeea - Acting Head of Marketing at the Touristic Enterprises Company, said on his part: “We are happy to be strategic partners of NBK in this grand sporting event, which is known as the largest in Kuwait, by hosting the race on the beachfront – Kuwait’s most significant touristic place in Kuwait, and besides Kuwait’s monument the Kuwait Towers.

Alrafeea added that the NBK Run 2025 is aligned with the beachfront objectives of enabling sports, noting that the company will present 16,000 tickets to the project to all participants, in addition to weekend at Al Khiran prizes.

On his part, Rashed Al-Munae - Chief Executive Officer at the United Beverage Company said: “We made sure this year to be strategic partners with NBK due to the acclaim this event received during the past years from all segments, which promotes adopting healthy lifestyles”.

Al-Munae also added that what pushed the company to participate was the wish to provide athlete-friendly products for the participants, adding: “We will give participants prizes and organize activities that we hope match our audience expectations”.

The NBK Run 2025 will kick off at 8:30 AM on December 13th, with three distances, starting and finishing at the Kuwait Towers. In addition to the existing 10 KM and 5 KM distances, a 21 KM distance has been added. The top three male and female winners in each category will receive cash prizes as follows:

- 21 KM prizes: KD 1,200 for first place, KD 1,000 for second place, and KD 700 for third place.

- 10 km prizes: KD 1,000 for first place, KD 700 for second place, and KD 500 for third place.

- 5 km prizes: KD 500 for first place, KD 400 for second place, and KD 300 for third place.

Kuwait: NBK RISE Brings the Second Cohort Participants Together to Exchange Ideas and Visions on Women Empowerment

Under a lunch banquet hosted by Ms. Shaikha Al-Bahar, Deputy Group CEO at National Bank of Kuwait, NBK RISE held a session for the second cohort participants aimed to strengthen communication and relations between the program participants and partners.

The meeting brought together Al-Bahar with representatives of the NBK RISE program partners; Abyat Company, Gulf Bank, Kuwait Banking Association, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Ooredoo Kuwait, and Markaz Financial Company, to exchange ideas and enhance visions on empowering women leaders.

The participants, who come from various sectors and countries, are preparing to present their final presentations at their graduation ceremony, which will be held next October.

NBK RISE is an initiative specifically designed to support female leaders and enable them to reach the highest levels of leadership. This initiative aligns with NBK's ambitious strategy to enhance the role of women in leadership at the corporate, national, regional, and global levels, and reinforces its commitment to the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion in accordance with the highest international standards.

The program saw the participation of 25 distinguished trainees with diverse professional backgrounds, including NBK - Kuwait and international employees, in addition NBK Wealth Group, and representatives from prestigious regional companies such as, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Ooredoo, Kuwait Banking Association, Abyat Company, Gulf Bank, Markaz Financial Company, J's Bakery, and Intervest Capital Partners New York. The program consists of multiple training modules aimed at developing leadership, strategic, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a focus on preparing participants to assume distinguished leadership positions in the future.

The fourth and final module of the program was held in collaboration with prestigious universities focusing on behavioral and influential skills and covering significant topics, such as facing challenges, strategic leadership, the future of business and the most significant trends, effective decision making, delegation and empowerment, and overall wellbeing. In this module, the participants showed their ability to develop their projects in preparation for their final presentation in front of the executive management, through which they apply the knowledge they gained throughout the training program.

Moreover, not only did the cohort focus on developing leadership skills, but also on enhancing global communication and learning about diverse international experiences. This contributed to deepening mutual understanding and enhancing strategic cooperation across borders, resulting in the creation of a strong network of connected female leaders across various sectors and countries.

It is worth noting that NBK is always keen to promote equal opportunities and support diversity, equality, and inclusion in the workplace through strategic initiatives and specialized programs launched to develop female leaders, which contributed to increasing the number of women in leadership and supervisory positions at the bank.

Additionally, increasing female representation and critical decision-making opportunities for them is a key strategic direction for global organizations, particularly given women's greater engagement in social issues. This contributes to creating an environment that promotes sustainable development and has a positive long-term impact on society.

