Recent moves to improve Kuwait's capital markets have won the country a place on the FTSE Russell emerging markets list and boosted its international profile.

Moves by Kuwait's central bank to sharpen regulation, improve liquidity and encourage greater take-up of fintech have nurtured the development of the country's Islamic finance sector. 

Islamic finance should have a wider global appeal, writes Kuwait's central bank governor.

While a global deal to cut oil production has helped to rebalance the market, Kuwait, along with other oil-reliant countries, must now look to what happens when the deal ends. Kit Gillet reports.

Dr Meshaal Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, director-general of the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority, discusses the country’s plans to cut bureaucracy and its ambitions to be a regional business hub.

Mohammad Al-Hashel, governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait, tells James King how a focus on shoring up capital adequacy has enabled Kuwaiti banks to withstand the pressures of the low oil price environment.

Kuwait is positioning itself as a future regional financial, cultural and institutional hub, forging ahead with infrastructure mega-projects and developing private sector investment – apparently unbowed by disputes at home and between its Gulf neighbours. James King reports.

Kuwaiti banks are in ebullient mood, reporting both decent profits and healthy capital adequacy levels. But while government spending promises further growth opportunities, competition for customers is heating up in a crowded market, as James King reports.

With one of the oldest Islamic banking sectors in the world, Kuwait continues to show impressive growth and adaptability in the industry. Now authorities in the country are looking to become big hitters on a regional and global level. Kit Gillet and James King report.

A global deal to cut oil production and rebalance the market is good news for Kuwait – but it expires after six months. Can the country’s oil business expand its way to stability? Kit Gillet reports.