meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Kuwaiti banks hunt for growth

15 August 2024

The broader economic backdrop for Kuwaiti lenders is relatively more challenging than for peers in other Gulf states, with the state budget back in deficit territory and oil revenues down 20% in 2023-24.

The Washington-based IMF estimates real economic activity to have fallen by 2.2% in 2023, with the oil sector contracting by 4.3% due to Opec+ production quota cuts.

Even so, Kuwaiti lenders have managed to put in some decent performances, benefitting – like their Gulf peers – from stronger net interest margins (NIMs) that have flowed from the global high interest rates of recent years.

Overall banking sector profits grew at an impressive 28.7% in 2023, according to Kamco Invest Research.

This year, profit performances are unlikely to match such increases. Traditionally the country’s largest bank, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), for example saw a 6.2% increase in first-half 2024 profits to KD292.4m ($953.6m).

Kuwait Finance House, newly enlarged since its acquisition in February this year of Ahli United Bank (AUB), creating one of the largest Islamic banks globally, reported a 2.3% increase in net income to KD341.2m ($1.12bn) for the same period.

Policy pressure

Higher interest rates have exerted a negative impact on lending in Kuwait; according to the IMF, growth in credit to the non-financial private sector fell in 2023 to only 1.8% as bank lending rates rose in response to gradual policy rate hikes by the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK), broadly in line with global monetary policy tightening.

However, it added that in light of prudent financial regulation and supervision, banks have maintained strong capital and liquidity buffers, while their profitability has rebounded from pandemic lows, and non-performing loans remain low and well provisioned for.

One challenge facing Kuwaiti lenders is that the domestic market still does not provide sufficient lending opportunities to materially impact their performances. In part, this reflects familiar issues related to Kuwait’s unique political structure.

“Political conflicts involving the parliament and the government delayed the much-needed fiscal and economic reforms, which have put pressure on growth and limit the credit growth potential of the banking sector,” says Gilbert Hobeika, a director at Fitch Ratings.

This has implications for Kuwait’s lenders because if they cannot grow domestically, they will likely look beyond the country’s borders.

Looking beyond Kuwait is designed to create market share and build stronger franchises.

KFH is a case in point. Upon completion of its merger with AUB Kuwait, it is now placed as a rival of NBK in terms of size, giving it the critical mass to enable it to consider expanding into other GCC markets. Market speculation has centred on the potential acquisition of a large stake in Saudi Investment Bank. 

There is also the prospect of another large domestic merger, with Boubyan Bank and Gulf Bank, two Kuwait-listed sharia-compliant lenders, undertaking an initial feasibility study for a potential tie-up. Further consolidation moves could see a conventional lender absorbing an Islamic player or gaining an Islamic subsidiary. All options remain open.

Relative weakness

That focus on inorganic expansion also reflects the weaker profitability seen in Kuwait’s banking sector relative to other GCC banking markets.

There are several reasons for this, says Hobeika. “One is that Kuwait has one of the highest loan loss allowance coverages of stage three loans, meaning that while you could see in the region of 70-120% in the GCC, in Kuwait banks could reach 500% and on average around 250%. This is because the CBK is much more conservative than any other regulator in the region.”

The other point is the pressure on Kuwaiti banks’ NIMs. Different considerations explain why Kuwaiti banks have not benefitted from higher NIMs in the same way as Saudi or UAE banks have.

“The dynamics are really different,” says Hobeika. “One is the pricing cap set by the Central Bank, and then you’ve got the fixed interest rates on retail loans, so they cannot increase their pricing. Then you’ve got a huge amount of murabaha on the Islamic side, which are fixed for long durations.”

In an overbanked economy such as Kuwait, the result is increased competition, with banks bidding to take a piece of a small cake.

That said, the effective supervision of the CBK provides for some additional support for banks.

“They will provide some relief for them to be able to generate efficient operating profit, to support their capital and internal generation of capital. Even if the performance is lower, it’s still sufficient to support internal capital generation,” says Hobeika.

The NIM situation reflects Kuwait’s distinctive policy approach. CBK does not systemically follow the US Federal Reserve’s interest changes, meaning that typically, every two or three changes made by the Fed will be followed by a single change in Kuwait. 

According to an analysis by Kuwait-based research firm Marmore, the approach of skipping interest rate tweaks has meant that while the overall NIM has changed in line with the global policy rate, the magnitude of change has been smaller. For that reason, NIMs might not decline for all Kuwaiti banks in the anticipated forthcoming easing cycle.

Marmore notes that this year, while banks such as NBK expect their NIMs to be stable, other banks have highlighted the difficulty in providing guidance for NIMs given the uncertainty over the timing and magnitude of rate cuts.

And while some Kuwaiti lenders have not gained as much benefit as other Gulf banks from higher interest rates, they may yet feel the positive impact from lower rates, given that retail loans are fixed.