The NBK RISE program seeks to create a sustainable impact across various sectors by establishing a diverse community of female leaders, who consequently mentor and support aspiring future candidates. The program reflects NBK's unwavering commitment to promoting gender diversity and empowering women to achieve their professional ambitions, and it received widespread acclaim and won numerous prestigious awards, including the MERIT Excellence Award for Women's Leadership Development, the Silver Award for Excellence in Inclusion, Equality, and Diversity at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Middle East and North Africa Awards, in addition to an award from Euromoney.

Kuwait: NBK’s “I Dream to Be” Initiative Brings Asrar’s Dream to Reality

In line with its unwavering commitment to bringing the dreams of ill children to reality, National Bank of Kuwait helped Asrar, one of NBK Children’s Hospital patients, make her dream come true. This came as part of the bank’s humanitarian initiative “I Dream to Be”, in its thirteenth consecutive year, which is an embodiment of NBK’s values of supporting children and giving them hope and strength to face the challenges of illness. 

Eleven-year-old Asrar has always dreamt of becoming a pediatrician to help children with their treatment journey and meet the inspirational figure in this field Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi, the Minister of Health, to which the Public Relations Department at NBK reached out. Minister Al-Awadhi welcomed the idea and offered his full support to make Asrar's fulfilled.

In an inspiring move, Asrar lived out part of her future dream at the Maternity and Children's Hospital, where she played the role of a doctor and aided patients, which gave her experience further depth and humanity.

This initiative underscores the importance of psychological and moral support for ill children and highlights NBK's belief that their dreams are as important as their treatment. The bank is proud of this initiative, which helps put a smile on children's faces and gives them the strength to continue battling their challenges.

On this occasion, Joanne Al-Abdul Jaleel, Assistant Vice President, Public Relations and Event Management at NBK said: “At NBK, we believe that every child deserves to live their dream, and this initiative is a living embodiment of our social responsibility towards our children and community. Over the past 13 years, we have fulfilled the dreams of many children, and we continue to aspire to fulfill the dreams of even more, because our responsibility towards them is to make them happy and help them live the beautiful life they deserve”.

Al-Abdul Jaleel added: “Seeing Asrar live her dream of becoming a pediatrician amid her family’s joy pushes us further to carry on with this noble initiative. Our contribution is not solely financial, especially in the field of children medical treatment, as we strive to put all our efforts into achieving their dreams and making them happy enough to have hope as they go through this adversity”. 

Al-Abdul Jaleel also emphasized that NBK stands as a role model in the field of social responsibility as evident in its constant contributions to medical services, activities, and initiatives aimed at further developing the healthcare system at NBK Children’s Hospital.

It should be noted that NBK is undertaking this initiative in collaboration with specialized childcare institutions in Kuwait, most notably NBK Hospital, Bayt Abdullah, and the Children's Hospital Care Association (CACH), which specializes in caring for children with chronic illnesses in government hospitals.

NBK is also proud of a long record of pioneering humanitarian and social initiatives, as it seeks to provide various forms of support for children, in addition to regularly arranging visits to humanitarian organizations that care for children, with the aim of fostering a culture of community service and enhancing awareness of social responsibility.

Kuwait: NBK Receives Silver Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion

National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has received the Silver Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award from the prestigious Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) for its NBK RISE Program, during MENA Awards Annual Conference 2025 held at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. 

The recognition underscores the Bank’s ongoing efforts to enhance the work environment and reaffirms its steadfast commitment to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion across the Group.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Awards honor organizations that demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion through transparent goal-setting, measurable accountability, and meaningful initiatives. These awards celebrate institutions that actively involve employees in shaping ideas and solutions, creating workplaces where individuals feel safe, respected, and valued. They also highlight efforts dedicated to empowering women and equipping female leaders with the skills needed to achieve their next career milestones. 

As one of the first private sector institutions in the region to endorse the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), the Bank has adopted a distinctive approach to ensuring equal opportunities for all employees without exception, an approach reflected in the fact that female employees accounted for approximately 43.2% of the Group’s total workforce by the end of 2024, while the representation of women in senior management positions reached 27.4%, with NBK ensuring equal pay for both male and female employees in these roles. 

In parallel, the Bank partners with leading global universities and training institutions to provide specialized programs and workshops aimed at developing women leaders, raising awareness of gender diversity, and leveraging these differences to enhance productivity and innovation. Its commitment to diversity and inclusion also extends to customers, offering bespoke products and services tailored to women and entrepreneurs, while steadily advancing these efforts as part of its broader pursuit of financial inclusion.

