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Burgan Bank sponsors CODED’s Academy X in 2025

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KUWAIT: As part of its ongoing efforts to lead Kuwait’s progress toward realizing Vision 2035, Burgan Bank announced its strategic sponsorship of Academy X, the biggest women’s empowerment initiative in Kuwait’s tech industry, led by CODED Academy with the support of Kuwait University (KU). This sponsorship comes as part of Burgan’s yearlong comprehensive social responsibility program, further aligning with its commitment to women’s empowerment and embedding the highest standards of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) into its practices and operations.

“Following the great joint success, we achieved with Burgan Lab Academy, we are delighted to renew our partnership with CODED as strategic sponsors of their outstanding women in tech and entrepreneurship empowerment initiative, Academy X, which echoes our devoted strategy for investing in Kuwait’s aspiring talents through innovative learning and development programs,” said Bashar Al-Qattan, Executive Manager – Learning & Talent Development at Burgan Bank.

He added: “As a business that grows around the market’s evolving modern needs, our success relies greatly on leveraging our tech-driven national talents’ innovative creativity and problem-solving prowess. Nonetheless, our envisioned success cannot be fully realized until we guarantee a fair opportunity for talents of both genders to lead our technology and digital transformation efforts — a fair opportunity that begins with early access to advanced tech education and training.”

Fatma Ahmad, Senior Manager – Learning and Development at Burgan Bank, said: “We believe that holding spaces where women can learn together and inspire one another can have a fundamental long-term impact on the sustainable development of our institution, sector, and economy. That’s why, as part of our Empower Her program, and in compliance with the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) and Kuwait’s Vision 2035, we strive to continue playing an active role in achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls in Kuwait through valuable partnerships and forward-looking learning and development initiatives, such as Academy X. Our sponsorship of Academy X also comes as an extension of Burgan’s ‘Teach Them Young’ initiative for preparing future tech leaders.”

Hashim Behbehani, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at CODED Academy, said: “We are proud of our partnership with Burgan Bank in supporting Academy X, which represents a true alignment between our mission to empower young women and the bank’s unwavering commitment to supporting women through its initiatives. Burgan’s contribution to the program reflects a genuine dedication to creating meaningful social impact and opening new development opportunities that support the ambitions of Kuwaiti girls in tech and entrepreneurship. This partnership paves the way for promising career paths in an evolving digital world, and we take pride in working with an organization that places women’s empowerment at the heart of its social strategy.”

Building on the success of its first edition, Academy X, with the support of Burgan Bank, is preparing to roll out its 2025 round where it continues to inspire and guide young women with an aptitude for IT development and entrepreneurship. The one-year program, which includes six-day sessions for each cohort, is designed to introduce the 2025 applicants to the principles of successful user interface and user experience design (UI/UX), the latest artificial intelligence (AI) tools, the foundations of entrepreneurship, as well as leadership and soft skills.

The program’s interactive hands-on nature guarantees that participants have an opportunity to translate their newly acquired knowledge into individual and group projects that rely on tools such as TelePort, UiZard, Gamma, Adobe Logo Maker, and Adalo. In addition, the program’s 2025 edition will also include engaging talks delivered by some of Kuwait’s most prominent female leaders in tech innovation and entrepreneurship, for a chance to relay their experiences first-hand to the Academy X participants and give them personalized feedback on their startup ideas and how they present them to the market.

As part of its sponsorship, Burgan Bank aims to aid Academy X in achieving its goals of increasing the program registrations from 340+ in 2024 to 500 in 2025, as well as encouraging more students to launch their startups through post-program mentorship and introducing more AI tools to fully utilize participants’ innovative and creative energy.

As a certified Great Place to Work, Burgan Bank has a long track record of initiatives and programs dedicated to enabling women in the workplace and preparing young women for a prosperous career in banking and finance. These efforts include, but are not exclusive to, the Lean-In Circle for Women Empowerment program, which explores and addresses women-specific challenges in the workplace; and the Empower Her summer internship program for undergraduate young women wishing to pursue a career in banking.

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Crown Prince receives Egyptian Deputy PM

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KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received on Tuesday at Bayan Palace the Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Transport and Industry, Lieutenant General Kamel Abdulhadi Al-Wazir, and his accompanying delegation on the occasion of their official visit to the country. The meeting was attended by Kuwait’s Minister of Public Works Dr Noura Al-Mashaan and Egypt’s Ambassador to Kuwait Osama Shaltout.– KUNA photos

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Workshop discusses health competency framework

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KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health (MoH) on Monday inaugurated a regional workshop titled “Competency Framework”, aimed at reviewing the preliminary draft of a competency framework for public health professionals. The three-day workshop is organized by the Gulf Center for Disease Control in cooperation with the Gulf Health Council and the Kuwait Center for Disease Prevention and Control (KCDC).

