It was (profitable) business as usual for the chairman of National Bank of Kuwait this year, as the banking sector in Kuwait has proven as well-capitalised and stable as ever. Al-Bahar is also a dealer of heavy construction and electrical power generation equipment for Caterpillar in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and also the Omani market.

His UAE Caterpillar International machines have been crucial to Dubais US$4.1bn airport upgrade. An elder statesman of Kuwaits business elite, he had a busy year at NBK acquiring an interest in Bank of Qatar and a 75% stake in Credit Bank of Iraq. He also inaugurated a branch in Jordan, a tenth branch in Lebanon and entered Saudi Arabia. Next stops: China and Dubai.