NBK RISE, an innovative initiative launched in 2022 by Ms. Shaikha Al-Bahar, Deputy Group CEO at NBK, is designed to support female leaders and empower them to attain the highest leadership positions. 

The initiative aligns with NBK’s ambitious strategy to strengthen women’s leadership across institutional, national, regional, and global levels, driven by the Bank’s conviction that DEI are essential pillars for ensuring the sustainable success of organizations.

The program has evolved into an inspiring movement that extends beyond NBK’s individual efforts, reaching a number of leading institutions in Kuwait that collectively signed a pledge to increase women’s representation in leadership positions, reaffirming their joint commitment to advancing the goals of this global initiative.

NBK stands out as one of the few institutions in Kuwait that offers a work environment on par with leading international organizations, distinguished by exceptional opportunities for continuous professional development. Through advanced training and practical experience programs delivered in collaboration with world-class educational institutions, the Bank equips its employees with the skills and expertise needed to navigate future challenges. This commitment not only enhances employee loyalty but also underscores NBK’s strong appeal in an increasingly competitive labor market.

The American Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) stands as the world’s leading organization dedicated to fostering better workplaces where employers and employees thrive together. As the voice of all things work, workers and the workplace, SHRM is the foremost expert, convener and thought leader on issues impacting today's evolving workplaces. With nearly 325,000 members in 165 countries, SHRM impacts the lives of more than 235 million workers and families globally.

Kuwait: NBK Organizes a Series of AI Mindset and Awareness Masterclasses

In the backdrop of an increasing growth in the use of artificial intelligence, effective understanding and employment of this technology has become imperative for financial institutions that aim to maintain their leadership. To this end, the Learning and Development Department at the National Bank of Kuwait launched a series of advanced training masterclasses as part of the AI Leadership Program on the capabilities of artificial intelligence, titled "Preparing for the Future”.

This aim of this series of intensive masterclasses is to introduce upper executive management, through interaction, to the latest developments and technologies in the field of artificial intelligence.

NBK is aware that AI is not merely a technological tool, but a key engine that can reshape and transform the banking sector. Therefore, these masterclasses strive to enable NBK employees to explore and apply the endless capabilities of AI by analyzing large data to identify new growth opportunities, enhance client attraction, and develop innovative services and products.

Moreover, AI technologies can also contribute to enhancing operational efficiency by automating routine functions, enhancing risk management, and supporting quick decision making.

The workshops will be presented by Mr. Warren Knight, a digital leader and AI transformation expert who worked alongside large regional and global institutions in the field of current and future AI strategies. 

Knight holds wide experience in helping institutions execute innovative technological strategies and enhance performance using AI, and he has in-depth knowledge about the effect of technology on business and the effective way of integrating digital solutions in business development strategies. 

Commenting on this occasion, Mr. Emad Al-Ablani, Group Chief Human Resources Officer said: “We believe that human capital investment is a pillar to achieve sustainable growth and ensure the bank’s excellence and leadership. This is why we are committed to constantly providing innovative training programs that take into consideration the changing market dynamics and strive to keep up with the latest technological updates to build a resilient workforce capable of shaping the future.”

Al-Ablani also added: “We continue to provide carefully designed development programs to enhance the integration of technology in the work environment, as we are committed to our strategy that aim to support continued learning and support human-led innovation across the Group’s sectors and departments.”

Furthermore, Al-Ablani said that” NBK’s learning and development strategy is inclusive and is aligned with the highest international standards to enable employees to deal efficiently with future challenges amid an accelerating pace of technology, which should consequently help NBK achieve its long-term objectives.”

Finally, Al-Ablani emphasized that understanding the changes in the field of digital transformation and AI developments and their influence on the banking sector directly impacts the strategies and plans of financial institutions to keep up with the latest updates and achieve sustainable growth.

It should be noted that NBK maintains its leadership in the financial sector in Kuwait and the region by embracing a responsible digital transformation path. These initiatives reflect the bank’s unwavering commitment to empowering human talent, accelerating the pace of innovation, and setting new standards for AI-driven transformation in the banking sector, creating long-term value for customers and shareholders.

Kuwait: NBK Leads Kuwaiti Institutions Featured in The Banker’s 2025 list of Top 100 Arab Banks

In a new milestone underscoring the strength of its brand and financial standing, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) ranked first among Kuwaiti banks in The Banker's 2025 list of Top 100 Arab Banks, while retaining its ninth place at the regional level.

