Foreign investments in Kuwait-listed banks fell to 4.535 billion dinars ($13.967 billion) by end-Q3 2026, down from 5.182 billion dinars ($15.960 billion) at end-2025.
A report by Al-Shall Consulting Company issued Saturday indicated that a 12.5 percent decline in foreign investments in listed Kuwaiti banks, exceeding the banking sector index’s drop. These investments accounted for 14.37 percent of the sector’s market capitalization, down from 16.01 percent at end-2025.
The report said the banking sector accounted for 60 percent of the stock exchange’s market capitalization by end-Q3 2026, making it the top destination for foreign investment. It ranked second in liquidity, accounting for 27.7 percent of total trading during the period.
It added that the banking sector index fell by 2.7 percent, while foreign ownership declined in seven of Kuwait’s nine listed banks between end-2025 and September 2026.
Foreign investments were concentrated in five banks, led by National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) at 1.957 billion dinars, Kuwait Finance House at 1.947 billion dinars, and Boubyan. The report said foreign ownership declined in seven of Kuwait’s nine listed banks by end-September 2026.
Investments in Gulf Bank and Warba Bank reached 146.2 million dinars and 121.3 million dinars, respectively, with 96.9 percent of foreign investments concentrated in five banks. NBK led in relative foreign ownership at 25.05 percent, followed by KFH at 13.10 percent, Gulf Bank at 10.47 percent and Kuwait International Bank at 9.68 percent.
The report explained that NBK was the only bank to record an increase in foreign ownership, rising by 1.50 percentage points from 7.44 percent to 8.94 percent. Gulf Bank recorded the largest decline, falling 3.23 percentage points from 13.70 percent to 10.47 percent.
The report concluded that foreign ownership in the banking sector remained relatively stable, with fluctuations driven by index performance, shifts in holdings between banks and limited divestments.
Source: KUNA