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Zain: Kuwait’s Fastest Network wins five global awards from Ookla® Speedtest®

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Zain has added another illustrious chapter to its success story, reaffirming its leadership in Kuwait’s telecom and ICT sector, becoming the first and only company in the country to win five global awards in a single year from Ookla Speedtest — the world’s leading platform for network intelligence, testing, and analytics. These awards recognize Zain’s performance for the third and fourth quarters of 2024.

 Zain secured the titles of Fastest Mobile Network, Best 5G Gaming Experience, Best 5G Video Experience, Best Mobile Network, and Fastest Fixed Internet, after achieving the highest scores in Ookla’s analyses, based on hundreds of thousands of consumer-initiated tests across Kuwait. These tests covered all major telecom networks nationwide during the evaluation period, with Zain emerging as the clear leader in every category — cementing its position at the top across multiple performance fronts.

 This achievement highlights Zain’s leadership and commitment to investing in cutting-edge technologies, empowering the digital lifestyles of the largest customer base in Kuwait. It builds on the success story Zain began when it became the first operator to commercially launch 5G in Kuwait in 2019. Zain remains steadfast in investing heavily in its digital infrastructure to deliver the latest solutions and services that meet the aspirations of its customers.

 On this occasion, Nawaf Al-Gharabally, CEO of Zain Kuwait, stated: “We are proud to write a new chapter in Zain’s ongoing success story. This unprecedented achievement reaffirms what we always claim: Zain is Kuwait’s fastest and leading network. We have once again proven our market leadership, strengthening our top position in a fiercely competitive and operationally demanding market.”

 He added: “This accomplishment is the result of the dedication and creativity of our national workforce, whom we are immensely proud of. It is also a direct translation of our new 4WARD strategy – ‘Progress with Purpose,’ through which we look to maximize our full potential as a customer-centric, future-proof, and impactful leading regional TechCo. These awards also serve as a clear endorsement from our customers, as they are primarily based on user-initiated tests, making this recognition all the more meaningful.”

 Al-Gharabally continued: “This success goes beyond operational and technical excellence. Our continued investment in employee development and human capital is a key pillar in realizing our vision and maintaining our leadership. Our unwavering focus on enhancing the customer experience and placing them at the heart of everything we do has directly contributed to strengthening our brand position, and it is recognitions like these that reflect our efforts.”

 He further noted: “At Zain, we see ourselves as a responsible organization, enthusiastically contributing to Kuwait’s vision of building a robust digital infrastructure and advancing the nation’s developmental goals. We affirm our full technical, operational, and commercial readiness to launch the next generation of 5G (5.5G). The coming phase requires total readiness, and we view this achievement as a steppingstone toward this major transformation.”

 Stephen Bye, President and CEO of Ookla, a division of Ziff Davis, commented: “We are proud to recognize Zain for winning the Speedtest Award for ‘Fastest Mobile Network,’ ‘Best 5G Gaming Experience,’ ‘Best 5G Video Experience,’ ‘Best Mobile Network,’ and ‘Fastest Fixed Internet’ in Kuwait for Q3 and Q4 of 2024. This recognition is a testament to Zain’s industry leadership performance, as validated by Ookla’s trusted methodology.”

 Ookla is a global leader in connectivity intelligence, providing consumers, businesses, and organizations with data-driven insights to improve network performance and connected experiences. Ookla helps its clients efficiently solve their biggest connectivity challenges and drive innovation forward.

 Ookla is a division of Ziff Davis (NASDAQ: ZD), a vertically focused digital media and internet company whose portfolio includes leading brands across technology, entertainment, shopping, health, cybersecurity, and martech sectors. Ookla’s world-renowned brands include Speedtest, Downdetector, Ekahau, RootMetrics, and more.

 For the full details of Ookla’s methodology, visit: Speedtest.net/awards.

 

Fastest Mobile Network

 Ookla compared over 700,000 consumer-initiated speed tests in Kuwait via its leading Speedtest platform, widely recognized globally, through iOS and Android apps, covering all major networks in the country during the award period.

 Zain outperformed all other networks with a Speed Score of 273.37, featuring a median download speed of 263.71 Mbps and a median upload speed of 27.11 Mbps. The final result was calculated based on several scientific benchmarks, with a focus on download and median speeds — the metrics that matter most to consumers daily.

 As Kuwait’s fastest mobile network, Zain enables its customers to download content faster, stream videos seamlessly, and browse the web without lag, anytime and anywhere on their smartphones. These ultra-high speeds ensure that customers can rely on their mobile network for a premium, stable connection on the go, enhancing their productivity and keeping them connected to what matters most.

