The Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies Honors Graduates of the 5th Cohort of Cybersecurity Leaders Program and the 6th Cohort of Certified Sharia Auditor Program
Under the patronage of the Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) and Chairman of Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies (KIBS), Mr. Basel A. Al-Haroon, the Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies honored on Tuesday, 06 January 2026, the graduates of the 5th cohort of the Cybersecurity Leaders Program and the 6th cohort of the Certified Sharia Auditor Program.
Both programs fall under Kafa’a Initiative, launched by CBK in collaboration with Kuwaiti banks and managed by KIBS, and dedicated to strengthening Kuwait’s banking and financial sector by developing a sustainable pipeline of qualified national talent for future leadership roles.
Held from 14 September to 18 December 2025, the Cybersecurity Leaders Program was delivered in strategic partnership with SANS Institute, one of the world’s leading providers of advanced cybersecurity training and internationally recognized certifications. The program also featured a specialized workshop under the supervision of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the most established global organization dedicated to strengthening financial sector resilience worldwide. The program targets Kuwaitis interested in the field of cybersecurity and offers them the opportunity to refine their skills and enhance their capabilities, with the aim of developing a generation of professional and specialized leaders capable of confronting cyber threats and risks by creating strategic programs to protect infrastructure and information systems in the banking and financial sectors and other sectors operating in Kuwait in accordance with the relevant international best practices.
A total of 30 participants successfully completed the program including fresh graduates and employees from various entities within and beyond the banking sector. The program supports the Central Bank of Kuwait’s strategy to develop national talents specialized in cybersecurity, a strategy that aims to strengthen the banking sector and improve the competencies of institutions and sectors across the State of Kuwait.
On the other hand, and aiming to enhance the efficiency of Sharia auditing in Sharia-compliant financial institutions, recognizing auditing as a core pillar of Sharia supervisory governance amid ongoing developments in the Islamic banking sector, the Certified Sharia Auditor Program was held from 09 April to 18 June 2025, and attended by an elite group of Kuwaitis who work in or are interested in Sharia auditing.
The growing demand of the banking and financial sectors for more specialized Sharia audit professionals along with the need to enhance the qualifications of existing talents was the motivation behind launching the program and the success it has achieved. Previous programs witnessed strong demand, contributing to the provision of Islamic banking institutions with distinguished national talents who successfully met all the requirements for obtaining this certification.
This program, which graduated 30 participants this year, is accredited by CBK, the Capital Markets Authority and Walbrook Institute London, UK.
Ms. Rana A. Al-Nibari, the KIBS Director General, congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to continue their self-development and keep pace with the rapid developments taking place around the world. She extended her gratitude to CBK and local banks for supporting KIBS’ efforts in delivering specialized education, advanced training and professional development as a driver of economic growth, institutional excellence and the national economy with distinguished talents and competencies through the Institute’s programs or Kafa’a.
Several graduates shared their reflections on the programs, expressing appreciation to CBK and KIBS for the opportunity to acquire practical knowledge and skills that will contribute to their professional advancement in the financial sector and other vital sectors of the State of Kuwait.
