WASHINGTON, April 10, 2026 – The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), which houses the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform, has issued a capital relief guarantee to cover the risk of expropriation of reserves held by Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait at the Central Bank of Egypt. The guarantee expands MIGA’s engagement in the Middle East and North Africa Region and will create additional lending capacity for small businesses.
The three-year guarantee will cover up to $300.0 million of Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK)’s $316 million investment in its Egyptian subsidiary, ABK-Egypt, and create additional lending capacity of up to $300 million of new loans to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), at a time when the financing gap to these businesses in Egypt stands at nearly 20 percent of GDP.
“This guarantee and our new partnership with Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait will support small businesses in Egypt in dire need of financing,” said Tsutomu Yamamoto, MIGA Managing Director. “By facilitating access to credit and promoting inclusive growth, it reinforces our commitment to promoting economic growth and setting the stage for a brighter future in Egypt and the broader region."
While Egypt’s economy is expected to grow in 2025, the country continues to face elevated vulnerability to additional shocks amid persistent cost pressures. Against this backdrop, the proposed project aims to support increased financial inclusion, particularly to women-owned businesses, through the private sector.
The transaction represents MIGA’s first partnership with a Kuwaiti bank and highlights MIGA’s strategic focus on expanding the scope of its capital relief guarantees to the Middle East and North Africa regional banks as they expand their footprint across the region and scale up their operations.
About Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait
Since its establishment in 1967, Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK) has progressed to become one of the leading Kuwait banks in the region that is today known for offering ‘Simpler Banking.’ The Bank offers personal and corporate banking, of which include a wide array of products and services.
ABK also provides a broad range of local, regional and global wealth and investment solutions and services through ABK Wealth Management, a leading regional investment firm that provides asset management solutions as well as investment advisory services.
ABK’s strong management coupled with its focused strategy has contributed to its stability and continued expansion and growth across the region to serve other markets in Egypt and the UAE.
ABK currently has 28 branches located in Kuwait and 46 in Egypt. In the UAE, it has two full-service branches located in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, where it was the first Kuwait bank to have a branch in the country, as well as one wholesale banking branch in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
The Bank’s long-term regional aspirations have developed into strategic alliances with world-class partners. Among these is ABK’s relationship with Emirates Skywards, with whom the Bank has established the country’s first co-branded credit card partnership in 2002, which offers cardholders the opportunity to earn and redeem Skywards Miles.
Furthermore, ABK has received numerous awards from reputable institutions throughout the years, attesting to its organizational strength. The Bank also continues to enjoy strong credit ratings of A2 from Moody’s and A from Fitch.
About the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform
Initiated in 2024, the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform consolidates guarantee products and experts from across the World Bank Group at MIGA. It provides a simplified and comprehensive menu of guarantee solutions, enabling clients to select the instrument that best suits their needs. The platform streamlines processes, removes redundancies, and provides greater accessibility by de-risking investments in developing countries. Its goal is to boost the World Bank Group’s annual guarantee issuance to $20 billion by 2030.
For more information about the guarantee platform, please visit: https://www.worldbank.org/wbgguarantees
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Contact: In Washington: Elizabeth Howton, ehowton [at] worldbankgroup.org