As part of the Central Bank of Kuwait’s commitment to enhancing governance in Sharia supervision within Islamic banks in Kuwait, and with the aim of establishing solid foundations for Sharia auditing practices, the second round of the Certified Sharia Auditor program is now underway. This program is one of the key initiatives under the “Kafa’a” program launched by the Central Bank in collaboration with Kuwaiti banks and Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies (KIBS).
In his statement, Dr. Mohammad Y. Al-Hashel, Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait and Chairman of the Board of KIBS, emphasized the critical importance of Sharia auditing as a core element of Sharia supervision and governance—especially in light of the evolving landscape of the Islamic banking sector and the financial industry.
He noted that the Central Bank had conducted a study on the availability and qualifications of Sharia auditors in the Kuwaiti market. The results highlighted both a shortage of qualified professionals and the need for further development of existing personnel. This points to an urgent need for increased efforts and initiatives to build and strengthen Sharia auditing capabilities in Kuwait.
The Governor added that developing technically and professionally qualified talent in internal and external Sharia auditing of Islamic financial institutions is part of the Central Bank’s strategic vision. This vision seeks to equip the banking and financial sector in Kuwait with top-tier expertise in areas critical to its function, while also investing in human capital capable of advancing the country’s banking industry—particularly the Islamic banking sector—toward greater innovation and leadership.
He concluded by stressing the importance of national talent continuing to acquire knowledge, develop their skills, and adopt a forward-looking mindset to help solidify Kuwait’s leadership in the field of Islamic banking.
