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CODED Academy launches the fifth edition of ‘Kuwait Codes’ initiative

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KUWAIT: CODED Academy, the first programming academy in the Middle East, is pleased to announce the launch of the fifth edition of the “Kuwait Codes” initiative for 2025. This initiative aims to empower high school and ninth-grade students in Kuwait with programming and technology skills, in strategic partnership with Alghanim Industries, Kuwait Finance House, Zain, Agility, and Kuwait University — hosted by the College of Life Sciences.

Additionally, exclusive advertising sponsorship from Add Effect and exclusive media sponsorship from Kuwait Times and Kuwait News. In its fifth edition, “Kuwait Codes” continues its mission to equip students with essential foundations in modern programming languages and highly-demanded technological fields, including mobile app development, web development, cybersecurity, Python programming and more.

This education is provided entirely free of charge, reflecting CODED Academy’s commitment to supporting young national talent with practical tools that enhance their competitiveness in local and international job markets. Aligned with Kuwait Vision 2035, which seeks to position Kuwait as a leader in technology, this initiative provides students with opportunities to explore cutting-edge digital tools and participate in projects aligned with global advancements in innovation and technology.

Students will also engage in practical training programs and hands-on workshops that reinforce creativity and problem-solving skills effectively. Over the past four editions, “Kuwait Codes” has successfully trained over 3,600 students, enabling them to create innovative digital projects and build a vibrant community of young tech enthusiasts who exchange knowledge and experiences.

Strengthening partnerships

CODED Academy remains dedicated to expanding the reach of this initiative and strengthening partnerships with both public and private sectors, aiming to prepare generations capable of developing innovative solutions that drive economic growth and reinforce Kuwait’s position as a regional center for innovation and technology. In his statement at the press conference announcing the launch of Kuwait Codes 2025, Ahmad Marafi, Co-founder and CEO at CODED Academy, expressed: “We are delighted to launch the new edition of Kuwait Codes for 2025, especially after witnessing remarkable successes in previous years.

The passion and ambition of Kuwaiti youth have become clear, demonstrating how programming education can open new horizons and provide essential tools to thrive in the digital age. We look forward to outstanding participation this year and hope to see our youth continue excelling locally, regionally, and internationally.” Hussain Al-Qatari – PR Manager at Alghanim Industries said: “Our sponsorship of Kuwait Codes for the fourth consecutive year reflects Alghanim Industries’ firm commitment to empowering Kuwaiti youth.”

Meaningful innovation

By supporting the ‘Kuwait Codes’ initiative, we’re equipping young Kuwaitis with practical technology and AI skills essential for adapting to a rapidly evolving digital economy. We’re proud to help build a generation capable of meaningful innovation and positive impact.” Fahad Al-Saad, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Events at Kuwait Finance House, said: “We are delighted to participate in the launch of the fifth edition of the ‘Kuwait Codes’ initiative for 2025, as part of our strategic partnership with CODED Academy. This collaboration aligns closely with KFH’s strategic commitment to social responsibility, digital transformation, innovation and youth empowerment.

We particularly support initiatives focused on technology and programming, which allow youth to explore and develop their digital capabilities.” Al-Saad highlighted that the strategic partnership between Kuwait Finance House and CODED Academy dates back to 2018, emphasizing that through this partnership, the bank continues to reinforce its role in supporting Kuwaiti youth and the wider community, nurturing a new generation equipped with advanced programming and cybersecurity skills.

He further explained that KFH’s sponsorship of Kuwait’s largest cybersecurity competition, “Kuwait Hackathon,” in collaboration with the National Cybersecurity Center and CODED Academy, underscores the bank’s dedication to being a leading example in corporate social responsibility, supporting national initiatives, innovation, and programming within the private sector. Al-Saad concluded by thanking the organizers of the 2025 ‘Kuwait Codes’ initiative and all participating partners, wishing everyone continued success.

Faisal Al-Duwaihees, Zain Kuwait’s Youth & Partnerships Specialist, said: “Today, we continue the strategic partnership between Zain and the nation’s leading programming initiative — ‘Kuwait Codes’ in its new season. Zain has been an integral part of its success story over the past seasons, and we are proud to have contributed to empowering and training more than 3,500 young Kuwaiti programmers, both male and female, whom we hope to see as the future leaders of Kuwait’s digital landscape.”

Sustainability strategy

He added: “This support is an integral part of our corporate sustainability strategy, which includes numerous programs focused on youth and education development. We carefully select these programs to ensure their objectives align with our strategic goals. Developing coding and digital skills among youth is one of our top priorities, as we strive to contribute to preparing a future generation of capable local talents to lead the next challenging phase.” Al-Duwaihees further stated: “At Zain, we are proud to be part of the success story of CODED Academy through our support for many of their outstanding training programs, such as ‘Kuwait Codes,’ ‘Academy X,’ and ‘Kuwait Hackathon.’

