NBK to hold inaugural International Advisory Board meeting in January 2008

Several major international financial and banking organizations such as Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have established similar advisory boards, however, the NBK International Advisory Board sets a precedent for banks and financial institutions in the Middle East.

NBK Chief Executive Officer, Ibrahim Dabdoub, said he was delighted that the new International Advisory Board would be chaired by The Rt Hon Sir John Major, KG, CH who, for nearly a decade during his years as Prime Minister of the UK, played a vital role in devising regional policies in the Middle East, and that the Board counted among its members some of the most prominent figures from the Middle East, United States, Britain, India and the Far East

Mr Dabdoub added, 'International interest in the Advisory Board has far exceeded my expectations and reinforces the view that National Bank of Kuwait is indeed a world class bank'.

NBK International Advisory Board Members are: Sir John Major, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited, India; Matthew Barrett-Former Chairman and CEO, Barclays Bank, UK; John Chipman-Director General and Chief Executive, International Institute for Strategic Studies, UK; Anthony Cordesman-Chairman, Center for Strategic and International Studies, US; Peter Davies-Special Economic Advisor to BP PLC, UK;Ged Davis-Co-President Global Energy Assessment, Austria; Mohamed A. El-Erian-Co-CEO and Co-CIO, PIMCO, US; HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal-Chairman King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, Saudi Arabia; Martin Feldstein-President and CEO, National Bureau of Economic Research, US; Toyoo Gyohten-President, Institute for International Monetary Affairs, Japan; Steve H. Hanke-Professor of Applied Economics, The Johns Hopkins University, US; Abdullatif Al-Hamad-Chairman and Director General, Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development, Kuwait; Mustafa V. Koc-Chairman, KOC Holding A.S., Turkey; Cees Maas-Former Vice-Chairman and CFO of ING Group NV, Netherlands; Moises Naim-Editor-in-Chief, Foreign Policy, US; Naguib Sawiris-Chairman and CEO, Orascom Telecom Holding S.A.E., Egypt; Klaus Schwab-Executive Chairman and Founder, World Economic Forum, Switzerland; Tom de Swaan-Advisor to Managing Board ABN-AMRO, Netherlands; Tony Tan Keng Yam-Deputy Chairman and Executive Director, Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, Singapore; Sir David Walker-Senior Advisor, Morgan Stanley, UK; John Waterbury-President, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

The establishment of the Board coincides with NBK's ongoing regional and international expansion.