KUWAIT: Kuwait International Bank (KIB) announced that it was named "Best Islamic Bank in the GCC 2016" by World Finance. This recognition came as part of the annual GCC Investment & Development Awards bestowed by the leading UK-based magazine, renowned for being an independent assessment body specializing in the banking and finance sectors.

KIB received this latest accolade as a result of its outstanding performance in a number of key areas, including: quality of services and products, competitive future strategy, sound leadership, developing the local workforce and creating job opportunities, corporate governance and dedication to transparency, sustainable development, commitment to innovation and technological development, and leading social responsibility policies.

Commenting on this latest accolade, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, Chairman of KIB, said: "Receiving this award is a milestone achievement for KIB, and it only adds to our existing record of excellence and leadership within the Arab Islamic banking sector.  It also underscores our position as a premier Islamic bank not only in Kuwait, but across the GCC as well."

Al-Jarrah further added: "We are proud to always be developing and growing as a bank, and this honor comes as a continuation of KIB's ongoing streak of successes and accomplishments. It also serves to highlight a new phase in our journey, marked by stability and high performance within the framework of a highly competitive regional and international banking industry. Today, we are determined more than ever before to forge ahead with our strategic plans, which focus on enhancing our position and status within the market by offering innovative sharia compliant banking solutions."

Additionally, Al-Jarrah spoke of KIB's commitment to supporting and developing human capital, stating: "The success of any organization depends on the efforts and dedication of its employees; therefore KIB prioritizes human resources development and focuses heavily on investing in its human capital. The Bank's team features highly qualified and experienced banking professionals across all levels of the organization, and we strive to attract the best local and international talent who add value to our business and operations."

In a testament to the Bank's ongoing success and solid performance, KIB has garnered numerous local and international prestigious awards over the span of the past few years. One of the biggest accolades was being named "The Best Islamic Bank in Kuwait" by World Finance for three consecutive years (2014, 2015 and 2016). KIB was also named "Best Sharia-Compliant Bank in the Middle East" for the year 2015 by Capital Finance International, and won "Best Banking Vision" for the year 2016 by CPI Financial in the Islamic Business and Finance Awards category.