Islamic banking already has a strong presence in Kuwait. With a number of innovative lenders competing in the sector, and support and regulatory oversight from the country's central bank, it looks as though the industry can only become a more prominent fixture on the country's financial landscape.
Kuwait may lay claim to more than 5% of the world's total oil reserves, but without the expertise and equipment needed to tap into the bulk of this, and with strict rules prohibiting foreign help, the country is struggling to realise its energy potential.
With performance starting to pick up again in the Kuwaiti banking sector, and strong growth potential both in the domestic market and in neighbouring Iraq, the small country is finding itself the focus of a growing number of lenders, with competition among them growing fierce.
With the country's well-capitalised banking sector set to transition smoothly to Basel III standards and a positive macroeconomic outlook, central bank governor Mohammad Al-Hashel is able to concentrate on Kuwait's longer term prospects. He tells The Banker how he expects more growth in the Islamic banking sector and an increase in government spending, both of which will prove beneficial to the country's economy.