The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) is the State owned sovereign wealth fund of the State of Kuwait, managing the state's reserve and the state's future generation fund, also known as "Ajyal Fund".[1]
Founded in 1953, the KIA is the world's oldest sovereign wealth fund.[2][3] As of March 2025, it is the world's 5th largest sovereign wealth fund with currently US$1,029 billion assets under management.[4]
History and profile
KIA was founded on 23 February 1953[5] to manage the funds of the Kuwaiti Government in light of financial surpluses after the discovery of oil.
KIA manages the Kuwait General Reserve Fund, the Kuwait Future Generations Fund, as well as any other assets committed by the Ministry of Finance. To put KIA's size into perspective, the Kuwait Future Generations Fund has 15% of annual oil revenues added to it.
The Chinese regulator awarded Kuwait Investment Authority an additional $700 million quota on top of $300 million awarded in March 2012. The quota is the highest to be granted by China to foreign investment entities.[6]
The Kuwait Investment Authority has an infrastructure arm and signed an agreement to acquire the oil and gas pipeline firm North Sea Midstream Partners Limited for approximately 1.3 billion GBP in 2018.[7]
Grupo Torras
In 1986, the KIA's London based subsidiary, the Kuwait Investment Office (KIO), bought control of Torras Hostench, a Spanish paper maker. Torras subsequently took over a number of other companies to become Grupo Torras in June 1988. KIO invested about $2.5 billion in building up the company and another $1.8 billion to shore it up after the end of Spain's 1980s economic boom and the annexation of Kuwait by Iraq. However, in December 1992 Grupo Torras entered receivership among accusations of fraud, and Kuwait's investment was a total loss. One of its projects was the Gate of Europe twin towers in Madrid, which was still incomplete when the company collapsed.[8]
Corporate Governance
KIA's board of directors is headed by the minister of finance[9] with other seats allocated to the Energy Minister, Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, and 5 other nationals who are experts in the field, 3 of which should not hold any other public office.[10]
Board of Directors
Noora Al-Fassam – Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investments
Tareq Al-Roumi – Minister of Oil
Basel Al-Haroon – CBK Governor
Aseel Al-Munifi – Undersecretary of Ministry of Finance
Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahamd Al-Sabah – Board Member
Fahad Al-Rashed – Board Member
Saoud Salem Abdulaziz Al-Sabah – Board Member & Managing Director
Executive Management
Saoud Salem Abdulaziz Al-Sabah – Managing Director
Abdulmohsen Almukhaizeem – President and CEO (KIO London)
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US$1.029 trillion (February 2025)
