Dr. Kholoud M. AlAwadhi is an Assistant Professor of Banking and Finance at the Faculty of Business Studies, Arab Open University – Kuwait. She holds a Ph.D. in Banking and Finance from Bangor Business School, United Kingdom (2017), an MSc in Islamic Banking and Finance from Bangor Business School (2011), an MBA from Maastricht School of Management, and a BBA in Finance from Kuwait University. With extensive university teaching experience and a strong professional background in financial management, her research interests center on banking systems, financial markets, financial development in emerging economies, and emerging financial technologies including DeFi, NFTs, and cryptocurrencies. She has published widely in international peer-reviewed journals.
Currently teaching at the Faculty of Business Studies, Arab Open University – Kuwait, covering Financial Accounting (ACT111), Principles of Microeconomics (ECO101), and Principles of Management I (MGT111) across multiple sections each semester. Previously taught at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) Business School from 2012 to 2025, where she delivered courses in Financial Institutions in Kuwait, Islamic Institutions in Kuwait, Investment, Mathematical Finance, Activities of Commercial Banks (Arabic and English), and Mortgage. Her teaching approach emphasizes practical application, critical thinking, and bridging theoretical finance concepts with real-world banking and economic contexts.
- Assistant Professor, Arab Open University – Kuwait (Feb 2026 – Present)
- Associate Professor, PAAET Business School (Feb 2023 – 2025)
- Assistant Professor, PAAET Business School (Nov 2017 – 2023)
- Teacher Assistant, PAAET Business School (Feb 2012 – Aug 2014)
Professional Experience:
Earlier career in financial management at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), holding progressively senior roles including Senior Analyst (Budget Department) and Head of Payroll, Benefits & Banking. Key responsibilities included financial audit and reporting, payroll administration, budget preparation and forecasting, bank reconciliation, financial and operational analysis, and process automation initiatives.
Alawadhi, K. (2017). Bank business models, capital structure, lending behaviour and risk (Doctoral dissertation, Bangor University).
Alawadhi, K. M., Alshamali, N., & Alshamali, M. (2021). Financial development in developing countries and its impact on economic growth between 2008 and 2017. Accounting and Finance Research, 10(4), 50–67. https://doi.org/10.5430/afr.v10n4p50
Alawadhi, K. M., & Alshamali, N. (2022). NFTs emergence in financial markets and their correlation with DeFis and cryptocurrencies. Applied Economics and Finance, 9(1), 108–120. https://doi.org/10.11114/aef.v9i1.5378
Alshamali, N., Alawadhi, K. M., Alshamali, M., & Behbehani, F. M. (2021). Value-at-risk (VaR) analysis of the UK banking stocks. Journal of Economics Finance and Accounting, 8(4), 190–207.
Alshamali, N., & Alawadhi, K. (2022). Bank reactions to the COVID-19 shock: A systematic literature review and lessons from Hong Kong SAR commercial banks. International Finance and Banking, 9(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.5296/ifb.v9i1.19613
AlAli, M. S., AlShamali, M. M., AlAwadhi, K. M., & AlSabah, A. M. (2018). The use of Zmijewski model in examining the financial soundness of oil and gas companies listed at Kuwait Stock Exchange. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management Research Studies, 1(2), 15–21.
AlAli, M. S., AlSalem, A. S., AlAwadhi, K. M., AlForaih, E. O., & AlSabah, A. M. (2019). Examining the nexus between internal factors and profitability of insurance companies listed at Kuwait Stock Exchange. Kuwait Chapter of the Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 8(1), 30–37.
AlAli, M. S., Al-Yatama, S. K., AlShamali, N. M., & AlAwadhi, K. M. (2019). The impact of dividend policy on Kuwaiti insurance companies' share prices. World Journal of Finance and Investment Research, 4(1), 34–39.
Al-Yatama, S. K., Al Ali, M. S., AlAwadhi, K. M., & Al Shamali, N. M. (2020). The effects of credit risk, operational risk, and liquidity risk on the financial performance of insurance companies listed at Kuwait Stock Exchange. European Journal of Economic and Financial Research.
