KUWAIT: Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) on Monday launched a regional meeting focused on combating animal and zoonotic diseases in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The four-day event will address several priority diseases in the region, including brucellosis, Rift Valley fever, foot-and-mouth disease and peste des petits ruminants (PPR).

Dr Abdulaziz Al-Ateeqi, the meeting’s regional coordinator at KISR, told KUNA that the event aims to enhance cooperation and coordination among GCC member states while promoting the exchange of expertise on modern technologies for the rapid and accurate detection of animal diseases.

Al-Ateeqi noted that some of these diseases impact public health, while others directly threaten food security – making regional coordination essential. He added that the meeting is held under the “One Health” approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health to build a comprehensive system for the prevention and management of animal and zoonotic diseases in the region.

Participants aim to strengthen collaboration in key areas such as technical capacity building, the development of veterinary laboratory networks, utilization of reference laboratories and collaborative centers and improved information sharing and scientific research.

Carla Bravo de Rueda, Animal Health Technical Officer at the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre, told KUNA that enhancing regional cooperation and veterinary laboratory networks is vital for improving joint response capacities to transboundary and zoonotic diseases. She noted that the Kuwait meeting provides an opportunity to reinforce collective efforts and explore the development of a future veterinary laboratory network – drawing inspiration from models such as CamVetNet, coordinated by the UAE under the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

De Rueda pointed to successful initiatives such as the US veterinary lab networks, which were established to control disease outbreaks through rapid emergency cooperation and harmonized operational protocols. She affirmed the IAEA’s willingness to support these efforts but emphasized that success hinges on local commitment from member countries – whether by expanding CamVetNet to include more diseases or by launching new networks focused on regionally significant animal health threats.

Suggested areas for collaboration include proficiency testing, broader use of global reference laboratories and collaborative centers (such as those in the UAE) and mobilizing national expertise to enhance regional cooperation in animal disease prevention and response. — KUNA

Dr Mohamed Alhosani, WOAH’s Subregional Representative for the Gulf, told KUNA that the meeting serves as an important scientific platform to foster cooperation and capacity-building in animal health across the region. He said the event brings together representatives from GCC countries and international organizations, including the IAEA, WOAH and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The primary goal, he noted, is to support member states in building technical capacities and developing national systems to manage animal and zoonotic diseases. Alhosani praised the contributions of international organizations for providing critical technical and advisory support and thanked the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research for organizing and hosting the meeting. He expressed hope that the outcomes would strengthen regional health security and bolster effective animal health prevention and response efforts. – KUNA

KUWAIT: Abdulmohsen Al-Rushaid, Senior Vice President – Head of Digital Communications at National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), emphasized the bank’s integral role in supporting the nationwide banking awareness campaign “Let’s Be Aware” (Diraya), launched by the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) in collaboration with local banks and Kuwait Banking Association. The campaign aims to foster financial literacy, promote financial inclusion, and educate customers across all segments of society.

Speaking during an interview on the Kuwait TV show “Good Evening Kuwait”, Al-Rushaid stated: “At NBK, we operate around the clock to track the latest fraud schemes, raise customer awareness, and provide guidance on how to avoid falling victim to these scams through educational content shared across our social media platforms.”

He also underscored the importance of the Virtual Central Room, launched jointly by Kuwait Banking Association, local banks and relevant authorities including the Ministry of Interior and the Public Prosecution, under the direction of CBK. Al-Rushaid described this initiative as the first line of defense against cyber fraud, noting that it operates 24/7 to receive fraud reports and monitor suspicious activity – enhancing customer safety and reinforcing confidence in the banking sector.

Al-Rushaid further noted that the “Let’s Be Aware” campaign is the largest of its kind in the region, significantly contributing to improved financial awareness among the public. He urged the public to remain vigilant, follow the bank’s security guidelines shared across all digital platforms, and refrain from disclosing any personal or banking information to unauthorized parties. He also cautioned against responding to messages or calls that falsely claim to be from the bank and request sensitive data.

He explained that the bank will never request personal information via email, text messages, or phone calls, warning that any such communication is likely a fraud attempt designed to steal banking credentials, sensitive data, or funds. Furthermore, he reiterated NBK’s strong commitment to promoting banking awareness, especially among older generations who are more vulnerable to scams due to the advanced technologies and artificial intelligence tools used by fraudsters.

Al-Rushaid also warned against booking accommodations through unverified websites or brokers. He advised verifying the legitimacy of any company or platform by inspecting properties in person before making payments, to avoid fraud. In cases of suspicious activity, customers are encouraged to contact the bank immediately and activate transaction alerts via the NBK Mobile App to receive real-time notifications.

