Kuwait partners with global tech giants to accelerate digital transformation
Partnerships are not limited to technology transfer but also include upskilling initiatives for Kuwaiti youth
Minister of State for Communications Affairs, Omar Al-Omar, emphasized Kuwait’s commitment to expanding strategic partnerships with leading global companies to include emerging fields such as cybersecurity and the Internet of Things (IoT). This move is part of a broader effort to position Kuwait as a regional leader in digital innovation.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 20th Arab Media Forum, Minister Al-Omar highlighted the ministry’s continued collaboration with tech giants like Google Cloud and Microsoft to drive digital transformation across government institutions, reports Al-Rai daily.
He noted that these partnerships are not limited to technology transfer but also include upskilling initiatives for Kuwaiti youth. Training programs are being developed to equip national talents with professional certifications in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies, preparing them for the future digital economy.
Minister Al-Omar underlined the Ministry’s vision to transform Kuwait into a hub for digital innovation by fostering entrepreneurship and supporting emerging tech startups.
This vision also includes forging strong links with universities, the private sector, and international bodies to create a comprehensive ecosystem that encourages innovation and facilitates knowledge transfer.
Addressing ethical challenges posed by rapid technological advancement, Al-Omar pointed to the launch of the Digital Content Integrity Initiative, in collaboration with the Digital Cooperation Organization, of which Kuwait is a founding member.
The initiative aims to promote transparency and accountability in digital spaces and focuses on two main areas: tailoring digital content to local cultures and combating misinformation.
The initiative includes five key programs:
- Urging nations and digital platforms to adopt anti-misinformation strategies.
- Raising awareness of misinformation risks.
- Developing legal and regulatory frameworks for social media.
- Creating mechanisms for ongoing dialogue between governments and platforms.
- Supporting the development of verification tools to ensure information integrity online.
Looking ahead, Minister Al-Omar announced the rollout of several new projects, including a centralized reporting system and integrated digital user journeys for services like birth registration and marriage certification. These efforts aim to simplify and enhance user interaction through AI-powered solutions that deliver smarter and more accurate services.
Al-Omar also reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to upgrading Kuwait’s telecommunications infrastructure in alignment with the “New Kuwait 2035” vision. This includes advancing 5G capabilities and expanding the fiber optic network to support future technologies such as IoT, edge computing, and big data analytics.
Additionally, he stressed that Kuwait, through the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA), is actively working to diversify international data exchange routes. By launching new land and submarine cables, Kuwait aims to boost its reliability and security as a key regional hub for global data traffic.