In his opening remarks, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health at the Ministry, Dr Munther Al-Hasawi, welcomed a distinguished group of public health leaders and specialists from GCC countries, emphasizing the workshop’s importance in light of the increasing need to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the public health workforce. Al-Hasawi stressed the critical role of investing in human capital through training, capacity building, and well-structured competency frameworks grounded in scientific and practical methodologies. He noted that public health competency goes beyond technical expertise, encompassing key administrative and interpersonal skills such as leadership, teamwork, and effective communication.

“Competency in public health is the ability to deliver appropriate, effective services to communities while achieving optimal outcomes,” Al-Hasawi said. “It includes service delivery, resource management, community engagement, and cross-sectoral cooperation.” Chairing the workshop, Dr Mohammed Al-Saeedan, Head of the Emergency Department – Public Health at KCDC, told reporters that the session aims to discuss and refine the initial draft of the framework with input from regional decision-makers and experts. The goal, he said, is to develop a comprehensive guide to strengthen the capabilities of the health workforce across GCC countries.

“Competency frameworks contribute to improving public health, increasing life expectancy, reducing the overall health burden, and advancing sustainable development,” Al-Saeedan explained. “Healthy individuals are more productive and better able to contribute to society.” He emphasized the importance of continuously updating public health guidelines and competency standards to build professional readiness and effectively address evolving health challenges. “Guidelines serve as essential tools in disease prevention and health promotion, guiding individuals and communities in making informed health choices that enhance quality of life,” he said.

Al-Saeedan noted that global shifts and the rising prevalence of diseases demand heightened preparedness and response capabilities. “As the world increasingly prioritizes prevention over treatment, public health professionals must be equipped with the highest level of skill and knowledge to manage emergencies and implement effective interventions,” he added. The workshop is expected to result in key recommendations that will shape a unified GCC approach to public health competency development and workforce excellence. — KUNA

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The hidden drivers behind high prices in Kuwait

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Although Kuwait was ranked earlier this year as the second least expensive Gulf country in the 2025 World Cost of Living Index, many residents feel that the prices of certain goods or services remain disproportionately high compared to other countries. While essential services — such as electricity, water, and fuel — are heavily subsidized and therefore inexpensive, other aspects of life, including housing, entertainment, and branded products, often carry a much steeper cost.

Therefore, according to economic expert Dr. Amer Al Tamimi, the root of the issue lies not in government policy, but in people’s behavior — whether it’s business owners inflating prices or consumers adopting high-cost lifestyles. Each year the state allocates no less than KD 6 billion in subsidies for electricity, water, fuel, and even certain food items. “In fact, the government has made life remarkably affordable for citizens — perhaps even too affordable.” But while basic goods may be inexpensive, the same cannot be said for luxury and lifestyle products. According to Al Tamimi, the high standard of living and strong purchasing power among Kuwait’s resident’s fuels intense demand for premium items — from cars and watches to high-end services and entertainment.

“These items might be cheaper elsewhere, but in Kuwait, the appetite for luxury pushes prices higher,” he explained. Even mid-range categories, such as transportation and clothing, are considered expensive when compared to regional or global averages. Social behavior plays a significant role in shaping price dynamics. “Some individuals, despite earning modest incomes, make choices driven by appearances,” said Al Tamimi. “Someone earning KD 1,000 might buy a car with KD 500 monthly installments just to keep up an image.”

This desire to showcase wealth creates an artificial demand for high-end goods and services. As demand rises, so do prices, creating a feedback loop that affects everything from café menus to car dealerships. “There’s a culture of excessive consumption. People need to rethink their habits, as rational consumption can lead to lower prices overall,” he suggested. This culture of overspending is reflected in many lifestyle choices. “I am surprised to see people pay for coffee delivery when they can simply an easily make it at home,” said Altamimi.

While some spending habits may be avoidable, others — like housing — are fundamental and affect nearly everyone. Al Tamimi pointed to Kuwait’s real estate market as one of the most significant contributors to the high cost of living, citing the soaring price of land. “Land alone accounts for around 70 to 75 percent of the total cost of any building,” he explained. “This is very different from many other countries, where land is more affordable and makes up a smaller portion of overall costs.” This imbalance has driven up both property prices and rent, placing a heavy burden on households and businesses alike. For many residents, housing expenses consume a large share of their monthly income.

Another key issue, Al Tamimi argued, is the lack of competition in certain markets. “Some goods are effectively monopolized by one, two, or three importers,” he noted. This concentration of market power gives a small number of players the ability to set prices with little competitive pressure. To address this, he urged efforts to open up the market. “Breaking these monopolies and encouraging more entrepreneurs to enter different sectors could help,” he said. “We need to streamline business procedures and reduce bureaucratic hurdles that currently discourage new players. In many cases, we only have a handful of stores selling certain products. More competition will ultimately benefit the consumer.”

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