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One of the world’s largest Islamic finance markets, Kuwait has a wide range of banking, sukuk (Islamic bonds) and takaful (Islamic insurance) entities and products on offer, with recent headwinds such as the Covid-19 pandemic proving little obstacle to the sharia-compliant sector’s continuing robust growth.

The Gulf banking sector has witnessed an increase in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in recent years, as lenders continue to deal with the economic headwinds associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. At the outset of the pandemic in the first quarter of 2020 it was anticipated that the economic slowdown and the associated fall in oil prices would accelerate the M&A trend...

The Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) introduced new guidelines in February 2022 for establishing digital banks. These regulations reflect Kuwait’s efforts to support banking innovation for future economic development and financial stability. The new guidelines are expected to help the country’s banking sector keep pace with developments in global financial services.

An easing of disruptions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, a sustained increase in oil and gas receipts, and the rollout of a new law providing a framework for establishing digital offerings have given Kuwait’s banking sector a renewed confidence that has been supported by the country’s wider economic recovery. Indeed, with real GDP returning to growth in 2021 and...

What more can local banks do to assist in Kuwait’s economic diversification, and which sectors have the most potential for accelerating diversification?

Kuwait benefits from an advantageous location in the Northern Gulf that provides convenient access to major markets in Europe and Asia. The country’s trade and investment profile has long been dominated by oil, with revenue from its vast reserves used to fund overseas investment, generating sustainable long-term returns and safeguarding future prosperity. As Kuwait emerges...