Kuwait Finance House (KFH), participated in The Forbes Middle East Top Advisors & Investors Summit, a premier regional gathering that brought together the region’s foremost advisors, financial professionals, and investors at a pivotal moment for the Middle East’s investment future. This summit provides an essential platform to exchange expertise, spotlight trends, and unlock sustainable growth strategies.

KFH’s participation reflects its commitment to contributing to forward‑looking conversations that advance sustainable growth, innovation, and responsible investment across the region. As a world’s leading Islamic financial institutions, KFH continues to play a central role in strengthening Kuwait’s and the region’s financial sectors through cutting‑edge digital banking solutions, robust investment offerings, and strategic global partnerships.

Deputy General Manager- Global Markets Trading and Investments at KFH, Khalid AlRukhayes, participated in a panel discussion titled: “From Savers to Shareholders: Expanding Public Participation to Drive Market Growth,” a discussion exploring the critical role of increasing retail investor participation in capital markets, both equities and fixed income.

During the session, AlRukhayes shed light on the rapid expansion of the retail base investing in the fixed income market, explaining that retail investors are increasingly drawn to Sukuk and other fixed‑income products due to their stability, good returns, and alignment with conservative investment preferences. He noted that advancements in digital trading platforms, broader product availability, and strengthened financial literacy initiatives have collectively empowered a larger segment of the public to participate in this asset class, transforming fixed‑income investment from a niche institutional activity into a mainstream option for everyday investors.

AlRukhayes elaborated on how financial institutions and market regulators can work together to enhance accessibility, develop investor‑friendly products, and strengthen financial literacy as key enablers of a more inclusive capital market ecosystem.

He also highlighted KFH’s ongoing efforts to empower emerging investor segments through innovative digital platforms, Sharia‑compliant investment solutions, and transparent market engagement strategies. He stressed that broadening participation not only expands market reach and liquidity but also creates a more resilient, sustainable, and balanced investment landscape that supports long‑term national economic development.

AlRukhayes said that KFH is the largest bank and the largest listed company by market capitalisation in Kuwait, with operations across 10 countries and a network of more than 600 branches. He added that scale, however, is not an objective in itself; what truly matters is how that scale is managed, and whether growth is earned through discipline rather than pursued for its own sake.

He added “Capital, when deployed responsibly, has the ability to shape economic outcomes.” He referred to the bank’s successful Sukuk issuance of a USD 850 million Additional Tier 1 Mudaraba Sukuk, the largest of its kind in Kuwait, which attracted retail investors.  The issuance saw exceptional demand, with subscription orders of over USD 1.7 billion (more than twice the issue size), and an annual yield of 6.25%. This issuance supports KFH's strategy to strengthen its capital base and diversify funding, thereby enhancing its capacity to finance Kuwait`s key developmental projects, particularly in infrastructure, energy and other vital sectors, and facilitating client expansion regionally and globally.

AlRukhayes concluded his remarks by noting that economies that thrive are those that plan with discipline, innovate with intent, and invest with responsibility.