Boursa Kuwait CEO Mohammed Al-Osaimi confirmed that the total value of listed commercial debt instruments remains under two billion Kuwaiti dinars, but emphasized the exchange’s ambition to introduce government bonds and sukuk — pending the approval of the Public Debt Law.
Speaking at the launch of the second part of Phase III of the Capital Market Development Program, Al-Osaimi said that debt instrument trading is progressing on schedule, with sukuk and bond listings expected by 2025. He added that all technical tests for bond and sukuk markets, as well as index funds, have been successfully completed. Regulatory frameworks are being finalized and will be announced in the coming months, reports Al-Rai daily.
Al-Osaimi also revealed that Boursa Kuwait is working on a multi-year development strategy aimed at significantly enhancing the trading system. Testing of a new trading platform is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026.
The exchange is closely collaborating with the Capital Markets Authority to refine existing financial products and introduce new ones. One of the key upgrades is the implementation of a Central Processing Partner (CCP) system, which will enable the launch of financial derivatives in the near future.
Al-Osaimi stated that these efforts are part of a broader initiative to boost foreign investment and build investor confidence. The exchange is also actively engaging with companies from the commercial, governmental, and family-owned sectors to expand listings.
He noted that two major family businesses are in the process of restructuring in preparation for a potential listing, though the process may take several years due to regulatory requirements.
While dismissing the idea of listing oil sector companies for now, Al-Osaimi disclosed that talks are underway with the Public-Private Partnership Authority to potentially list a government-owned entity such as North Az-Zour in 2026.
