Boursa Kuwait hosted a webinar on August 24, 2026, focused on advancing the exchange-traded funds (ETF) market in Kuwait as part of its broader initiative to develop the local capital market, diversify investment products, and enhance trading efficiency. The event, held in partnership with CFA Society Kuwait, drew over 120 participants from asset management firms, brokerage houses, investment institutions, and regulatory bodies.
The session, titled “Building an ETF Ecosystem: From Regulatory Framework to Market Growth,” marked a transition in Kuwait’s ETF development, shifting from establishing the necessary regulatory and operational infrastructure to addressing market expansion and long-term sustainability.
Anthony Sassine, Founder and CEO of OCÉANE Invest, led the webinar, outlining the components of a comprehensive ETF ecosystem. He described the roles played by regulatory authorities, exchanges, fund managers, market makers, authorized participants, custodians, and brokers. Sassine also reviewed global ETF trends and the mechanics of ETF creation and redemption in primary and secondary markets, emphasizing their function in maintaining pricing efficiency and aligning trading prices with net asset value.
The discussion highlighted critical elements affecting ETF liquidity and trading quality, noting that high trading volumes alone do not guarantee market efficiency. Key indicators such as bid-ask spreads and market depth were cited as more accurate measures of execution quality. Sassine stressed that effective market making and integration among participants are essential for ensuring continuous trading, narrow spreads, and accessible investment products.
Looking ahead, the webinar explored potential growth opportunities in Kuwait’s ETF market, including the development of Sharia-compliant, actively managed, and mutually listed funds. It also examined prospects for products targeting specific sectors or asset classes to enhance market diversification within existing regulatory limits. The importance of selecting appropriate benchmark indices and managing tracking errors—differences between fund performance and the benchmark—was emphasized as a criterion for product quality, alongside liquidity, pricing efficiency, and cost considerations.
The event concluded with a Q&A session allowing attendees to engage directly with the speaker and gain practical insights. Naser Meshari Al-Sanousi, Senior Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Boursa Kuwait, emphasized financial literacy and investor education as key components of the bourse’s strategy to support market development. He noted that ETF success depends not only on the number of listings but also on fostering sustained trading activity, liquidity, and a broadened investor base.
Al-Sanousi reiterated Boursa Kuwait’s commitment to collaborating with market stakeholders to transition from product readiness to a thriving ETF market aligned with international best practices. Sassine added that Kuwait has built a solid foundation through regulatory reforms and that the next phase involves enhancing market-making capabilities, expanding distribution channels, and raising investor awareness to improve trade efficiency.
The webinar is part of the ongoing partnership between Boursa Kuwait and CFA Society Kuwait, established in 2018 through a memorandum of understanding aimed at promoting investment education and professional development. Sara Abdul Samad, President of CFA Society Kuwait, underscored the collaboration’s role in elevating financial knowledge and market maturity.
Boursa Kuwait has developed a comprehensive regulatory and operational framework under the guidance of the Capital Markets Authority, covering all stages from ETF listing to daily trading. The bourse introduced a dedicated trading board tailored to ETF characteristics, enforcing transparency and investor protection through clear benchmark tracking, mandatory market maker involvement, and regular disclosure of fund holdings and net asset values.
With these foundational elements in place, the focus now turns to activating participation by authorized market players and expanding investor access, key factors for sustained market growth.
These initiatives form part of Boursa Kuwait’s wider efforts to evolve a multi-asset capital market responsive to local and international investors. This aligns with Kuwait Vision 2035 priorities to develop the financial sector, empower the private sector, and promote a diversified, competitive economy. The initiatives also support United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education, economic development, innovation, infrastructure, and partnerships.