A dynamic future for banking

Congratulations to the winners of the Mena Banking Excellence Awards 2023!

The second edition of the awards was an extraordinary evening, brimming with excitement, celebration and, above all, a sense of achievement. The night brought together banking professionals, industry leaders and stakeholders to commemorate excellence and innovation. It also provided a unique platform for networking, fostering collaborations and exchanging valuable insights.

The nominations received this year covered a diverse array of initiatives, ranging from innovative products and services to transformative digital strategies. Their volume and quality were a testament to the banking industry’s resilience and continuous drive for progress, highlighting the depth of talent and expertise.

I am delighted to witness the exciting developments unfolding within the sector, driven by technological advancements, evolving customer needs and regulatory changes. For this reason, we have produced a knowledge bank in the form of a special report, called Banking on Transformation.

Throughout the process of preparing this report, I have had the privilege of engaging with prominent banking leaders and these interactions have provided invaluable insights into the current state of the industry and its future prospects.

Banking on Transformation not only examines notable achievements and industry trends but also offers a comprehensive analysis of the developments, innovative strategies and emerging opportunities in the Mena banking sector.

Looking ahead, the banking industry is on a promising trajectory. With a focus on digitalisation, customer-centricity and sustainable growth, lenders in the region are paving the way for a dynamic future. Embracing innovative technologies, enhancing financial inclusion and adapting to evolving market dynamics will be crucial for sustained success.

As we conclude this remarkable event, I eagerly anticipate next year’s Mena Banking Excellence Awards and look forward to witnessing the continued progress and inspiring success stories that will shape the future of banking in the region.

I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the judges as well as my esteemed colleagues at MEED for their outstanding efforts in successfully organising this year’s awards programme.

Sarah Rizvi
Editor, MEED

Click here to download the 2023 Special Report

A huge thank you to all participating banks in the inaugural MENA Banking Excellence Awards and the warmest of congratulations to all of the winners.

The Middle East & North Africa is widely accepted as one of the fastest growing markets in the banking and financial services sector. From Egypt issuing the first “green bond” in the region, to Saudi Arabia’s issuance of standalone digital banking licenses, the region is challenging more wellestablished global markets in the race to position as worldclass financial hubs.

Recognising these rapid changes and evolving financial services landscape, MEED has partnered with leading financial services publications Retail Banker International and Private Banker International to introduce the first edition MENA Banking Excellence Awards.

This initiative is an extension of the long-running programmes RBI Asia Trailblazer awards, now in their 13th year, and PBI Global Wealth Awards, now in their 32nd year. The 2022 awards programme celebrates the best-in-class banking and financial services institutions and individuals for their strategy, innovative offerings, commitment to customer excellence and impact on the regional finance sector. We received a very high number of entries. But that is only part of the story. The quality of the entries received was exceptional.

To be able to recognise so many outstanding banks in this first edition is hugely encouraging and has allowed us to set a high benchmark of excellence for the future. I had the very great pleasure of meeting Mohammed Al Othman, Group General Manager of the Consumer Banking Group at National Bank of Kuwait, winner of the MENA Retail Banker of the Year and MENA Digital Innovator of the Year

During our meeting I was inspired by Mohammed’s leadership in launching Weyay Bank, Kuwait’s first fully digital bank. Focused on younger customers in the 15-25 age group, Weyay Bank has already gained a significant market share among this new generation and has set a high bar for other banks in Kuwait and the region as a whole to follow.

Just as impressively the conceptualisation, creation and launch of Weyay was completed in just 13 months despite the challenges imposed by Covid. This combined with Weyay’s already incredible success leave no doubt that Mohammed and his team at NBK are worthy winners of these two prestigious awards.

It is a privilege to be involved in this initiative. The MEED team and I are tremendously excited to see the next iteration of banking excellence evolve as we invite the industry to take part in the second edition which will be hosted in person alongside our first regional banking summit on 10 May 2023.

I must also say a massive thank you to the judges and my colleagues at MEED for the phenomenal task of administering the entries and running the awards this year.

Click here to download the 2022 Special Reportan in-depth analysis of winning strategies and the mindsets that drive success inspired by the winning entries for the MENA Banking Excellence Awards.

Ed James
Director of Content and Analysis
MEED