KFH Group Chief Executive Officer, Khaled Yousef AlShamlan, has been recognized on Forbes Middle East magazine's "The Middle East's Sustainability Leaders 2025” list.

KFH Head of Group Compliance and Governance, Meshal Alshayee, accepted the recognition on behalf of AlShamlan at an award ceremony on the sideline of the 2025 Forbes Sustainability Leaders Summit in Abu Dhabi. The ceremony gathered leaders from the sustainability, technology, and financing sectors committed to enhancing green practices and sustainability.

Forbes recognizes executives who drive sustainability and impact in the region’s largest companies across 15 industries, including banking, energy and utilities, food and agriculture, investment and holding companies, renewable energy, and others.

KFH Group CEO, Khaled Yousef AlShamlan was ranked as the top CEO in Kuwait and the fifth in the Middle East`s banking sector.

Forbes said that KFH invested $934.45 million in sustainable Sukuk in 2024. The bank also reported that 51% of issued credit cards were made from recycled plastic.

The magazine added that KFH expanded to 11 KFH Go branches, installed LED lighting, and replaced traditional lighting across its head office and branches as part of its efforts to increase energy efficiency. KFH Auto ecofriendly Showroom received the Global Sustainability Assessment System GSAS – Gold Level Certificate, first-of-its-kind in Kuwait.

The Most Sustainable Projects in the Middle East Award

Moreover, KFH won the Most Sustainable Projects in the Middle East award for 2025 from Forbes Middle East magazine. This recognition is for the bank's sustainability initiatives, which included investing $934.45 million in sustainability and green Sukuk in 2024.

The award was received by Head of Group Compliance and Governance, Meshal Alshayee who expressed his pride in the achievement. This recognition highlights KFH's significant contribution to sustainability, specifically through its successful investments in green and sustainability Sukuk. KFH was also recognized for its strong commitment to environmental sustainability and its integration of sustainable practices into all operations. This distinction is based on the bank’s proactive adoption of Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) principles, which serve as a core element of its corporate strategy and align with the Kuwait 2035 vision for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

While receiving the award, Alshayee highlighted KFH’s sustainability endeavors, indicating that the Bank achieved MSCI ESG “A” rating by Morgan Stanely. KFH was also included in the FTSE4Good for its exceptional performance in the ESG practices and commitment to sustainable finance.

Additionally, KFH Auto Showroom won the GSAS Gold Level Sustainability Assessment Certificate, the first environmentally friendly building that fully complies with sustainability standards.

Alshayee also underscored KFH’s efforts in sustainability, such as signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and an agreement on the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

KFH organized the first-ever Sustainable Business Program for SMEs, which is designed to give these businesses a competitive advantage and help them achieve their goals. This initiative underscores KFH's vision to promote sustainable development and its leadership in stimulating the entrepreneurial environment.

He emphasized the continuation of the "Keep It Green" initiative, emphasizing its role in enhancing environmental protection and reducing carbon emissions for a more sustainable future.

He further noted that KFH is the first institution to issue impact measurement reports. KFH is also the first bank to release annual Sustainability Report as well as Carbon Footprint Report, which include valuable insights, and detailed plans that outline the efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The report also sheds light on minimizing the negative environmental impact of activities that are not aligned with environment protection efforts in the coming years, in accordance with global initiatives for combating climate change.

It is worth noting that Forbes Middle East selected KFH for this award in recognition of its 2024 success in allocating sustainable investments to green and sustainability Sukuk, with a total value of $934.45 million.

Forbes Middle East’s methodology considers several criteria, including sustainability and ESG reporting, green and sustainable finance initiatives, and performance indicators such as changes in greenhouse gas emissions, reliance on renewable energy, and the adoption of energy-efficient technologies. The magazine also tracks the progress made in these areas.

Forbes Middle East also reviews questionnaires as well as sustainability and ESG reports. This process is further refined by classifying each sector separately.