KUWAIT: Zain announced its sponsorship of the annual launch event organized by global media group The Business Year, in collaboration with the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA). The event, titled Kuwait’s New Era, featured a series of insightful panel discussions on strategic investment efforts and the latest policies and regulations enhancing Kuwait’s appeal as a regional investment hub.
Zain took part in the opening ceremony, attended by Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalifa Al-Ajeel, KDIPA Director General Sheikh Dr Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Zain Kuwait CEO Nawaf Al-Gharabally, Chairman of the Kuwait Banking Association Hamad Al-Marzouq, and a prominent lineup of public and private sector leaders, experts and entrepreneurs. Zain’s support of the event reaffirmed its strategic partnership with The Business Year and ongoing collaboration with KDIPA, both aimed at empowering the local business environment and positioning Kuwait as a regional economic center driven by innovation and technology.
During the event, Zain emphasized that its support for this distinguished gathering is renewed annually as part of its contribution to shaping the future of Kuwait’s economy. Events like these bring together innovation and decision-making to transform ambition into action, aligning perfectly with Zain’s strategic vision for the digital future. The company noted that Kuwait has taken bold steps in recent years to strengthen its digital economy, and Zain is proud to be a key partner in this journey. Looking ahead, the company believes that economic transformation is not solely based on infrastructure and investment, but on people, partnerships, and purposeful technology.
Waleed Al-Khashti delivers Zain’s keynote speech during the opening ceremony.
Zain explained that it has moved beyond the traditional role of a telecom operator to become a driver of innovation and digital transformation, serving as a strategic partner to the government, private sector, and startups. The company’s purpose is clear: to deliver technologies and innovations that enable Lasting Connections and Better Lives for the communities it serves. Zain is also accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence, not just as a trend but as a national imperative. Through smart platforms, data analytics, and advanced telecom solutions, the company is unlocking potential across vital sectors, from healthcare and education to finance and logistics.
The company is making major investments in nurturing national talent, grounded in its belief that Kuwait’s future will be built by its people. Whether in AI, cybersecurity, or cloud computing, Zain is preparing its workforce to lead tomorrow’s economy. Recognizing that this new era requires collective effort, Zain believes true innovation lies not only in what is built, but in how it is built. Through strong partnerships with the public sector and global technology leaders, the company strives to shape a strong, inclusive, and sustainable digital future for Kuwait.
Zain also expressed its pleasure in continuing its long-standing partnership with The Business Year, based in London, to help host such impactful forums. The company values the critical role these platforms play in fostering dialogue, exchanging ideas and enabling innovation across Kuwait’s market sectors. The company praised the pivotal role and significant efforts of KDIPA in improving Kuwait’s business environment, diversifying the economy, boosting competitiveness and positioning the country on the global investment map. Zain reaffirmed its commitment to supporting these national goals as a leading private sector organization.
The event featured two insightful panel discussions that highlighted Kuwait’s most strategic investment sectors. The first panel explored the importance of family business transitions to public listings and the evolving role of foreign direct investment (FDI) in driving economic growth in a stable political environment with a robust development agenda. It also examined the latest policies and legislation bolstering Kuwait’s regional investment appeal.
The second panel focused on Kuwait’s industrial evolution, the need to diversify income sources, and integrating sustainability into growth strategies. Panelists discussed mechanisms for reducing oil dependency, the role of public-private collaboration in expanding industrial sectors, and emerging opportunities in renewable energy and advanced technologies to build a competitive and sustainable economy.
PACI employee arrested for forging addresses for bribes • More citizenships revoked
KUWAIT: Kuwaiti security men busted an attempt to smuggle a large drugs haul with a street value estimated at KD 1.5 million, with the cooperation of the United Arab Emirates’ interior ministry, a statement announced on Thursday. The haul consisted of 10 kg of heroin and 100 kg of shabu, an illegal chemical substance, and was destined for an Afghan man who was arrested, the interior ministry said.
Through security cooperation with the UAE, the Kuwaiti authorities received information of the shipment that was due to arrive at Shuwaikh Port and belonged to an organized international network. The container was allowed to leave the port by customs men and the receiver, an Afghan man, was arrested at Amghara industrial area, west of Kuwait City.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah thanked the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Emirati officials for the cooperation that led to the huge bust, stressing the importance of continued security coordination. The minister reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to countering the drug threat and safeguarding national security through local and international partnerships.
Separately, the interior ministry announced on Thursday the arrest of an employee working at the Public Authority for Civil Information on charges of forging official documents and accepting bribes. The ministry said the bust followed information and coordination with officials from the civil information authority, revealing the suspect had exploited his job authority to access the electronic system and change residents’ addresses without their presence or submission of official documents, in violation of established regulations.
Investigations revealed that the suspect had added fake addresses in exchange for payments of up to KD 120 per transaction, abusing his position for illicit gain. He was found to have processed over 5,000 transactions since the beginning of this year in collaboration with a number of middlemen inside and outside Kuwait.
Two middlemen were arrested, along with seven individuals who had paid money to complete their transactions. The suspect was found to have used the illicit proceeds to purchase jewelry, gold bars and luxury items in an attempt to conceal the source of the funds. The suspects and the seized items were referred to the public prosecution for legal action.
Meanwhile, the interior ministry said on Thursday that the Supreme Commission for Nationality has decided to revoke the citizenship of an unspecified number of people for a variety of reasons. The ministry said in a statement that the citizenships were revoked because holders held citizenship of a third country, banned under Kuwaiti law, while others held citizenships that were obtained through false information and forgery.
Some other citizenships were revoked for the sake of the country’s national interests and others because holders violated their loyalty to the country. The ministry gave no details about the numbers. The commission has in the past 15 months stripped over 37,000 people of their Kuwaiti citizenship, about 29,000 of them were foreign women who became Kuwaitis after getting married to Kuwaiti men.
KUWAIT: Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) Vice Chairman Dr Nasser Al-Tannak affirmed the importance of enhancing cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) across various health and training sectors, particularly in light of growing global health challenges. Speaking to KUNA following a meeting with WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Kuwait Dr Asad Hafeez, Al-Tannak revealed that KRCS is working towards signing a memorandum of understanding with the WHO’s Kuwait office.
The agreement will cover key areas including mental health, risk awareness, addiction prevention, and the development of specialized training programs. Al-Tannak noted that the KRCS Board of Directors is committed to advancing a comprehensive strategy for training employees and volunteers in accordance with international standards. This initiative aims to enhance their capabilities, particularly in emergency and disaster response operations.
He emphasized that this approach reflects the Society’s vision of building a well-qualified humanitarian workforce, capable of responding swiftly and effectively to humanitarian calls worldwide. He added that KRCS stands as a distinguished example of institutional humanitarian work in the region. During the meeting, WHO officials were briefed on the Society’s wide-ranging efforts in relief, healthcare, development, and humanitarian assistance, as well as its community-driven initiatives and key achievements over the past year. These accomplishments, he said, mark a qualitative leap in KRCS operations and reaffirm its unwavering commitment to serving humanity.
For his part, Dr Hafeez commended the Kuwait Red Crescent Society’s role in conducting awareness campaigns and offering psychological and social support. He also praised the Society’s work in strengthening volunteer capabilities to manage health emergencies. Dr Hafeez stressed the significance of continued collaboration to enhance readiness and response to health crises both in Kuwait and the broader region, noting KRCS’s extensive experience and high credibility in the fields of humanitarian, relief, and public health work. — KUNA