In its annual ranking, the magazine evaluated banks based on several key criteria, such as total core capital, assets, profitability, asset quality, return on capital, and return on assets.

NBK topped the Kuwaiti rankings in Tier 1 capital, which stood at USD 13.46 billion by the end of 2024, reflecting a growth of 5%.

Backed by its solid financial position and strong performance, NBK secured the top ranking among banks in Kuwait in terms of asset size, according to The Banker’s list. The Bank’s total assets grew by 7.1%, year-on-year to KWD 40.3 billion (USD 130.9 billion) by the end of 2024 and the return on average assets reached 1.55%.

Moreover, NBK reported net profits of KWD 600.1 million (USD 1.9 billion) in 2024, up 7.0% year-on-year. Net operating income also grew by 7.2% year-on-year to KWD 1.3 billion (USD 4.1 billion). By the end of 2024, total shareholders' equity stood at KWD 3.9 billion (USD 12.7 billion), making an annual increase of 5.9%, while the capital adequacy ratio remained strong at 17.3%.

The Banker's rating reflects NBK's strong financial performance and exceptional resilience in an evolving economic environment. It also underscores the Bank's solid capital base, its ability to meet future challenges, and its role in supporting economic growth. The recognition also highlights the strength of NBK’s balance sheet and its regional leadership across key financial indicators.

The bank's recognition among the region’s best also echoes the strength and quality of its earnings, firmly grounded across all core business sectors, while underscoring its unique geographic footprint spanning four continents and 13 countries worldwide.

NBK upholds the highest credit ratings among major banks in the Middle East, unanimously affirmed by the three leading international credit rating agencies, Moody's, Fitch, and Standard & Poor's. These ratings are underpinned by the bank’s strong capitalization, prudent lending practices, and disciplined risk management framework, in addition to the depth and stability of its experienced leadership team.

Beyond financial results, NBK’s achievements stand out as a leading brand in the banking sector. According to the Brand Finance’s 2025 report, NBK was recognized as Kuwait’s strongest and most valuable banking brand,  reflecting the deep trust it commands among customers and partners alike.

NBK’s success is rooted in a long-standing legacy of trust and responsibility towards all stakeholders. The Bank remains committed to driving innovation across its businesses to deliver sustainable value, with a clear focus on a more inclusive and sustainable financial future. This commitment is reflected in its pioneering initiatives in sustainable finance and environmental transparency, alongside its efforts to foster a thriving workforce and invest in the communities it serves.

Furthermore, NBK proudly upholds a distinguished record of prestigious international ratings, underscoring its unwavering commitment to achieving excellence and sustainable growth, reinforced by its many accomplishments across different fronts. The Banker's recognition further affirms the Bank’s pivotal role in shaping both the local and regional financial landscape.

The Banker, one of the world’s most prestigious financial publications and part of the renowned British newspaper Financial Times, founded in 1926, conducts annual surveys covering around 120 countries. These rankings spotlight the leading and most distinguished institutions in the global banking community.

Kuwait: “Bankee” Wins Best Program in the Field of Social Work Across the GCC

The GCC Ministerial committee for Labor and Social Affairs honored National Bank of Kuwait for winning best private sector project Award across the GCC for its nominated "Bankee" financial literacy program.

The ceremony, which took place on the sidelines of the GCC ministerial committee meeting at the St. Regis Hotel in Kuwait, celebrated pioneering projects that effectively contribute to the development of society. Receiving the award for Bankee was Manal Al-Mattar, Head of Group Corporate Communications at National Bank of Kuwait, with the attendance of Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Youssef Al-Sabah, Mr. Jassim Mohammed Al-Bedawi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs Dr. Amthal Al- Huwailah

“Bankee” an Innovative Experience

“Bankee” was nominated for the Pioneering Social Enterprise Award as an innovative educational experience and one of NBK’s most prominent initiatives aimed at enhancing financial awareness and literacy among school students in Kuwait.

The program is first of its kind in Kuwait, offered by NBK in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Nazaha, Kuwait’s Anti-Corruption Authority. The aim of Bankee is to introduce students to basic economic concepts and practices such as earning, spending, saving, and financial obligations, in addition to instilling core values in students such as honesty, integrity, personal development, taking responsibility, cooperation, promoting teamwork, and raising a generation of national youth who understand the importance of financial stability and independence, and possess the financial skills and knowledge necessary to contribute to achieving sustainable development and economic well-being for individuals and society.

