National Bank of Kuwait launches Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council
KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT – February 16, 2026 — National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) announced the launch of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council to create a sustainable framework embedding these values in HR practices for equal opportunities. The 11-member council, representing markets including Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and London, held its first meeting on January 27, 2026, following NBK’s December 2024 DEI Commitment Statement aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 10.
Overview
The council will develop measurement mechanisms and performance indicators to track DEI progress across NBK’s operations. Key focus areas include empowering employees, supporting women in leadership through the award-winning NBK Rise program—the first of its kind in Kuwait—and promoting national talent, safe dialogue spaces, new policies, training, and awareness initiatives.
Announcement Specifics
In 2025, NBK reported 42.5% women in its workforce, 27.4% in leadership roles, and 34.5% of new recruits as women.
“The establishment of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council comes within the framework of our strategy aimed at promoting a work environment based on justice and equal opportunities, to serve as a compass that guides our policies and decisions related to employment, development and recognition”
— Najla Al-Sager, Head of Talent Management and Learning at NBK
Why it matters: This positions NBK as a strategic leader in fair workplace practices amid MENA’s evolving labor markets.
“In recent years, we introduced many innovative initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion, most notably the NBK Rise program, which is the first initiative of its kind in Kuwait, specifically designed to support and empower women leaders to reach the highest leadership positions, which has won many regional and international awards”
— Najla Al-Sager, Head of Talent Management and Learning at NBK
Why it matters: The NBK Rise program demonstrates tangible progress in fostering innovation through diverse leadership.
Industry Context
In Kuwaiti and MENA banking, DEI initiatives address talent shortages and regulatory pushes for localization and gender balance. NBK’s move sets a benchmark, aligning with global standards while supporting Vision 2035 goals in Kuwait and Saudi Vision 2030. With members from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and beyond, the council influences NBK’s international operations, potentially inspiring peers like Gulf banks to prioritize inclusion for competitive advantages in talent attraction.
Conclusion
NBK’s next steps include establishing specialized committees for policy development, signaling sustained investment in inclusive growth across MENA finance. The council is expected to enhance creativity and stakeholder service throughout the bank’s regional network.
Sources: Zawya, Kuwait Times, NBK
