ShareKUWAIT: Burgan Bank upheld its leadership position throughout 2024 on the social responsibility front with its continued efforts to support Kuwaiti society across various fields. In addition to its pivotal role in the banking sector, Burgan remains committed to empowering youth, supporting women, enhancing education and health sectors, advancing the sports, arts, and cultural scenes, as well as supporting community and humanitarian initiatives across Kuwait.
In adherence to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, Burgan Bank strives to achieve sustainable development through a wide range of innovative initiatives and programs in line with its slogan “Driven By You”. “‘Driven By You’ is not merely a slogan but a work philosophy that manifests in Burgan Bank’s social responsibility achievements for 2024,” said Hessa Hussain Al-Najadah, Senior Manager – Corporate and CSR Communications at Burgan Bank. “Throughout the year, the bank reinforced its role as a key partner in building a better future for its community and a major contributor to the development of the cultural and institutional infrastructure, thus charting new horizons for growth and development.”
Al-Najadah added: “Burgan Bank’s initiatives included a wide range of diverse activities and events, covering several areas such as youth support, education, women’s empowerment, contributing to the development of the sports and health sectors, in addition to supporting community and humanitarian initiatives, financial awareness, and supporting national projects.”
Sponsoring sports events
Throughout 2024, and under the umbrella of its efforts to contribute to Kuwait’s strategy for sustainable development, Burgan Bank sponsored various sporting events and activities that served to encourage a healthy lifestyle in Kuwait. In addition, the bank signed a strategic partnership with the Kuwait Olympic Committee (KOC) to sponsor the cohort of champions who represented Kuwait at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This agreement came as an extension of the long-standing cooperation between Burgan Bank and KOC.
Unlike traditional sponsorship of Olympians, this partnership adopted a unique vision that spanned two years of diligent preparations with Burgan Bank supporting the Kuwaiti champions in their mission to reach the Olympic Games in Paris. It was a joint journey that reflected Burgan’s commitment to supporting national athletes throughout their careers.
Other sponsorships included Salwa Al-Sabah Sport Club’s women’s handball and volleyball teams during the current season, as part of its ongoing efforts to support the sports sector in Kuwait and enhance national talents. In addition, Burgan Bank sponsored the Kuwait Equestrian Federation (KEF) Tour for the 2023/2024 season’s endurance competition. This sponsorship, considered the most prominent in the local sports arena for the third year in a row, reflects the bank’s commitment to promoting the sports culture in Kuwait as part of its comprehensive social responsibility program and its commitment to supporting the development and growth of society.
In addition, Burgan Bank extended its strategic sponsorship, for the second consecutive year, to the ninth edition of Flare Festival, Kuwait’s largest fitness competition. Moreover, the bank sponsored Kuwaiti students’ participation in a football match between the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England, hosted by the Bristol Rovers Football Academy at Memorial Stadium.
Financial awareness
As part of its efforts to raise public awareness of financial literacy and safe banking practices, under the umbrella of its continued support of the national banking awareness campaign, Burgan Bank concluded its sponsorship and participation in the fifth edition of the Gulf Cybersecurity Challenges Conference and Exhibition.
In light of the significant increase in financial fraud and the Ministry of Interior’s success in handling many fraud reports since the establishment and operation of the virtual room to combat fraud, Burgan Bank renewed its efforts to urge its customers to follow the best banking practices and the necessary measures to avoid falling victim to financial fraud. The bank also participated in the virtual room to combat fraud (Aman) – established by the Kuwait Banking Association (KBA) under the supervision of the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK), with representatives from all local banks in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the Public Prosecution – to tackle electronic financial fraud reports around the clock, seven days a week.
As part of its support for the “Let’s Be Aware” (Diraya) campaign, Burgan Bank continued to raise financial literacy and banking awareness by regularly sharing practical advice and clear instructions on the safest use of banking products and services, especially during high-spending seasons, such as travel seasons and official holidays, when financial fraud escalates.
Burgan Bank also delivered numerous workshops throughout the year on banking awareness and financial literacy at different schools and universities as well as events, whereby Burgan representatives discussed the latest fraud and scamming trends.
As part of its active contribution to the campaign during the summer vacation, Burgan Bank published several awareness messages on its website and across its various social media accounts. With each contribution, Burgan redirects public awareness to the most prominent fraudulent operations and common electronic hacking attempts, further providing security guidelines for customers to protect their personal information, bank accounts, and valuable savings.
