• Ahmad Al-Amir: Focused initiatives and programs for sustainability within the Bank's strategy 2025
• Full support for youth through the "Company Program" and a "Jahez" forum... in partnership with "INJAZ"
• Let's Talk Business podcast to support small and medium enterprises
• The Gulf Bank's 642 Marathon won the Best Sustainability Initiative Award, for promoting healthier lifestyles through sport.
• Lujain Al-Qenaei: We participated in the Eco-Summit to highlight the challenges facing Kuwait and discuss possible solutions
• Two initiatives to reduce the use of plastic and paper printing in order to reach environmental sustainability
• Gulf Bank is the first entity in Kuwait to organize a padel tournament for women... with the participation of 16 teams
• Supporting the talk show "Lei Wa Lakom" to highlight the success stories of women leaders
• Hamad Al Wazzan: A distinguished community interaction through "GB COMMUNITY" to support local business
• A busy season of social initiatives and charitable activities during the month of Ramadan
• Participation in the national awareness campaign "Safe Education", to facilitate the return of students to schools
• Hamza AlTailji: a significant increase in the number of active customers on "Gulf Bank" accounts in social media
• Active participation in the "Diraya" campaign to educate customers about their rights and help them protect their data

Proceeding from its motto “With you Always” and in line with its five-year strategy, Gulf Bank presented a distinguished model of sustainability in 2021, within the framework of the Bank’s keenness to support sustainability at the societal, economic and environmental levels, through carefully selected and identified initiatives that benefit the community.

Deputy General Manager for Corporate Communications at Gulf Bank, Ahmad Al-Amir, said that social responsibility is one of the main pillars of Gulf Bank's strategy that aims to support the community, promote awareness, culture and actively contribute to finding solutions to societal and environmental problems.

He noted that the bank recorded a rapid response to the repercussions imposed by the conditions of the Corona crisis, through selected programs covering all segments of society, ranging between sports and health events, sponsoring student activities, supporting youth and entrepreneurs, and other social programs.

On her part, Manager of Sustainability and Corporate Communications, Lujain Al-Qenaei, indicated that the Bank’s launch of its first sustainability report for the year 2020, reflects its values, in accordance with the foundations of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and the guidelines for the Kuwait Stock Exchange, in addition to the United Nations sustainable development goals, and Kuwait Vision 2035. And the "Gulf Bank" strategy for the year 2025.

Hamad Al Wazzan, Management Associate of Corporate Communications at Gulf Bank, said: "We realize the importance of our role and our effective contribution to consolidating sustainability in the society, by adopting responsible practices with a proactive sustainable approach, using effective leadership and governance, through the provision of financial and banking services, innovative digital solutions, talent acquisition, and youth empowerment. In addition to other practices that ensure the comprehensive inclusion of environmental, community and governance elements within the work pillars of Gulf Bank.”

Assistant Manager of Corporate Communications at Gulf Bank, Hamza AlTailji, added that Gulf Bank's accounts on various social media witnessed a steady increase in the number of active customers during 2021, compared to the growth rates recorded in previous years.

Social Sustainability

Sponsoring Youth and Students

Gulf Bank has sponsored the conference of the National Union of Kuwaiti Students (NUKS) in the United States of America, which was launched as part of the Bank's Social Sustainability Program, that focuses on supporting Kuwaiti youth.

Gulf Bank participated in the conference, which was held in Chicago, from 25 to 28 November, in several activities for Kuwaiti expatriate students. The bank’s participation included many entertainment sessions and activities for the students present at the conference.

Gulf Bank also participated in the national awareness campaign "Safe Education", in which several ministries cooperated with the private sector, to facilitate the return of students to school after more than a year and a half of hiatus. The campaign was launched in conjunction with the beginning of the school year at the beginning of the month, with the aim of educating and encouraging all members of society and inviting them to support government efforts and initiatives related to preparing for the return of students.

