KUWAIT: As part of its sponsorship of Academy X – Kuwait’s biggest women’s empowerment initiative in the tech and entrepreneurship industry, talabat, the leading on-demand online ordering platform in the MENA region, announced the graduation of the program’s second cohort. This sponsorship reflects talabat’s ongoing commitment to advancing Kuwait’s digital economy and infrastructure, while nurturing a new generation of skilled, tech-driven talent. By supporting forward-looking programs, talabat continues to play an active role in helping achieve the New Kuwait Vision 2035.
Led by CODED Academy and sponsored by talabat, the second Academy X cohort of the 2025 edition saw the participation of a select group of Kuwaiti female students, ages 14-18. At the end of the intensive program, participants developed and presented over 50 creative tech projects, which demonstrated their newly acquired knowledge in the latest artificial intelligence (AI) tools, app and web development, successful user interface and user experience design (UI/UX), the foundations of entrepreneurship, as well as leadership and soft skills.
Commenting on the students’ achievement, Bader Al-Ghanim, Vice President and Managing Director of talabat Kuwait, said: “We are proud of all Academy X participants, and we commend them all on their hard work and dedication, which are evident in the aspiring and future-ready projects they presented. While we stand behind all Kuwaiti youth on their journeys to becoming the country’s future tech leaders, we are especially committed to supporting girls and ensuring they have the necessary resources to advance in the STEM fields and contribute to the national technology and innovation ecosystem.”
He added: “As part of our social responsibility strategy, we are keen to continue contributing to advancing digital literacy, coding proficiency, creative thinking, and entrepreneurial agility in Kuwait – all of which are at the heart of the New Kuwait Vision 2035. Our unwavering investment in youth is a direct investment in Kuwait’s digital landscape, which ultimately supports the very growth and expansion of talabat domestically and regionally.”
On his part, Hashim Behbehani, Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of CODED, said: “I would like to extend my thanks to talabat for their ongoing support and the integral role they continue to play in the success of Academy X and the growth opportunity it offers young women in Kuwait’s tech industry. The growing support that we continue to witness from socially responsible institutions, such as talabat, reflects the unity and cohesion that propel our growth as a society and an economy, capable of competing on an international level.”
The success and impact of Academy X is evident in the voices of its graduates: “This isn’t my first time participating in one of CODED’s initiatives. Programs such as Academy X have truly helped me develop in so many ways, starting with self-confidence and my ability to address a mixed audience of males and females eloquently and without hesitation. The program also sparked in me a love for self-discovery, because honestly, they’ve always taught us in a way that’s engaging and never exhausting or boring. The time I spend with the program instructors and fellow participants always gives me energy and excitement, and a positive vibe I can’t find elsewhere. I look forward to every lecture because I know each time I’ll walk away with something new that helps me grow.”
* Fatima Ayman AlZaid, Academy X Graduate
“My experience with the Academy X program was truly inspiring and enriching. I learned practical skills in entrepreneurship and technology, and I developed my self-confidence and ability to present my ideas to others. It was a unique opportunity that helped me discover my creative abilities and made me believe that any idea can be achieved if it’s backed by passion and hard work. During the program, we worked on an application project to solve a problem we collectively faced, which was a real opportunity to apply what we learned in a practical, hands-on way.”
* Aisha Khalil AlOtaibi, Academy X Graduate
“I’ve participated in many programs and competitions, but nothing comes close to Academy X — a truly unique experience in every detail, with a beautiful and lasting impact.”
* Lulwah Salah AlSaeed, Academy X Graduate
With one more cohort remaining in the 2025 edition of Academy X, talabat is gearing up for extending its sponsorship of the program to future editions, guaranteeing its continuity and growth. This involves expanding and developing the program’s deliverables, increasing the number of enrolled participants, and providing more diverse and innovative training content. These efforts aim to enhance the program’s positive impact and solidify its role as a pioneering initiative in empowering females in the technology sector.
