KUWAIT: The official spokesperson for the unified government e-services application Sahel, Yousef Kazem, announced on Monday that the platform has successfully completed 111 million electronic transactions, with the number of users reaching 2.9 million, coinciding with the fourth anniversary of its launch in Sept 2021.

In remarks to KUNA, Kazem explained that Sahel serves as a unified digital platform that consolidates services from dozens of government entities, providing citizens and residents with a simplified and integrated user experience.

He noted that more than 32 million transactions have been processed so far this year alone, reflecting users’ trust in the platform and the state’s commitment to enhancing the efficiency of government services. Kazem also highlighted the rapid expansion of Sahel, which launched with 123 services and now offers more than 460 services across ministries and agencies, making it the most widely used government application in Kuwait.

Among its milestones, Kazem pointed to the launch of Kuwait’s first fully integrated digital journey — the “Newborn Journey” — which streamlined previously lengthy procedures into fast, user-friendly steps. He added that work is underway to introduce additional digital

journeys, including the “House Document” and “Marriage Journey”, along with the new centralized reporting service “Balagh”.

Kazem expressed gratitude to the political leadership for their support of Kuwait’s digital transformation, and praised the cooperation of ministries and government entities in enriching the platform and modernizing procedures. This collaboration, he stressed, has strengthened institutional partnership and digital integration in daily life.

Meanwhile, the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) reaffirmed its commitment to full digital transformation, reporting that it has provided more than one million electronic services through Sahel since its launch. Deputy Director General for Public Relations and Development Affairs and PAHW spokesperson, Omar Al-Ruwaih, said the authority has expanded its services from five in 2021 to 30 today, benefiting more than 312,000 citizens.

Al-Ruwaih noted that the most requested services included the issuance of 761,000 “To Whom It May Concern” certificates, 84,591 phone number updates, and 28,544 allocation decision certificates. He added that over 21,000 housing care and rental allowance applications were processed electronically, while more than 20,000 allocation requests were opened.

Looking ahead, Al-Ruwaih said the authority is preparing to launch new services, including video communication for students on scholarships, citizens receiving treatment abroad and members of diplomatic missions. He emphasized PAHW’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness through social media campaigns, field exhibitions and public outreach, noting that 150 awareness initiatives have been implemented since the app’s launch.

In related efforts, the Public Authority of Manpower (PAM) announced the launch of the first phase of its electronic need assessment system via Sahel. The system enables employers to determine workforce requirements electronically and securely, with applications reviewed by the need assessment department before being forwarded to inspection teams.

PAM’s Acting Director General Rabab Al-Osaimi stressed the importance of smooth implementation to avoid delays, emphasizing that compliance with salary requirements is essential to ensure fairness and transparency in the process. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health announced Tuesday the successful completion of four surgeries to implant electronic chips for dual stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The operations were carried out by a national medical team at the ministry’s Zain Center, led by Dr Mutlaq Al-Saihan. In a press statement, the ministry said the procedure – described as the first of its kind in government hospitals in the Middle East – was successfully performed on four Kuwaiti citizens aged between their fifties and eighties.

The ministry explained that the technology is designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea, a condition characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep that can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. This medical milestone, the ministry stressed, underscores its commitment to providing patients with the latest internationally recognized treatments and advanced healthcare solutions across its facilities. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Zain Kuwait announced that it has joined the Kuwait Green Building Council (KGBC) as a Platinum member, in a step that reflects its commitment to accelerating the sustainability agenda in the workplace and the community and to reducing emissions and enhancing energy efficiency. This comes as a core part of Zain’s sustainability strategy and as an extension of its community programs that focus on reducing environmental impact and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Commenting on the partnership, Corporate Relations Department Manager Hamad Al-Musaibeeh said: “Joining the Kuwait Green Building Council confirms Zain’s direction to turn sustainability principles into measurable, day-to-day operational practice. We will benefit from the capacity-building programs and technical advisory services that KGBC provides to develop the competencies of our engineering and operations teams and to adopt more advanced standards for energy and water efficiency and waste management across our facilities.”

He added: “We believe that sustainable ecosystems enhance quality of life and create economic and social value for our customers, partners and society as a whole, and they support Kuwait’s shift toward a more sustainable future. We are therefore pleased with this partnership and look forward to advancing our shared vision to achieve lasting social impact.” General Manager of the Kuwait Green Building Council, Dalal Al-Hashash, said: “We are proud to welcome Zain as a Platinum Member of the Kuwait Green Building Council. For years, Zain has been at the forefront of integrating sustainability into its business strategy and operations, setting an example for the private sector in Kuwait.”

She added: “This partnership is not about starting the journey, but about deepening collaboration and knowledge exchange to accelerate innovative solutions in energy efficiency and emissions reduction. As the technology sector is set to experience one of the fastest rises in energy demand, we are delighted to work with one of Kuwait’s leading companies to ensure that future growth is guided by sustainability principles that put people and the environment at the center of development.”

The Kuwait Green Building Council will provide Zain, through its Platinum Membership, with specialized capacity-building platforms through training, workshops and seminars, in addition to technical advisory services to align projects with sustainable building standards and practices. The Council also offers marketing support channels to highlight members’ environmental responsibility, and spaces for professional networking and the exchange of expertise among leaders in this field to enhance opportunities for partnerships and collaboration.

As a Platinum Member, Zain will support the Council’s activities, programs and campaigns, and will share its experience in adopting best practices across its current and future projects. This includes expanding energy-efficiency applications, rationalizing water consumption, improving waste management and enhancing indoor environmental quality in facilities, which will positively affect users’ health and wellbeing and increase productivity.

Green buildings are defined as the design, implementation and operation of buildings in a manner that reduces negative environmental impacts and improves the quality of life for occupants and workers throughout a building’s life cycle, from planning to decommissioning. This is achieved through solutions that include reliance on renewable energy sources, maximizing natural lighting, using sustainable materials, applying water-conservation technologies and adopting effective waste-management strategies.

This step aligns with Zain’s sustainability vision, which places climate action and resource efficiency at the core of its operations and supply chain and supports its long-term emissions-reduction targets. It also reflects the company’s commitment to partnering with specialized local entities to build more sustainable buildings and urban infrastructure in Kuwait. The Kuwait Green Building Council was officially established as a non-profit, non-governmental entity in 2017. As a membership-based organization of relevant stakeholders, it aims to encourage and support sustainable urban and built-environment development in Kuwait. It is affiliated with a global network of more than 75 Green Building Councils operating under the umbrella of the World Green Building Council.

The Council offers annual membership packages for various segments including companies, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, specialists and students. These packages cover benefits and responsibilities that include capacity-building programs, technical consulting to implement green building standards, marketing support to highlight members’ commitments, and opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange, with the aim of entrenching a culture of sustainable construction and supporting related initiatives and strategic plans.