 

Fastest Fixed Internet

 Ookla compared over two million consumer-initiated tests of fixed network speeds in Kuwait across its various Speedtest platforms, including tests conducted over smartphones connected to Wi-Fi networks.

 Zain outperformed all other networks with a Speed Score of 197.72, achieving top download speeds of 531.21 Mbps and top upload speeds of 85.18 Mbps. The final result was calculated based on several scientific benchmarks, with a focus on download and median speeds — essential factors for daily consumer use.

 Fixed networks offer ultra-fast speeds and low latency, making them ideal for gaming enthusiasts. Zain’s advanced network provides a variety of packages tailored to this customer segment, ensuring the best experience. The company also offers a wide range of gaming products, from high-end PCs to original accessories and more.

 By delivering Kuwait’s fastest fixed Internet, Zain provides households with ultra-fast connectivity, ideal for remote work, streaming high-definition content, online gaming, and all daily digital needs. This superiority ensures Zain’s customers enjoy smooth, reliable home internet, even during peak usage times.

 

Best 5G Video Experience

 Ookla compared thousands of tests across its Speedtest platform on 5G networks, with Zain outperforming all other networks, scoring 85.77 in the video test. The final result was based on video streaming performance indicators, measuring several key performance metrics during high-resolution video playback.

 Zain offers its customers the largest entertainment content library through its strategic partnerships with leading entertainment platforms in the Middle East and globally, providing thousands of hours of entertainment and sports content over Kuwait’s largest network — ensuring the best viewing experience for users to enjoy their favorite content anytime and anywhere.

 Zain’s customers benefit from the best 5G video experience, enjoying ultra-HD streaming with instant playback and zero buffering. This video streaming quality means users can enjoy digital entertainment on the go with the same smoothness as home connections. With Zain’s advanced 5G network, customers get an unprecedented entertainment experience, reflecting the outstanding capabilities of the infrastructure the company has heavily invested in.

 

Best 5G Gaming Experience

 Ookla compared thousands of tests across its Speedtest platform on 5G networks, with Zain outperforming all other networks, scoring 84.99 in the gaming test. The final result was based on gaming performance indicators, including latency and jitter measurements from real-world game servers, alongside user-generated performance metrics.

 Zain delivers the best 5G gaming experience for mobile gaming enthusiasts, thanks to its extremely high speeds and ultra-low latency. This means gamers can enjoy immersive, responsive gameplay with instant reaction times, even in competitive games requiring direct online interaction.

 This achievement highlights Zain’s deep understanding of the gaming community’s needs, providing them with a competitive edge and seamless, uninterrupted gaming — making Zain the preferred choice for serious gamers.

 

Best Mobile Network

 As the recipient of the Best Mobile Network award, Zain offers wide and reliable coverage backed by top speeds and consistent performance at all times. This level of service ensures customers enjoy an unparalleled mobile experience, with stable connectivity, excellent call quality, and the highest internet speeds nationwide. Zain’s customers benefit from a unique experience that combines speed, reliability, and continuity, anywhere across Kuwait.

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Real estate transactions dip sharply in Kuwait

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KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9: The real estate market witnessed a significant decline in the number and value of transactions in the first week of September, compared to the same period last year, as well as the last week of August. This is a clear indication that the market has entered a period of relative calm and investment anticipation driven by seasonal factors and qualitative shifts in transactions, particularly commercial real estate, which accounted for about 60 percent of the total trading value during the week, compared to only three transactions. It reflects the interest of major institutions or entities in ‘heavy’ commercial transactions. The weekly report of the Real Estate Registration and Documentation Department at the Ministry of Justice for the period from Sept 1 to 3 showed that the number of real estate transactions was 62, with a total value of KD83.92 million.

These include 37 private transactions worth KD 13.5 million, 22 investment transactions worth KD 17.6 million, and three commercial transactions worth KD 52.8 million. Compared to the first week of September 2024, weekly trading recorded a decline of approximately 39 percent in the number of transactions, compared to a 16.8 percent increase in total value due to the completion of qualitative commercial deals. The number of transactions during that period reached 101, valued at KD 69.8 million, reflecting a quantitative decline versus a qualitative increase in transactions on an annual basis. Compared to trading during the fourth (and final) week of August 2025, the decline was more severe, with 139 transactions recorded, valued at KD 163.24 million.