Gulf Bank 642 Marathon

The Gulf Bank 642 Marathon, one of the biggest social and sporting events in Kuwait, was held with more than 7000 participants at the starting line, from 93 nationalities, and with 350 organizing volunteers on the exciting sports and family day.

The Gulf Bank 642 Marathon is distinguished by its Bronze Label from World Athletics, which is only given to only 128 marathons globally. The Gulf Bank 642 Marathon is the only marathon in Kuwait that has the Bronze accreditation. The marathon is also recognized by The AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings, which is a global age group marathon ranking system.

Gulf Bank won four awards in the 9th edition of the Kuwait Innovation Award. The award ceremony, which was organized by the Arab Media Forum and sponsored by the Ministry of Information and League of Arab States, recognized Gulf Bank’s 642 Marathon as the Best Sustainability Initiative, promoting healthier lifestyles through sport.

Padel Tournament

Gulf Bank held a padel tournament at the Oasis Courts in Bneid Al-Gar for a group of young male and female fans of the sport which has quickly gained worldwide popularity. The Bank padel tournament launched with the participation of 16 female teams, for the first time in Kuwait.

Women Empowerment

Gulf Bank is participating in "Orange the World,” a global initiative launched by the United Nations to eliminate violence against women. The event took place on 25 November 2020, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, kicking off 16 days of activism that will conclude on 10 December 2020, which is International Human Rights Day. Throughout the campaign, Gulf Bank is illuminating its main building orange in support of efforts to eliminate violence against women and champion broader human rights efforts.

Lei Wa Lakom

Gulf Bank has announced it is sponsoring “Lei Wa Lakom,” a digital talk show highlighting women’s voices and female success stories. The program is dedicated to providing insightful content directed primarily to working women who seek to develop and improve their society and environment. The show targets a wide range of audiences, including both young women who are at the start of their careers, and female success stories and role models from the local community.

Health and Wellness

As part of its keenness on public health, at the end of October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Bank organized a wellness day with various activities in Al Shaheed Park, which included a "walkathon" and a discussion panel that focused on the importance of psychological and mental health.

Ramadan

In Ramadan, Gulf Bank had a multitude of community activities and charity initiatives organized and spearheaded by the Bank. Throughout the holy month, the Gulf Bank team has been hard at work organizing multiple efforts to engage various groups of society, in an effort to encourage sustainability and give back to the community at large.

As part of Gulf Bank’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and its dedication to impacting the local community, Gulf Bank participated in a humanitarian campaign led by the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) to distribute electrical devices to disadvantaged families in Kuwait. As part of the initiative, several Gulf Bank employees volunteered to support the KRCS team’s efforts to distribute the appliances to local families residing in Kuwait.

In keeping with international efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations, Gulf Bank contributed its support to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). During the month of Ramadan, Gulf Bank’s efforts included providing humanitarian aid and basic daily needs to refugees. Gulf Bank’s support covered basic costs for refugee families, including housing rent, food, and health services, in addition to debt repayment.

Stories With Hamad

Gulf Bank was the title sponsor of “Stories With Hamad,” the latest show hosted by social media influencer and personality, Hamad Alali. The new show is an audio and video storytelling podcast that aims to highlight a true story or event told by those who lived it over the course of 15-minute daily segments.

Girgean Activities

This year, Gulf Bank celebrated girgean with several initiatives, with employees distributing treats to frontline workers, and handing out girgean to passersby in the walking paths in residential neighborhoods — all while being mindful of health and safety precautions.

In recognition of the continuous efforts of frontline workers throughout the past year, Gulf Bank was also keen to have them join in its girgean celebration, distributing baskets of various sweets and treats to frontline workers.

In appreciation of its customers and in support of local brands, Gulf Bank teamed up with a number of local outlets to present Ramadan gifts to the Bank's customers. Every Thursday throughout the holy month of Ramadan, customers received a free gift upon visiting any Gulf Bank branch and presenting their Gulf Bank bank card.

