
Shaikha Al-Bahar only Kuwaiti on Fortune's 100 powerful businesswomen in 2025 list
KUWAIT: Shaikha Al-Bahar, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), has been recognized as Kuwait's most influential businesswoman and the sole Kuwaiti featured in Fortune Magazine's prestigious 2025 list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Business.
Al-Bahar stands as the second-highest ranked executive from the Middle East region on this coveted list. The list, compiled by Fortune editors, is based on company size and health of the business, as well as an executive's career trajectory, influence, innovation and efforts to make business better. More than 50 women currently lead Fortune 500 companies, yet only 20 made this year's list — a testament to how increasingly competitive the ranking has become.
Featured in the 2025 ranking are some of the most influential figures in global business, including Mary Barra, Chair and CEO of General Motors; Julie Sweet, Chair and CEO of Accenture; Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup; Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD; and Ana Botín, Executive Chairman of Banco Santander.
In her role at NBK, Al-Bahar continues to play a pivotal part in driving the bank's sustained growth and transformation. Her leadership spans critical initiatives including digital innovation, sustainability strategies, and policy development to extend NBK's regional footprint. She has been instrumental in advancing sustainable finance efforts aligned with the global transition towards a low-carbon economy and climate risk mitigation.
Driven by her strategic vision, NBK reinforced its position as Kuwait's largest bank and a regional powerhouse with top-tier credit ratings. Building on this momentum, she spearheaded the Group's digital transformation, notably launching 'Weyay,' Kuwait's first fully digital bank tailored to redefine financial engagement for younger generations. Al-Bahar was also a key architect behind NBK's Sustainable Financing Framework, embedding global ESG standards into the bank's operations.
Beyond business, Al-Bahar is a strong advocate for social impact. She launched NBK RISE, a transformative initiative aimed at empowering women in leadership roles and led the 'Bankee' Financial Literacy Program in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Public Authority for Anti-Corruption 'Nazaha.' In the 2024–2025 academic year alone, the program reached more than 32,000 students and 7,200 teachers, marking a significant step forward in advancing financial literacy among Kuwait's youth.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Kuwait Times
3 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Amber dreams
From prayer to prestige, Kuwait's enduring love for the mesbah has turned beads into symbols of culture, craftsmanship - and serious investment By Fahad AlSayegh In Kuwait and across the Arabian Gulf, beads - or as they're commonly called, mesbah - carry layered meanings. Often used for religious devotion, especially in tasbeeh (Islamic prayer recitation), the mesbah also serves as a fashion statement and a mark of prestige. Generations of Kuwaitis have held on to their mesbah not just as a spiritual tool, but as a personal talisman, companion and cultural emblem. Today, it's not unusual to see elders, adults, teenagers - even young children - clutching their beads in shopping malls, mosques or coffee shops. It has become more than a tradition - it's a cornerstone of Kuwaiti identity. For over 120,000 years, humans have threaded stories through beads - tiny seashells, stones, seeds, or bits of glass transformed into something more. In North Africa and the Middle East, some of the oldest beads ever discovered serve as evidence that the art of beadmaking is among the earliest forms of human adornment. As our ancestors spread across the globe, they left behind trails of beads - each one a symbol of beauty, meaning and personal identity. According to the Museum of Natural and Cultural History, beads are more than decoration - they reflect culture, individual aesthetics and the human desire to create and express. Over time, what began as a spiritual practice has blossomed into a booming market. In Kuwait, bead collecting has evolved into a lucrative hobby, with collectors buying, selling and trading high-value beads - especially the sought-after amber beads, known locally as kahrab. This rise in popularity has sparked a question: Is Kuwait the number one country in the Gulf when it comes to beads? To explore the answer, Kuwait Times visited one of the country's shopping malls, speaking to collectors, sellers and bead enthusiasts. 'Of course, it's number one,' said Majed Almutairi, a long-time customer at a renowned bead shop. 'Kuwait is the origin of beads in the Gulf. It has a long history in this field and is distinguished by the quality of its materials - whether it's old manufactured beads or amber.' Khaled Alansari, who runs an online shop dedicated to selling beads, agreed wholeheartedly. 'Kuwait is definitely number one, without a doubt. Beads have been part of our culture for a long time, especially since we're Muslims and we use them frequently for tasbeeh. Also, here, the mesbah is considered a symbol of elegance and a traditional accessory for men.' But perhaps the most passionate advocate for Kuwait's place at the top of the beads market is Hilal Algaoud, a beads expert working at a prestigious shop. 'Not only among Gulf countries - Kuwait is currently number one in the world, especially when it comes to amber,' he said. 'The first people who became passionate about amber were the Kuwaitis. Since the 1960s, Kuwaitis were the first to bring in amber; others followed. Kuwait is the amber capital of the world.' He added that while other Gulf countries might specialize in different materials - like mastik or faturan - and the Levant is known for stones like turquoise, agate and coral, Kuwait remains unrivaled in its amber legacy. 'Other countries look up to us when it comes to kahrab,' he said. At Hilal's shop, he revealed, one particular set of amber beads once reached a bidding price of KD 90,000 - and still wasn't sold because the owner found the offer unsatisfactory. This leads to another compelling question: Why is kahrab so expensive? 'The passion for the hobby increases the value of the bead,' Majed explained. 'In addition to the stone's intrinsic worth, a bead made from rare amber is considered a form of saving or investment. You might even sell it for a higher price later.' Khaled added: 'The high price comes from the value of the stone itself, along with the cost of crafting and transforming it from raw material into a finished mesbah. Many also see it as a form of investment.' Hilal pointed to modern trends and market shifts as well: 'Prices are high because they've become a trend,' he said. 'COVID-19 made prices spike. For example, the price of amber used to be KD 3 per gram. After the pandemic, it shot up to KD 15 per gram!' With values rising steadily, many now wonder - could amber one day rival the value of gold? But beyond prices and markets, beads also carry deep personal stories. Many collectors trace their love for mesabeeh back to childhood. 'I used to sneak and steal amber beads from my father when I was a kid,' Majed laughed. 'One time, I took a rare amber mesbahah of the Macintosh type - and I lost it!' Khaled shared his initiation into bead culture through a family moment. 'My father gave me a mesbahah as a gift and said, 'Now you're a man, you should carry one.' That moment stayed with me, and since then, I've fallen in love with mesabeeh.' Hilal, too, found his inspiration close to home. 'I was influenced by my father and by growing up in the Kuwaiti community, where beads are a big part of our culture,' he said. In every bead lies a story - of heritage, pride and quiet luxury. For Kuwait, the mesbah is more than an accessory; it is a cultural compass, a handmade archive of personal and national history. As generations continue to pass the passion down, Kuwait's bead legacy - especially in amber - only grows more luminous, threading the past, present and future together in the warm glow of tradition.