Bankee has achieved remarkable success since its launch. The third edition saw the participation of more than 60 schools, benefiting more than 32,000 students and 7,200 teachers. This was achieved thanks to its unique classroom design and its positive impact on student behavior, providing them with the skills they need to manage their financial affairs. This was in addition to the significant improvement in their financial literacy after the program was implemented in their schools.

A firm commitment to empowering the next generation

This recognition reflects the NBK’s unwavering commitment to empowering national youth and equipping them with the financial knowledge and skills necessary for their future. It also serves as an incentive to continue developing the program and expanding its reach to include as many schools as possible.

NBK always strives to maintain its leading position as the biggest contributor to the field of social responsibility in Kuwait by launching diverse, innovative, and sustainable initiatives that cover all segments of society and largely focus on supporting the education sector and youth development, as it strongly believes that investing in education is an investment in Kuwait's future.

The visits of NBK's executive management to schools and their monitoring of the program's implementation reinforced its significance. These visits were attended by many parents, who expressed their pleasure with the positive changes they observed in their children's behavior and financial literacy.

“Bankee” uses a classroom economy model that renders the school a micro-economy simulating the real financial system, and the program’s website has been launched in both Arabic and English, through which it offers a practical and engaging platform, allowing students and teachers to use it digitally to make different financial transactions using the virtual Bankoz currency. This further reinforces the value of work, earnings, and well-studied decision-making abilities. 

To better instill the value of giving, NBK launched a donation program for the students participating in in “Bankee” to support underprivileged families in Kuwait, in collaboration with the Kuwait Red Cresent Society.

To this end, NBK provided donation boxes in the schools participating in “Bankee”, so the students get the chance to donate from their cumulating balance to support the education of children from underprivileged families, using the virtual Bankoz currency they received as rewards and incentives for using the program. This coincided with an awareness campaign launched by NBK within schools participating in Bankee, to encourage students to donate in cooperation with the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, in addition to urging teachers to constantly remind students of the donation boxes and explain the positive influence of giving in themselves and society.

After the students made their donations, NBK then collected them and converted them into Kuwaiti dinars and then donated the funds in the students’ name to the Child Education Project, supervised by the Kuwait Red Crescent Society. The donations covered the tuition fees of a group of children from underprivileged families, ensuring their continued education and preventing them from dropping out of school.

Moreover, NBK is keen on leaving a distinctive social influence in the communities in which it operates by making community investments that align well with its Environmental, Social and Institutional Governance (ESG) standards. The total value of NBK's community investments reached KWD 30 million in 2024, demonstrating that NBK is a role model for sustainable development and an effective contributor to building a more prosperous and stable future for Kuwait and the region.

It should be noted that NBK received the Bronze Award for “Bankee” in recognition of its efforts to integrate Environmental, Social, and Institutional Governance (ESG) standards into its operations.

Kuwait: NBK: Continuous Leadership in Supporting Youth and Enhancing Sustainability

National Bank of Kuwait continues to support and empower Kuwait’s youth and develop society through comprehensive and diverse programs and initiatives that aim to enhance their skills and instill in them principles of environmental, social and institutional governance.

During the year 2025, the bank has upscaled its pivotal role in developing youth competencies and equipping them with the skills necessary to face future challenges and effectively contribute to building a sustainable economy and thriving society. These efforts come under the bank’s overall strategic direction towards investing in human capital and dealing with it as a top priority, which stems from its strong belief that the youth are the future leaders.

NBK Aspire Program

Aspire summer training program is one of NBK’s leading initiatives, and it’s specifically designed for students whose ages range from 14 to 18 years. This program aims to give the youth an opportunity to gain valuable professional experience through theoretical and practical training sessions.

NBK has organized 4 training sessions for 133 Aspire students at the bank’s headquarters from June 10th until August 7th in 2025, where they underwent a remarkable experience learning in depth about the bank’s different divisions and departments and AI tools, which reflects NBK’s commitment to preparing a new generation that enjoys the digital and professional skills needed for the future job market.

Rafa Nadal Youth Program

In line with its continued support to athletic and future talents, NBK renewed its strategic partnership with Rafa Nadal Academy for two more years with the aim of granting all sorts of support for the unique sporting events organized by the academy, which confirms its commitment to growing young athletic talents in Kuwait and enabling them to reach their full potential in tennis.