Environmental Sustainability

The Scientific Center’s Eco-Summit

Gulf Bank participated in The Scientific Center’s Eco-Summit, and highlighted the pivotal role that the banking sector plays in achieving sustainability. Gulf Bank highlighted its various sustainability initiatives at the environmental, community, and economic levels, which include partnering with national firms to recycle paper and plastic.

Reducing Plastic Waste

As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability and preservation, Gulf Bank distributed high quality reusable water bottles to all employees across the Bank’s various branches and departments. The initiative aims to reduce the use of single-use plastic and paper cups, encouraging employees to opt for reusable water bottles instead.

Reducing Wasteful Printing

As part of its ongoing efforts to support sustainability, Gulf Bank spearheaded a new initiative to more effectively address internal printing requirements, consolidating printers to support the existing print volume and current business needs.

Beach Cleanups

Gulf Bank led an extensive community and environmental clean-up campaign to clean up Bnaider Beach in Kuwait, in cooperation with the international environmental organization, Trash Hero, and as part of its commitment to preserving the environment. Chalet owners, beachgoers and Gulf Bank volunteers took part in an eventful community clean-up day that included family members, adults and children.

Economic Sustainability

Supporting SMEs

Driven by its commitment to economic sustainability, and in recognition of the importance of the small and medium enterprises sector, Gulf Bank launched a new initiative to provide comprehensive support to small and medium enterprises, through offering business services from specialized agencies.

Let’s Talk Business

Gulf Bank’s new podcast highlights the little-known origin stories behind some of our favorite local brands

The program, hosted by Tareq Al-Saleh, Deputy General Manager of the Economic Research Unit at Gulf Bank, presents entrepreneurial stories within a simplified economic framework, targeting budding entrepreneurs who are considering starting businesses of their own. The Bank’s new podcast is part of its overarching strategy of fostering economic and community sustainability in Kuwait.

Partnering with INJAZ

Gulf Bank sponsored INJAZ Kuwait’s annual "Company Program" competition was held virtually through video communications app, Zoom. The Bank also participated in the JAHEZ career forum, which was launched by INJAZ Kuwait for high school and university students, in addition to recent graduates. The program showcases local and international community leaders’ work experiences to the local youth, with the aim of educating them on the requirements for the modern day workforce.

Gulf Bank participated in the "Head Start" training program launched by INJAZ Kuwait. The program targets undergraduate college students and aims to train them in building their CVs and preparing for job interviews.

Social Events and Activities

Gulf Bank surprises customers at 360 Mall during the weekend with discounts and activities in collaboration with V-Thru and restaurants available at the mall. This participation took place to show our commitment in promoting economic sustainability and in support of local businesses.

Gulf Bank employees encouraged customers to participate in the video competition where the winner was given a cash prize, credited to their V-Thru account, to be used when paying to the participating cafes and restaurants, as part of Gulf Bank’s “GB Community” initiatives.

The Central Bank of Kuwait Honors & Awards Gulf Bank in Recognition of “Diraya” Campaign Support

As part of its commitment to educating customers about their banking rights and raising awareness about cybersecurity, Gulf Bank participated in the Diraya campaign, an awareness campaign initiated by the Central Bank of Kuwait and the Kuwait Banking Association.

The Diraya campaign spans several topics, including the borrowing process, bank cards, cybersecurity, security tips, and services for customers with special needs. The campaign also aims to clarify the mechanisms for raising official complaints in an effort to protect customers’ rights, and also aims to highlight the banking sector's tasks and roles in stimulating and developing the economy.

As part of its commitment to promoting financial inclusion, and its continuous support for the "Diraya" campaign, Gulf Bank is keen to provide its services to customers with special needs through a number of branches located in all governorates of the country.

The Central Bank of Kuwait honored Gulf Bank with the prestigious “Outstanding Awareness and Education Award,” in recognition of the Bank’s role in supporting the Diraya awareness campaign.