Kuwait Times
3 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
NBK launches Microsoft copilot across all divisions, pioneering AI integration, empowering employees
KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has announced the successful rollout of Microsoft Copilot to all employees across its divisions—marking a significant leap forward in its enterprise-wide AI transformation strategy. This milestone underscores NBK's continued investment in cutting-edge technologies that empower employees, streamline workflows, and enhance operational agility. Microsoft Copilot harnesses the capabilities of Generative AI to assist staff with daily tasks such as drafting documents, analyzing complex data sets, summarizing key information, and automating repetitive activities. By embedding this advanced technology directly into employees' digital workspace, NBK is enabling its teams to focus on strategic initiatives and high-value client engagement, thereby reinforcing its reputation for service excellence and innovation. The adoption of Copilot is the first in a series of AI-driven initiatives planned under NBK's digital innovation roadmap. It reflects the Bank's long-term commitment to building a future-ready workforce and fostering a digitally intelligent workplace culture. NBK's strategic embrace of responsible AI ensures that innovation is deployed in a manner that is secure, ethical, and aligned with international best practices in data privacy and governance. Commenting on the launch, Mohammad Al Kharafi Group Chief Operating Officer, Group Operations, Technology and Data said: 'We recognize the transformative potential of AI in reshaping the future of banking, not just as a tool for automation but as a catalyst for innovation and growth. The adoption of Microsoft Copilot marks a pivotal step in our digital evolution—one that empowers our employees to become more efficient, creative, and customer-centric in everything they do.' Mohammed Al Kharafi 'By embedding generative AI into the Bank's daily internal workflows, we are enabling smarter decision-making, faster execution, and more meaningful engagement across the organization. Copilot leads the way as one of NBK's first generative AI solution—paving the way for a full suite of AI-driven tools under its long-term innovation roadmap,' Al Kharafi explained. He concluded by adding, 'As we continue to embrace emerging technologies, our focus remains firmly on responsible innovation. We are committed to ensuring that every advancement is delivered with the highest standards of security, compliance, and ethical integrity. Ultimately, our goal is to build a future-ready organization that blends human ingenuity with digital intelligence to drive sustainable value for our customers, employees, and stakeholders alike.' Beyond the deployment of Microsoft Copilot, NBK remains committed to enhancing the employee experience through a comprehensive approach that combines cultural transformation with digital enablement. The Bank continues to modernize internal systems and deliver targeted upskilling programs, fostering a work environment where people and technology thrive together. These efforts are part of a broader vision to promote continuous learning, collaboration, and human-centered innovation across the organization. This strategic launch builds on a series of IT enhancements that NBK has introduced as part of its ongoing digital transformation journey. Across its operations in Kuwait and internationally, the Bank has upgraded core systems, strengthened its digital infrastructure, and accelerated the automation of routine processes to boost efficiency and reduce operational risk. These developments have also improved system resilience, enhanced cybersecurity protocols, and strengthened business continuity. Together, these advancements contribute to a more agile, secure, and digitally empowered workplace, enabling employees to focus on delivering exceptional service and value to clients. In recognition of its efforts in digital advancement, innovation excellence, and responsible technology adoption, NBK has received numerous accolades from leading global and regional institutions, further cementing its position as a pioneer in the region's banking sector. As NBK continues to lead the financial sector in Kuwait and the region through responsible digital transformation, initiatives like this demonstrate the Bank's unwavering focus on empowering talent, accelerating innovation, and setting a new benchmark for AI-led transformation in the banking sector—delivering long-term value to customers, shareholders, and the communities we serve.


Arab Times
5 hours ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait's social security to disburse KD 20 pension increase starting August 1
KUWAIT CITY, July 27: The Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS) announced on Sunday that the next pension increase of KD 20 (approximately USD 65.4) will be disbursed starting August 1. In a post on its official ' X' account, the PIFSS confirmed that the increment will cover Kuwaiti retirees as well as individuals treated as Kuwaitis. It will also include those eligible for pensions based on their entitlement percentages. The institution clarified that the pension increase will be deposited automatically, and beneficiaries do not need to take any action or visit the PIFSS to receive the additional amount.