NBK has sponsored several tennis tournaments for the juniors’ team, whose ages range between 9 and 14 years, at the Rafa Nadal Academy. The team played 5 tournaments abroad with the participation of 39 athletes in Cap d’Agde in France, Lisbon in Portugal, Mallorca in Spain twice, and finally Antalya in Turkey.

It is worth noting that NBK places health and sports at the forefront of its priorities, and it always strives to have a positive impact upon society and build a bright future by developing the youth, education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.

LOYAC Programs

Under the strategic partnership that joins the two institutions, NBK continued its sponsorship for LOYAC’s purposeful programs that aim to enable the national youth to reach their goals and aspirations, as well as support them become future leaders.

Kilma

NBK sponsored “Kilma” program, which aims to enable and empower the youth by equipping them with communication and public speaking skills. The program focused on developing essential skills including effective listening for deeper understanding and constructive interaction, critical thinking for analysis and enlightened decision making, communication and confident speaking skills for clear and persuasive expression, public speaking for preparing influential presentations and fluency in front of audiences, case study analyses and decision making for facing challenges and coming up with effective solutions, and research skills and data collection for better ability to access trusted sources and use them intelligently.

The participants were 33 students, who spent three extensive weeks and 5 hours daily from 27 July until 14 august 2025 at the bank’s headquarters, which established a motivational and practical learning environment.

Youth Leadership Program (YLP)

The Youth Leadership Program is a unique experience that aims to develop leadership and self-confidence skills for high school students whose ages range from 14 to 18 years. 12 students participated in this program from 13 until 19 July 2025.

In this program, the participants underwent a life-changing experience that lasted for one week in the charming nature of Bedfordshire, UK, where they participated in a group of outdoor activities including walking down the green fields and exploring charming villages, in addition to making relationships through a chain of friendly games.

The program focused on developing practical leadership skills based on Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, through which the students were able to gain valuable and useful tools to help them manage their ideas, thoughts, actions, and feelings so they can lead with perseverance and confidence.

Green Adventure Program

On an environmental level, NBK sponsored the “Green Adventure” program, which is a unique environmental initiative that joins physical and theoretical education related to the topic of sustainability. It was held in Portugal with the participation of 9 students and lasted for 7 days from 13 until 20 July.

This program aims to instill values of environmental responsibility and sustainability, to enable students to become leaders of change in their communities. The program taught the students, through interactive theoretical sessions and practical field activities, how to design sustainable gardens and natural landscapes, as well as apply sustainable agricultural practices in daily life activities to make positive environmental change.

The participants also had the opportunity to explore Portugal’s natural landscapes and diverse wildlife, and they visited the ancient Moorish Castle, in addition to building connections with same-interest individuals and experts from the field, which helped them establish a deeper understanding of the connection between nature and society.

Kon Social Entrepreneurship Program

NBK continued its support and sponsorship to “Kon” social entrepreneurship program organized by LOYAC non-profit organization in collaboration with Babson College in the United States, which aims to instill entrepreneurial thinking for the youth and provide them with the skills needed to become change-makers in society.

This year’s edition of the program joined 45 students whose ages range from 12 to 16 years, and it lasted for 5 extensive weeks where they had the opportunity to communicate and exchange experiences among different generations of social entrepreneurs. 

The program’s schedule was filled with training and educational activities, as well as specialized sessions, interactive discussions, online lectures, and virtual workshops all tailored to enhance and develop pioneering social entrepreneurship programs in Kuwait.

Eco Quest Program

This program is focused on the environmental challenges in Kuwait, through which each school is delegated to present an innovative social and environmental plan that addresses one of the important environmental issues. 30 students from 7 schools participated in this program, where they came up with innovative solutions under teamwork schemes, guided by their passion for achieving a sustainable future.

A strong Commitment 

On this occasion, Yaqoub Al-Baqer, Assistant Vice President, Public Relations and Event Management at NBK commented: “This wide array of programs reflects NBK’s deep commitment to its social responsibility and its vital role in establishing an aware generation equipped with the necessary skills to face future challenges. By investing in the youth, not only does NBK develop and upskill individuals, but it also instills the principles of environmental, social, and institutional governance, which further confirms its role in supporting sustainable development in Kuwait”.

