Kuwait, 21 January 2023: In acknowledgment of its continuous efforts and significant contributions to the advancement and expansion of the Islamic finance sector in Kuwait, Capital Finance International (CFI.co) magazine has named Kuwait International Bank (KIB) once again as Best Sharia-Compliant Bank – MENA 2023. 

The magazine’s esteemed judging panel selected KIB to receive the award from among a pool of nominated banking and financial institutions, celebrating the Bank as one of the “longest-reigning champions” in the CFI.co awards programs and has been recognized in each of the past nine years. KIB was chosen for its exceptional performance within the Islamic banking sector, its ongoing upward trajectory, solid financial standing, and delivery of high-quality, innovative services across retail banking, real estate, and corporate banking, all the while maintaining a steadfast dedication to adhering to Islamic finance principles and practices. 

Expressing gratitude for KIB’s esteemed recognition, Mohammed Al-Shamri, Assistant General Manager of the Internal Shariah Audit Department, said: “We are deeply honored to receive another recognition from CFI.co. The award reflects KIB’s outstanding performance and leadership in the MENA region’s Islamic banking sector. It is a testament to our dedication and hard work in upholding the principles of Islamic finance while delivering exceptional value to our customers.” 
Al-Shamri highlighted that KIB has also won CFI.co’s Best Banking Vision in MENA award, asserting that “KIB constantly upgrades its services and rolls out new Sharia-compliant products to meet the changing needs of society. This year, the Bank introduced new features to its suite of contact center services, including the WhatsApp interactive service, in addition to announcing revamped versions of its retail and corporate banking platforms. It also launched the KIB Aqari platform, which is the first-of-its-kind real estate platform with digital appraisal requests and follow-up features. The Bank will continue to deliver excellence in its products and services, and to strengthen its pivotal role in advancing the Islamic finance industry.” 

At the end of his statement, Al-Shammari thanked all regulatory authorities, especially the Central Bank of Kuwait for its supportive role and the rational policies it applies to the banking sector. He also thanked the Chairman and members of the Board of Directors of KIB and the Executive Management for their continued support and tireless efforts aimed at achieving more success, as well as all of the Bank’s employees for their dedication and continued cooperation in developing the Bank and meeting the aspirations of customers and shareholders.

It is worth mentioning that London-based CFI.co is recognized as a leading media platform focusing on business, economics, and finance news. Its awards program is among the world's largest forums for recognizing and honoring individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to upholding exceptional standards of innovation and excellence in the global economic and financial sector.