Leveraging its robust communication infrastructure and leading digital presence among Kuwaiti banks, NBK aims to ensure maximum reach and effectiveness for the campaign’s educational messages.

Digital excellence

Mohammad Al-Dakhil, Assistant Vice President – Digital Business at NBK, confirmed that customers can now temporarily suspend their bank cards through the NBK mobile banking app if they suspect any unusual account activity.

During the interview, Al-Dakhil stated: “At NBK, we are committed to advancing our digital leadership through the services offered on our mobile banking app, which is a key platform for customers conducting their day-to-day banking. We continually strive to introduce new features and enhancements that deliver a superior digital banking experience – one that not only meets, but exceeds, customer expectations.”

He added that the bank is consistently innovating to enrich the digital journey, citing the recent launch of the full account opening service via NBK mobile banking app – making NBK the first bank in Kuwait to offer this function digitally. The NBK mobile banking app also allows customers to issue digital prepaid gift cards. These virtual cards can be easily created, loaded and sent to friends or family for use in stores or online, both within Kuwait and abroad. The recipient can instantly add the card to their digital wallet and begin using it for purchases.

Al-Dakhil also highlighted the success of the WAMD service, developed in partnership with KNET. The service allows for fast, seamless money transfers at any time of day, offering users a streamlined transfer process with just a few steps.

In the meantime, Al-Dakhil further spotlighted the cutting-edge services offered by Weyay Bank – the first digital bank in Kuwait. Among its key innovations is the introduction of a fully digital loan application process for both personal and housing loans, allowing customers to submit documents, receive approvals, and sign contracts entirely through the app.

Weyay has also launched Jeel, a first-of-its-kind digital experience in Kuwait tailored for children aged 8 to 14. The service enables young users to manage their spending under parental supervision, fostering early financial literacy through a dedicated child-friendly app interface.

Thanks to its pioneering digital services, Weyay Bank has earned several prestigious accolades, most notably being named Best Digital Bank in Kuwait by Euromoney at the 2025 Middle East Excellence Awards. The recognition affirms Weyay’s leadership in delivering innovative digital banking solutions tailored to evolving customer needs.

Since its launch, Weyay Bank has transformed the digital banking landscape in Kuwait by offering a comprehensive suite of services – from account opening and savings management to local and international transfers, and digital loan access – empowering customers to manage their finances flexibly and efficiently.

Abdulmohsen Al-Rushaid:

•Vigilant around the clock to detect fraud and educate customers

•NBK reinforces its commitment to promoting banking awareness across all segments

•Leading digital engagement among Kuwaiti banks to maximize public outreach

Mohammad Al-Dakhil:

•Advancing digital excellence through innovation and service enhancement

•NBK empowers customers to suspend cards instantly via the NBK mobile banking app in case of suspicious activity

•First bank in Kuwait to offer fully digital account opening through the NBK mobile banking app.

KUWAIT: Kuwait and Egypt are in discussion to form a joint technical committee to coordinate the recruitment of Egyptian skilled labor, in a step aimed at addressing labor market needs while upholding regulatory standards, Egypt’s State Information Service said on Monday. The announcement follows a meeting between Egypt’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Osama Shaltout, and Acting Director General of Kuwait’s Public Authority of Manpower (PAM), Marzouq Dhaifallah Al-Otaibi, at PAM headquarters in Kuwait City. According to Egypt’s State Information Service, the committee is expected to include representatives from Egypt’s Ministry of Labor and will align labor supply with sector-specific demands in the local economy, the statement added.

The move comes nearly 14 months after Kuwait suspended the issuance of new work visas for Egyptian nationals in April 2024. The suspension aimed to impose stricter controls on recruitment and prioritize applicants with higher education credentials and skills relevant to the Kuwaiti labor market. Local media at the time cited complaints from employers as one of the primary drivers behind the policy change. While the visa suspension remains in place for now, the new coordination mechanism signals a potential step toward resuming regulated labor flows – albeit under stricter qualifications and oversight.

During the meeting, Ambassador Shaltout commended Kuwaiti officials for the services provided to Egyptian workers. He also praised PAM’s efforts to advance bilateral cooperation on labor issues. “We are pleased with the continued efforts to strengthen ties and ensure the protection of workers’ rights while supporting the development goals of both countries,” he said.

The Public Authority of Manpower welcomed the Egyptian initiative, describing it as part of a shared commitment to “enhancing the historical relations between the two countries” and improving labor market outcomes through tighter coordination. Both sides stressed the importance of sustained communication to ensure the success of the plan and affirmed that the initiative serves the mutual interests of Egypt and Kuwait, said the statement.