Al-Baqer emphasized that these initiatives are well in line with NBK’s strategy, which sees the importance of investing in human capital to make future leaders, further highlighting that the bank is committed to empowering the national youth and helping them to achieve their goals and aspirations.

Due to its strong belief in their positive impact, NBK will continue to support all society segments and non-profit organizations, especially the ones that care for the youth and their needs, aiming to secure a better future.

Kuwait: NBK Celebrates the Graduation of Prime Leadership and NBK Pioneers Programs

In line with its committed strategy towards investing in human capital and developing national professionals, National Bank of Kuwait celebrated the graduation of a new batch of distinguished leaders and employees from the extensive training programs Prime Leadership Program and the NBK Pioneers Program designed to upskill and help advance the careers of high potential employees.

The graduation ceremony was attended by Mr. Salah Al-Fulaij, CEO-Kuwait at National Bank of Kuwait, Mr. Emad Al-Ablani, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Mr. Hisham Al Nusif, Chief, Consumer Banking, the Sales and Distribution Division Management from Consumer Banking Group, in addition to several other NBK management and leaders. 

During the Prime Leadership Program, Learning and Development focused on enabling distinguished leaders from branch and area managers to develop their leadership skills, deepen their strategic thinking, and enhance their ability to make effective decisions in a dynamic work environment. 56 leaders graduated from this program after completing a comprehensive training journey divided into two stages. The first stage, which started in September and ended November 2024, covered key areas such as high-performing team building, strategy and decision-making, training and orientation to achieve success, and contemporary market trends. The second stage, which started in January and ended August 2025, focused on advanced topics such as leading with emotional intelligence, adopting innovation in the banking services, focusing on the customer by creating a comprehensive experience, financial selling methods for non-financial managers, dealing with change, and managing multi-generational teams. The courses were tailored in collaboration with top local and international experts such as Eurotech, Lifelong, IDRAK, Mawaarid, Meran, Franklin Covey, and Trusted Advizor. 

As for NBK Pioneers Program, Talent Management designed the Program to focus on equipping the participants with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to reach their highest potential as a new generation of NBK leaders within the Sales & Distribution Divisions. 

The modular based program lasted for 6 months and saw the graduation of 16 high potential employees who underwent extensive training topics such as Self-Marketing, AI in Retail Banking, Mega Trends In Technology, Fraud Prevention, Advanced Selling Skills, Business Etiquette, Leading High Performing Teams, Generation Gap And The New Tech Savvy Customer- amongst many others.

After completing the academic part, the participants underwent an Innovation Challenge, through which they developed innovative ideas and solutions and presented them to the bank’ Management, and the winner was honored during the ceremony. The top three performers were also honored in the graduation ceremony.

The graduates of NBK Pioneers will begin a training journey under the supervision of best performing NBK Prime alumni, which establishes a sustainable cycle of orientation and experience sharing at NBK.

On this occasion, Najla Al-Sager, SVP - Head of Talent Management & Learning at NBK commented: “At NBK, we believe that investing in human capital is a remarkable future investment, and we are pleased with the graduation of these new batches. This celebration confirms the fruitfulness of our professional development strategy and highlights our continued excellence and leadership spearheaded by inspiring national leaders who can lead, adapt, and innovate with confidence.”

000 added: “We are dedicated to elevating the efficiency of our professionals through a selection of diverse and specialized training programs as per international standards, which enhances our operational efficiency and our distinguished place as a workplace that values future visions and supports professional development and innovation.”

Al-Sager indicated that educational and training initiatives are at the heart of NBK’s strategy, as the bank has established a comprehensive framework for career development and guidance through diverse in-house opportunities. This multi-faceted approach is made to enable employees to envision their career paths and achieve success and innovation in a nurturing work environment.

Moreover, Al-Sager emphasized that these specialized programs mirror the depth of NBK’s strategy and aim to upskill future leaders and equip them with the needed visions and skills to spearhead the banking sector transformation, as per the bank’s objectives to build a sustainable future and continue to elevate and grow its businesses both locally and regionally.

It is worth noting that NBK has truly maintained a leading role at the top of private sector institutions as it diligently strives to upskill and qualify national professionals for the banking sector. Additionally, NBK has the highest employee retention rate and it’s the workplace of choice for national talents in the private sector, and the biggest national employer.