These advantages may seem marginal, but in a global climate where lower interest rates will reduce the capacity to generate easy profits as in past years, they may prove to be welcome for Kuwait’s lenders.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12309760/main.gif
James Gavin

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Navigating financial markets amid geopolitical fragmentation

    28 December 2025

     

    As we move towards 2026, geopolitical fragmentation is no longer a background risk that occasionally disrupts markets.

    It has become a defining feature of the global financial landscape. Shifting alliances, persistent regional tensions, sanctions and the reconfiguration of supply chains are reshaping how capital flows, how liquidity behaves and how confidence is formed.

    For firms operating in the Middle East, this does not simply mean preparing for more volatility. It means operating in a system where the underlying rules are evolving.

    For much of the past three decades, businesses and investors worked within a broadly convergent global framework. Trade expanded, financial markets deepened and policy coordination – while imperfect – created a sense of predictability. That environment has changed.

    Today, economic decisions are increasingly influenced by strategic alignment, security considerations and political resilience. Markets still function, but they do so in a more fragmented and less forgiving way.

    Shifting landscape

    One of the most important consequences of this shift is that risk no longer travels along familiar paths. In the past, geopolitical events were often treated as temporary shocks layered onto an otherwise stable system.

    Today, they shape the system itself. Trade flows are influenced as much by political compatibility as by cost efficiency. Supply chains, once optimised for speed and scale, are reorganising into regional or allied clusters. Financial markets respond not only to data, but to narratives about stability, alignment and long-term credibility.

    This change places greater pressure on firms that rely on historical relationships to guide decisions. Models built on past correlations – between interest rates and equity markets, or between energy prices and regional growth – are less reliable when markets move between different regimes. The challenge is not simply higher volatility, but the fact that correlations themselves can shift quickly.

    Monetary policy adds a second layer of complexity. Major central banks are no longer moving in step. The US, Europe and parts of Asia face different inflation dynamics and political constraints, leading to diverging interest-rate paths.

    For the GCC, where currencies are largely pegged to the US dollar, this divergence has direct consequences. Local financial conditions are closely tied to decisions taken by the Federal Reserve, even when regional economic conditions follow a different cycle.

    This matters because funding costs, liquidity availability and hedging conditions are shaped by global rather than local forces. When US policy remains tight, dollar liquidity becomes more selective. When expectations shift abruptly, market depth can disappear quickly.

    For firms with international exposure, long-term investment plans, or reliance on external financing, these dynamics require careful management. They cannot be treated as secondary macro considerations.

    Energy markets further complicate the picture. The Middle East remains central to global energy supply, which means geopolitical events often interact with oil prices and financial conditions at the same time.

    When shifts in energy expectations coincide with changes in global interest-rate sentiment, liquidity conditions can tighten rapidly. This interaction is well known in academic research on fixed exchange-rate systems, but its practical implications are often underestimated in corporate planning.

    Expanding vulnerabilities

    These dynamics expose clear vulnerabilities. Concentrated supply chains are more susceptible to disruption. Financing structures dependent on continuous market access are more exposed to sudden repricing. Risk management approaches that assume stable relationships between assets are more likely to disappoint. Operational risks – particularly in technology and data – are increasingly shaped by geopolitical considerations rather than purely technical ones.

    At the same time, the region enters 2026 from a position of relative strength. GCC economies benefit from fiscal buffers, long-term investment programmes and a growing perception of stability compared to other parts of the world. In an environment where uncertainty is widespread, predictability itself becomes valuable. Capital increasingly seeks jurisdictions that combine economic ambition with institutional credibility.

    The question, therefore, is not whether opportunities exist, but whether firms are prepared to capture them responsibly. This requires a shift in how future risks are assessed and embedded into decision-making. Linear forecasts and static plans are insufficient when the environment itself can change state. Scenario thinking must evolve beyond optimistic and pessimistic cases to reflect different combinations of geopolitical alignment, monetary conditions, and supply-chain stability. These scenarios should inform capital allocation, not sit in strategy documents.

    Liquidity and risk management discipline also become central. In both trading and corporate finance, experience shows that many failures stem not from being wrong on direction, but from being overexposed when conditions change. Scaling risk to market conditions, maintaining funding flexibility and understanding how quickly liquidity can evaporate are essential practices. This is as true for corporate balance sheets as it is for trading books.

    Operational resilience must be viewed through the same lens. Supply-chain redundancy, cybersecurity preparedness and data governance are no longer purely operational concerns. They influence financial stability, investor confidence and regulatory trust. In a fragmented world, operational disruptions can quickly translate into financial and reputational damage.

    Facing the future

    As we approach 2026, leadership in the Middle East faces a clear test. The global environment is unlikely to become simpler or more predictable. Firms that continue to rely on assumptions shaped by a different era will find themselves reacting rather than positioning. Those that invest in disciplined risk management, flexible planning and operational resilience will be better placed to navigate uncertainty and to turn volatility into strategic advantage.