As a key player in the region’s digital landscape, talabat spares no effort to support young talents, especially girls and women, in learning the vital skills and tools of the digital industry, enabling them to lead with confidence, innovation, and creativity, as well as introduce novel solutions for their communities’ challenges and needs. Recognizing the digital-first nature of the future, talabat’s sponsorship of Academy X is a contribution to a better digital future for Kuwait, the region, and, potentially, the world.
Erdogan gifts Amir Turkish-made EV • Leaders hold official talks • Key agreements inked
KUWAIT: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and an accompanying delegation arrived in Kuwait on Tuesday on an official visit. Heading the reception at Kuwait International Airport were HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Also present were HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and senior ministers and state officials.
HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal received a gift from Erdogan at Bayan Palace. The gift, an emblem of Erdogan’s appreciation and pride in the bilateral ties between the two nations, is a Turkish-made Togg electric vehicle. HH the Amir voiced his sincere appreciation for this generous gesture, wishing the President and the Turkish people further progress and prosperity.
HH the Amir held official talks at Bayan Palace with Erdogan, attended by HH the Crown Prince, HH the Prime Minister and senior officials from both sides. Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah said during the talks, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations between Kuwait and Turkey, discussed means of strengthening cooperation in various fields and exchanged views on key regional and international developments of mutual concern.
HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal welcomes President Erdogan before holding official talks.
In the presence of HH the Amir and Erdogan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef pose after signing an agreement between the two countries.
The meeting reflected the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two countries, affirming their mutual desire to enhance cooperation across all domains in a manner that serves their common interests and promotes regional stability. Preserving the hard-won ceasefire recently achieved in Gaza between the Zionist entity and the Palestinian group Hamas is critically important, Erdogan said Tuesday, according to a statement by the Turkish Communications Directorate. “Emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining the strenuously achieved ceasefire in Gaza, President Erdogan stated that a two-state solution is imperative for lasting peace, and highlighted the significance of the Islamic world’s common stance on this matter,” said the directorate.
The statement also said that Erdogan “stressed Turkiye’s resolve in upholding Syria’s political unity and territorial integrity, and expressed the desire to move forward together with the brotherly Arab states in building a promising future for the Syrian people.” On bilateral ties, Erdogan said the existing cooperation between Turkey and Kuwait in the fields of investment, energy, trade and the defense industry carries strategic importance. “President Erdogan stressed the potential to further enhance the deep-rooted bilateral ties,” the statement said.
“President Erdogan expressed appreciation for Kuwait’s efforts to promote regional stability as the current Chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and remarked that the free trade agreement, still under negotiation between Turkiye and the GCC, would further strengthen Turkiye’s commercial relations with the brotherly Gulf countries,” it added.
HH the Amir then held a banquet in honor of Erdogan and his accompanying delegation. Later, in the presence of HH the Amir and Erdogan, HH the Crown Prince and HH the Prime Minister, a number of agreements were signed at Bayan Palace between Kuwait and Turkey. The agreements include a maritime transport agreement and a memorandum of understanding on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates; a memorandum on cooperation in the energy sector; and a memorandum on cooperation in the field of direct investment incentives. Erdogan and his accompanying delegation then departed from Kuwait, heading to Qatar. Bidding him farewell at the airport were HH the Crown Prince, HH the Prime Minister and top state officials. – Agencies
KUWAIT: Minister of Public Works Dr Noura Al-Mashaan on Tuesday signed a contract with the Turkish company Kozo for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a wastewater treatment plant in South Al-Mutlaa City, along with its complementary works. In a press statement, the Ministry of Public Works said the project is part of the ministry’s development plan and is designed to serve the residents of Al-Mutlaa City.
The plant will produce around 400,000 cubic meters of triple-treated water daily for agricultural and other beneficial uses. The ministry added that the facility represents a pioneering step in the adoption of alternative energy technologies, reflecting Kuwait’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure development and environmental conservation. — KUNA
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