The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) received the Best Bank for ESG in Bahrain and Best Bank for Large Corporates in Bahrain awards during the Euromoney Awards for Excellence ceremony in Dubai. These accolades follow the bank's recognition as the Best Retail Bank in Bahrain for the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026. The institution was previously announced as the Best Retail Bank in Bahrain for the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, a distinction that showed its performance in the consumer sector. The awards were presented at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence ceremony in Dubai, where representatives from the banking sector gathered to acknowledge industry leaders.
Zaina Alzayani, group chief strategy and sustainability officer, stated: "The significance of this award lies in the fact that sustainability is increasingly influencing how decisions are made across the organisation, from capital allocation and risk assessment to the way we manage our own footprint. The next stage is about maintaining that discipline and ensuring ESG considerations remain commercially relevant, measurable and closely connected to Bahrain’s long-term developmental priorities."
Excellence in Corporate Banking
The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) deployed approximately $3 billion through its corporate banking business. In a separate transaction, NBB acted as the only local bank on the Bapco Energies sukuk. This involvement notes the bank's role in facilitating large-scale financial instruments within the domestic market. By serving as the sole local participant in the Bapco Energies sukuk, the bank demonstrated its capacity to manage complex debt offerings alongside international financial institutions.
Ali Abdulkarim, group chief executive officer for corporate and commercial banking, said: "Our clients increasingly expect their banking relationships to extend well beyond access to financing. They require institutions that can understand complex balance sheets, anticipate liquidity and risk requirements and execute with confidence across multiple disciplines." He added: "Our focus has been on earning a broader role in those relationships by combining financial strength with specialist advice and solutions that support clients through increasingly sophisticated decisions."
This strategic approach to corporate banking is designed to provide full support for the diverse needs of large commercial entities. The bank’s ability to deploy $3 billion signifies its commitment to the growth and operational stability of its corporate client base.
Subah Al Zayani, retail banking chief executive officer, stated: "Strong retail banking is built through thousands of individual interactions, and each one shapes how customers experience the bank. Our priority has been to remove unnecessary effort from those moments while preserving choice, security and human-led support."
The recognition at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence ceremony in Dubai serves as an acknowledgment of the bank's multi-faceted strategy. By integrating sustainability into corporate governance and maintaining a high volume of capital deployment, the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) continues to refine its service delivery models. The focus remains on balancing the demands of large corporate clients with the individual needs of retail customers, ensuring that each segment benefits from the bank’s evolving operational framework.