Community initiatives
In line with its dedicated social responsibility program and as part of its continuous support for its community, Burgan Bank, under the auspices and in the presence of Sheikh Humoud Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Governor of Al-Ahmadi, extended its support to the Kuwait Society for the Handicapped by donating essential equipment and supplies to the association’s educational center in Al-Ahmadi. Burgan Bank also sponsored the annual “Art’s Night” event organized by the American United School (AUS) in Kuwait for teachers, students, and their families, as part of its continuous efforts to support, empower, and develop Kuwaiti students. In addition, the bank sponsored AUS’s annual National and Liberation Day celebrations held on the school’s premises. This day-long carnival was attended by approximately 1,500 participants, including employees, students, and their families, reflecting the essence of Kuwaiti society.
Cooperation with the Kuwait Food and Relief Bank
In cooperation with the Kuwait Food and Relief Bank and as part of its comprehensive social responsibility program, Burgan Bank distributed Iftar meals in various areas of Kuwait. This initiative, which embodies the spirit of giving that characterizes the holy month of Ramadan, came under the umbrella of Burgan’s committed corporate citizenship and solidarity and within the framework of its active role in society.
Health initiatives
As part of its comprehensive social responsibility program and its ongoing efforts to raise awareness on important topics related to public health, Burgan Bank participated in several impactful initiatives in 2024. The bank organized its annual blood donation campaign for its employees, as part of its activities to serve the community and support the health sector in Kuwait. The campaign was held at the bank’s headquarters in cooperation with the Central Blood Bank and the Ministry of Health. Burgan Bank also extended its annual support to the Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH) and Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospice (BACCH), for the 23rd consecutive year.
In conjunction with World Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Burgan Bank renewed its partnership with Kuwait Hospital by hosting an awareness workshop for its employees at its headquarters and sharing breast cancer awareness videos throughout October via social media. Within the extended scope of collaboration with Kuwait Hospital, Burgan also hosted a prostate cancer awareness workshop for its employees at the bank’s headquarters, whereby consultant urologist, Dr Faisal Al-Hajeri, shared valuable information and walked participants through the different means of prevention.
Arts and cultural initiatives
As part of its ongoing efforts to advance Kuwait’s arts and entertainment sector, and in line with its comprehensive social responsibility program, Burgan Bank dedicated plenty of its resources in 2024 to elevating the domestic culture scene by sponsoring various culture and live entertainment events and activities.
In celebration of Kuwait’s National and Liberation Day, Burgan Bank launched the new “Beladona Helwa” (Our Country is Beautiful) video clip, capturing Kuwaitis’ deep-rooted love for their homeland. The bank also announced reviving the highly celebrated classic play “Al-Sindbad Al-Bahri” in a new guise, building on the play’s original glory as a Kuwaiti cultural icon whose social value and national meanings have been engraved in the hearts of generations.
The bank also launched the Eid Al-Fitr “Wain Al Ayadi, Middo Al ‘Ayadi” TVC, performed by the talented artist Bader Al-Shuaibi and a distinguished group of children to promote the culture of saving in line with the Diraya banking awareness campaign. The song was featured in the “Abracadabra 2” show, garnering wide acclaim from the audience and notable views on various social media channels.
Following the great success of its distinguished events, Burgan Bank continued its partnership with Free Jabriya Productions for the second consecutive year, sponsoring several shows, including “Graish”, an immersive live performance that encapsulates the authentic Kuwaiti Ramadan experience, reenacting staple TV shows, songs, and situations that draw a timeline of the Ramadan traditions throughout the past decades.
Burgan Bank also sponsored “Macintosh” – a unique live music and performance extravaganza, which took place at the Arena Kuwait, with an audience of approximately 10,000 viewers. The show, directed by Jassim Al-Qames and Maryam Al-Khatrash, brought together a group of distinguished Kuwaiti artists, including Ayed, Bader Al-Shuaibi, Daffy, Rahaf, Hamad Al-Amari, and Khaled Al-Mulla, with the accompaniment of an orchestra of 50 talented musicians led by Kuwaiti maestro Ahmad Al-Oud.
Burgan Bank concluded its partnership with Free Jabriya by sponsoring “Feykom Tarab? Sukkar Zeyada!”, featuring the Kuwaiti favorite, Miami Band, which spanned five nights of memorable live entertainment and revived nostalgia. The show follows the success of the first edition “Feykom Tarab? A Night with Miami Band”, bringing a bigger flare and live entertainment prowess to the stage and taking the audience on an unforgettable journey into the world of Miami Band. The concert, held at the Arena Kuwait, was attended by a multi-generational audience of more than 23,000 Miami Band fans.
As part of its unwavering commitment to its comprehensive social responsibility program and its commitment to providing the best banking experience for private banking customers, Burgan Bank sponsored the “Umm Kulthum with Marwa Nagy” concert in partnership with the National Creative Industries Group (NCIG). In addition, Burgan Bank sponsored the FERYA culinary experience by Fohgah App, Bader Al-Shatti and Jassim Al-Jarki, which took place over two days at Assima Mall, witnessing the participation of 2,000 food enthusiasts.
