Top 100 Arabs 2024

77. Shaikha Khaled Al Bahar

Deputy Group CEO, National Bank Of Kuwait (NBK)

Origin: Kuwait

Residence: Kuwait

Sector: Finance

2023 Rank: 79

Al Bahar is one of the leading voices in the finance industry in the GCC. Having led the National Bank of Kuwait as Deputy group CEO for over 10 years, she has overseen the growth of the bank which has become the largest in Kuwait.

In 2023, NBK recorded a net profit of $1.8bn, up 10.1 per cent year-on-year from 2022. Shaikha has been instrumental in positioning NBK as the largest financial institution in Kuwait along with earning accolades such as ranking among the world’s top safest banks. She is a strong proponent of women empowerment in the world of finance and the corporate structure. She is credited with the launch of ‘NBK Rise’, a first-of-its-kind global women’s leadership initiative that advocates for greater boardroom diversity.

In October 2023, Al Bahar oversaw the first batch of the global leadership programme for women, NBK RISE, training 20 women for executive management and board roles.

Al Bahar is also the chairperson of the National Bank of Kuwait France and the National Bank of Kuwait (Egypt) and a board member of the National Bank of Kuwait (International), the group’s UK subsidiary.

DJ Khaled

Ons Jabeur