KUWAIT: IKEA, the leading brand for life at home, hosted a special event in collaboration with Kuwait University’s College of Architecture.
Held at IKEA for Business, the event brought together creativity and inspiration, shining a spotlight on the work of Visual Communication Design students. Guests were invited to explore a vibrant exhibition of student-designed toys, each piece blending play with education.
“At IKEA, we believe that children are the most important people in the world and every child has the right to play. Play is not just about having a good time; it is important for the future as it is an essential way of learning for life. We thank Kuwait University for giving us the opportunity to be part of the journey of young designers in Kuwait as they create toys that spark curiosity and learning in the lives of children, celebrate culture, and encourage language development; values we care deeply about at IKEA,” said Elisa Albendea, IKEA Brand and CMI Director.
The evening also featured the announcement of the top projects, with college professors and IKEA interior designers forming a judging panel to select three standout toy ideas based on their innovation, functionality, safety, and educational aspects. IKEA invited the top three winners to visit its origin for a deep dive in the IKEA product design world.
Winner Aisha Al-Ajmi with university professors and the IKEA team.
“During this course, Visual Communication Design students addressed a pressing challenge: the lack of engaging, well-designed products that are both culturally appropriate and support the Arabic language for children. With IKEA support our students brought their ideas to life through full prototypes,” said Dr. Sarah Alfalah, Assistant Professor at Collage of Architecture, Kuwait University.
“We are grateful to IKEA for their generous sponsorship and belief in our students’ potential. And we thank the students for pushing boundaries, embracing challenges, and pouring their hearts into developing these meaningful products,” stressed Alfalah Earlier this year, IKEA hosted a workshop for the Visual Communication Design students. Experts from IKEA shared insights about children’s development stages and safety considerations in product design where children’s needs stay at the core. Following the workshop, Kuwait University students toured the IKEA store to observe how these measures are implemented in children’s room settings and toys.
“At IKEA, children’s safety and development are at the heart of everything we do. We follow the strictest safety and quality standards and often go beyond them by setting our own. We were delighted to welcome students from the Visual Communication Design department to our store, and we hope that the experience inspired them to bring more safety, joy, purpose, and a better everyday life to children across Kuwait,” said Sabrina Shammas, IKEA Sustainability Manager.
KUWAIT: In line with its unwavering commitment to fostering financial literacy and empowering all segments of society, NBK continues to bolster its support for the “Let’s Be Aware” banking awareness campaign. Spearheaded by the Central Bank of Kuwait in collaboration with local banks and Kuwait Banking Association (KBA). As part of its commitment to customer protection, NBK is actively educating the public about fraudulent online shopping offers, often promoted through social media. These scams typically feature links to fake applications or websites that lure victims with enticing discounts and promotions.
Designed to mimic legitimate platforms, these fraudulent sites deceive users into providing sensitive personal and banking details — such as account and credit card numbers — ultimately compromising their financial security. NBK urges customers to remain vigilant and avoid engaging with suspicious links, reinforcing its dedication to safeguarding the community from cyber threats. NBK advises customers to exercise caution and avoid being misled by deceptive shopping deals that promise steep discounts. The bank emphasizes the importance of verifying website URLs and refraining from clicking on links from unknown sources — especially those received via email that advertise offers that appear too good to be true.
Furthermore, NBK cautions customers about the risks of saving credit card details on e-commerce websites or browsers for faster future transactions. The bank highlights that such platforms are susceptible to security breaches, potentially exposing stored banking data to theft. The Bank also emphasizes that it will never request personal information via email, text messages, or phone calls. Additionally, NBK warns customers against responding to such messages, as they are often fraudulent attempts to steal banking credentials, sensitive data, or funds.
NBK remains vigilant in monitoring emerging fraud tactics, educating customers, and providing clear guidance on how to stay protected. Through comprehensive awareness materials shared across its digital platforms, the bank continuously emphasizes the importance of engaging only with trusted links and avoiding interactions with unidentified sources. Harnessing its vast communication capabilities, NBK utilizes all its digital channels — boasting the largest following among Kuwaiti banks — to ensure the widest dissemination of the campaign’s messages, effectively reaching the largest possible audience.
Led by the Central Bank of Kuwait in partnership with Kuwait Banking Association, “Let’s Be Aware” stands as the region’s most comprehensive financial literacy campaign. Aimed at empowering bank customers, the initiative delivers essential education on critical financial topics. Key focus areas include practical steps to prevent fraud, strategies for maximizing banking services, and fostering a strong culture of savings and investment. By equipping individuals with the knowledge and tools to make informed financial decisions, the campaign strengthens financial security and resilience across Kuwait’s banking sector.
As a leading financial institution in Kuwait and the region, NBK remains a key supporter of the Central Bank of Kuwait’s initiatives aimed at enhancing financial literacy and promoting banking awareness across all segments of society. The bank actively organizes various educational events to keep the community informed about critical banking issues while also investing in specialized training programs for its employees. By strengthening expertise in fraud prevention and financial crime mitigation, NBK reinforces its commitment to safeguarding customers and upholding the integrity of the financial sector.
KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah on Thursday announced the distribution of the first batch of hearing aids to citizens with hearing impairments, following a years-long suspension. The initiative aims to support their daily lives and enhance their ability to communicate and integrate into society. Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Dr Al-Huwailah emphasized that hearing aids are vital tools that enable individuals to lead independent lives and engage naturally with their surroundings.
KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah and officials from the Disability Authority inspect prosthetic devices. – KUNA photos
“This is just the beginning,” she said, noting that subsequent batches will follow to meet all pending requests, with priority given based on the order of application. She also underscored the commitment of the Public Authority for the Disabled to continue providing a range of assistive and prosthetic devices—including wheelchairs and other essential equipment—to empower individuals with disabilities both psychologically and socially, and to further support their integration into the community. — KUNA