THE MIDDLE EAST’S

18. National Bank of Kuwait (NBK Group)

Country: Kuwait
Sector: Banks & Financial Services
Vice Chairman & Group CEO: Isam Jasem Al-Sager
Market Value: $26.5 billion
Sales: $8.3 billion
Profits: $2.1 billion
Assets: $131.6 billion

Established in 1952, the NBK Group operates 142 branches across 13 countries. In October 2024, NBK signed four strategic agreements valued at $1.6 billion during the Future Investment Initiative in Saudi Arabia, including a $690 million Framework Agreement with ACWA Power. In December 2024, NBK acquired a 51% stake in UPayments, a Kuwait-based payment services provider and e-commerce enablement platform. The group achieved a record net profit of $2.1 billion in 2024, marking its highest-ever annual performance.