    In this environment, risk management is not an obstacle to growth. It is the framework that makes sustainable growth possible.

    Ultimately – and this is an often overlooked critical point – none of these adjustments, whether in scenario planning, liquidity discipline, or operational resilience, can be effective without the right human capital in place. 

    Geopolitical fragmentation and financial volatility are not risks that can be fully addressed through models or policies alone. They require informed judgement, institutional memory and the ability to interpret weak signals before they become material threats or missed opportunities. 

    Firms that succeed in this environment will be those that deliberately invest in corporate knowledge: building internal capabilities where possible and complementing them with external expertise where necessary. This means involving professionals with the right background, cross-market experience and a proven, proactive approach to risk awareness and governance. 

    In a fragmented world, competitive advantage increasingly depends not only on capital or strategy, but on the quality of people entrusted with understanding risk, challenging assumptions and guiding decision-making under uncertainty.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15306336/main.gif
  • Oman’s growth forecast points upwards

    24 December 2025

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15306449/main.gif
    MEED Editorial
  • December 2025: Data drives regional projects

    23 December 2025

    Click here to download the PDF

    Includes: Top inward FDI locations by project volume | Brent spot price | Construction output

    MEED’s January 2026 report on Oman includes:

    > COMMENT: Oman steadies growth with strategic restraint
    > ECONOMY: Oman pursues diversification amid regional concerns
    > BANKING: Oman banks feel impact of stronger economy
    > OIL & GAS: LNG goals galvanise Oman’s oil and gas sector
    > POWER & WATER: Oman prepares for a wave of IPP awards
    > CONSTRUCTION: Momentum builds in construction sector

    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15306140/main.gif
    MEED Editorial
  • Local firm bids lowest for Kuwait substation deal

    22 December 2025

    The local Al-Ahleia Switchgear Company has submitted the lowest price of KD33.9m ($110.3m) for a contract to build a 400/132/11 kV substation at the South Surra township for Kuwait’s Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW).

    The bid was marginally lower than the two other offers of KD35.1m and KD35.5m submitted respectively by Saudi Arabia’s National Contracting Company (NCC) and India’s Larsen & Toubro.

    PAHW is expected to take about three months to evaluate the prices before selecting the successful contractor.

    The project is one of several transmission and distribution projects either out to bid or recently awarded by Kuwait’s main affordable housing client.

    This year alone, it has awarded two contracts worth more than $100m for cable works at its 1Z, 2Z, 3Z and 4Z 400kV substations at Al-Istiqlal City, and two deals totalling just under $280m for the construction of seven 132/11kV substations in the same township.

    Most recently, it has tendered two contracts to build seven 132/11kV main substations at its affordable housing project, west of Kuwait City. The bid deadline for the two deals covering the MS-01 through to MS-08 substations is 8 January.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15305745/main.gif
    Edward James
  • Saudi-Dutch JV awards ‘supercentre’ metals reclamation project

    22 December 2025

    The local Advanced Circular Materials Company (ACMC), a joint venture of the Netherlands-based Shell & AMG Recycling BV (SARBV) and local firm United Company for Industry (UCI), has awarded the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the first phase of its $500m-plus metals reclamation complex in Jubail.

    The contract, estimated to be worth in excess of $200m, was won by China TianChen Engineering Corporation (TCC), a subsidiary of China National Chemical Engineering Company (CNCEC), following the issue of the tender in July 2024.

    Under the terms of the deal, TCC will process gasification ash generated at Saudi Aramco’s Jizan refining complex on the Red Sea coast to produce battery-grade vanadium oxide and vanadium electrolyte for vanadium redox flow batteries. AMG will provide the licensed technology required for the production process.

    The works are the first of four planned phases at the catalyst and gasification ash recycling ‘Supercentre’, which is located at the PlasChem Park in Jubail Industrial City 2 alongside the Sadara integrated refining and petrochemical complex.

    Phase 2 will expand the facility to process spent catalysts from heavy oil upgrading facilities to produce ferrovanadium for the steel industry and/or additional battery-grade vanadium oxide.

    Phase 3 involves installing a manufacturing facility for residue-upgrading catalysts.

    In the fourth phase, a vanadium electrolyte production plant will be developed.

    The developers expect a total reduction of 3.6 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year when the four phases of the project are commissioned.

    SARBV first announced its intention to build a metal reclamation and catalyst manufacturing facility in Saudi Arabia in November 2019. The kingdom’s Ministry of Investment, then known as the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (Sagia), supported the project.

    In July 2022, SARBV and UCI signed the agreement to formalise their joint venture and build the proposed facility.

    The project has received support from Saudi Aramco’s Namaat industrial investment programme. Aramco, at the time, also signed an agreement with the joint venture to offtake vanadium-bearing gasification ash from its Jizan refining complex.

    Photo credit: SARBV

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15305326/main.gif
    Edward James