The Kuwait Finance House: viability and growth as an interest-free financial institution (D.B.A. Dissertation)

This study compares the financial performance of the Kuwait Finance House (KFH) with interest bearing investment and banking sectors in Kuwait, explores the banking needs and attitudes of the KFH's and other established banks' customers, and evaluates the accuracy of KFH officials' predictions about their customers' needs and wants. The interest-free KFH showed substantially better financial performance than interest bearing investment sector means. While it performed less well than banking industry means according to financial ratio comparisons, it did show generally better annual growth rates than banking industry means. The results suggest that KFH must develop new investment opportunities, make clear to the public Islamic principles, and be more responsive to the needs of customers and the local culture.