This is a decline of approximately 55 percent in the number of transactions (77 transactions) and a 49 percent decrease in the value or KD 79.32 million. It is a clear indication that the market has entered a short-term slowdown after a remarkable wave of activity in August. Regarding private real estate transactions, they declined from 89 in the last week of August to just 37, a decrease of nearly 58 percent. The value also fell from KD 33.4 million to KD 13.5 million — by KD19.9 million, a decrease of nearly 60 percent. This indicates a decline in residential ownership activity due to travel or investors’ anticipation of market movements following the recent enactment of several real estate laws. Despite the decline in the number of investment transactions from 28 in August 2025 to 22 in September, the value of transactions increased to KD 17.6 million, compared to KD 15.3 million in August. It means continued demand for investment properties and the search for attractive, quality opportunities. As for commercial transactions, only three transactions were recorded this week, worth KD52.8 million or 60 percent of the total weekly trading value. It shows the execution of quality deals and investors’ focus on quality transactions and assets with long-term returns.

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff

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Kuwait urges GCC tax reform for economic integration

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Kuwait urges GCC tax reform for economic integration

Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Finance, Aseel Al-Munifi

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9: Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Finance, Aseel Al-Munifi, on Tuesday emphasized the need to develop the tax system and achieve financial sustainability to promote economic integration among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.

Speaking at the 15th meeting of the Committee of Heads and Directors of Tax Administrations in GCC countries in Kuwait, Al-Munifi said the meeting is part of ongoing efforts to coordinate GCC tax authorities and develop mechanisms to unify joint tax policies that serve the interests of member states and their populations.

She expressed hope that the annex to amend the unified excise tax agreement would be signed at the upcoming financial and economic cooperation meeting scheduled in Kuwait next October, which will bring together the GCC finance ministers. Al-Munifi also commended the heads and directors of tax authorities and the Unified Tax System Working Group for their efforts in preparing studies, working papers, and recommendations.

Khalid Al-Sunaidi, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Development Affairs at the GCC General Secretariat, said the meeting continues the process of cooperation among GCC countries in tax policies. He noted that the aim is to unify tax frameworks, enhance economic integration, and support competitiveness at the regional and international levels.

Al-Sunaidi added that discussions at the meeting included outcomes from the GCC Unified Tax System Working Group on redefining energy drinks to reduce the consumption of unhealthy products, and plans to establish a comprehensive electronic system for all types of indirect taxes, alongside other related topics.

During the meeting, GCC tax heads and directors reviewed recommendations and decisions from the 14th meeting and previous sessions, submitting them to the undersecretaries of finance in the GCC. It was agreed to form a technical working group to develop the electronic system for indirect taxes and to redefine energy drinks in the Unified Excise Tax Agreement according to international definitions and classifications.

The 15th GCC Tax Committee meeting held in Kuwait.

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Kuwait aims to attract value-added direct investments

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KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9: The Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) on Monday announced that BlackRock has obtained regulatory approvals and commercial licenses to operate in Kuwait, reflecting confidence in the country’s economic development.

KDIPA Director General Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Al-Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah told KUNA that Kuwait is committed to attracting value-added direct investments, with a strong focus on developing national competencies, strengthening long-term partnerships, and ensuring sustainable growth based on knowledge.

BlackRock CEO and Chairman Larry Fink said the company values its decades-long partnership with Kuwait and looks forward to reinforcing it through a direct presence in the country, contributing to the financial system, and supporting the development of national competencies.

The initiative aims to achieve several strategic objectives, including enhancing mutual trust between the company and its clients and supporting Kuwait’s “New Kuwait 2035” vision, in line with BlackRock’s broader goal of contributing to the development of capital markets in the Middle East.

BlackRock will start operations in Kuwait with an office that includes a customer service team, a financial advisory team, and an Aladdin system team, enabling the provision of advanced investment solutions and services. Ali Al-Qadi has been appointed head of the Kuwait office while continuing his role as head of client team management for both Kuwait and Qatar.

The Capital Markets Authority of Kuwait officially granted a license to BlackRock Advisors – United Kingdom Limited to operate as an investment advisor in Kuwait. The authority described this as a step that underscores Kuwait’s growing position on the global financial map, noting that BlackRock is one of the world’s largest asset managers.

The CMA said the move marks a milestone in developing Kuwait’s financial market and confirms the country’s ability to attract major international institutions, aligning with national efforts to consolidate Kuwait’s vision as a leading global financial and commercial center.

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