We look forward to a new season filled with success and achievement, eager to witness the creativity of Kuwait’s youth, and we wish our colleagues at CODED Academy all the best as they continue their journey of fostering innovation and creativity within the tech community.” Mariam Al Foudary, Agility’s Group Chief Marketing Officer said: “At Agility, we firmly believe that empowering youth with digital skills is one of the most impactful investments we can make in Kuwait’s future. That’s why we are honored to continue our support for Kuwait Codes for the third consecutive year — a transformative program that inspires and equips the next generation of tech and coding innovators.

Our dedication to initiatives like this underscores our broader mission to drive supply chain innovation and advance digital infrastructure. We extend our gratitude to our partners at CODED Academy for their invaluable role in nurturing a pipeline of talented young programmers who will play a pivotal role in shaping Kuwait’s digital economy. Together, we are building a brighter, more innovative future.”

Dr Hanadi Abdalsalam, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, Research, and Graduate Studies at the College of Life Sciences, said: “Kuwait University is proud to serve as a strategic partner for the Kuwait Codes initiative, which since 2022 has empowered over 3,200 students with modern technological skills. Through this initiative, students are given opportunities to explore fields such as programming, artificial intelligence, data science, application development, and cybersecurity, significantly enhancing their preparedness for the digital job market.”

She added: “This year, Kuwait University’s College of Life Sciences is hosting more than 1,000 students as part of Kuwait Codes, reflecting the growing enthusiasm among Kuwaiti youth to develop their technological skills. Our support for this initiative stems from our belief in building an innovative digital generation capable of contributing to Kuwait’s knowledge economy. We extend our sincere thanks to the CODED team and everyone involved in making this initiative successful, and we look forward to continued cooperation to advance technical education in Kuwait.”

Media sponsorship

Hussain Sana, Head of Content Creation at Kuwait News, stated: “The media sponsorship provided by Kuwait News for the “Kuwait Codes” initiative stems from the shared goals between Kuwait News and CODED in striving to build a skilled and knowledgeable national workforce. This ultimately serves the country’s best interests and supports its efforts to diversify the local economy.” Omar El Masri, Managing Director at Add Effect said: “For Kuwait’s economy to thrive, we must prepare a generation of talent capable of keeping pace with rapid technological advancements and leading the future with a forward-thinking vision.

At Add Effect, we believe in the power of innovation and its role in building a sustainable economy. We recognize the vital contribution of CODED in developing digital skills and fostering technological creativity. Through programs like Kuwait Codes, young individuals are empowered with coding and technology skills, equipping them to become the change makers and future leaders of Kuwait.” CODED Academy encourages all high school and 9th-grade students to register for the Kuwait Codes initiative. Interested students can sign up now through the official website: code.kw.

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Kuwait enforces eviction of charities from private housing

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KUWAIT: Kuwait Municipality launched Thursday its first field inspection campaign to evacuate charity associations and foundations operating in private and model residential areas across the six governorates.

Private residential areas are low-density zones reserved for single-family housing, primarily intended for Kuwaiti citizens, where land is distributed through the country’s housing welfare program. In contrast, investment housing areas feature multi-unit buildings — such as apartments, duplex villas, and studios — designed for rental or ownership across all floors.

The campaign comes following a request from the Ministry of Social Affairs to Kuwait Municipality to enforce Ministerial Decision No. (206/2009) — which prohibits the use of buildings in private residential areas for any purpose other than private housing. The ministry began surveying all registered charities — approximately 84 organizations with over 200 branches across the country — earlier this month to take legal action against those located in private residential zones.

Khaled Al-Fadhli, Head of the Emergency Team at Ahmadi Municipality, told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that field teams had issued warnings to several charity premises over the past days, ordering them to vacate. On Thursday, the teams inspected five areas — Fahaheel, Fintas, Ali Sabah Al-Salem (Umm Al-Hayman), Sabah Al-Ahmad Residential City, and Al-Sabahiya — issuing 15 evacuation warnings. Al-Fadhli praised the cooperation of some associations that voluntarily removed their violations in Al-Ahmadi Governorate.

Al-Fadhli stressed that the monitoring teams will not tolerate any violations of Kuwait Municipality’s regulations and laws, emphasizing that field campaigns will continue over the coming days across different governorates.

This move is part of a wider regulatory reform of Kuwait’s charitable sector. Last month, the ministry suspended all charitable fundraising nationwide, citing concerns about unauthorized campaigns. Since November 2024, Minister of Social Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah has dissolved at least 30 charities found inactive after inspections. These measures are designed to eliminate inactive or ineffective organizations and ensure that resources are being used efficiently.

These reforms also align with Kuwait’s efforts to improve financial oversight and comply with international anti-money laundering standards. A Financial Action Task Force (FATF) report released in November 2024 acknowledged Kuwait’s legal framework to combat illicit finance, but pointed to enforcement challenges. Countries that fall short of FATF standards risk being greylisted or blacklisted, which can affect global financial relations. Kuwaiti authorities have since ramped up coordination among ministries to tighten control, particularly over cross-border donations. Officials say these efforts aim to uphold Kuwait’s humanitarian leadership while meeting international best practices. — Agencies

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Indian Learners Own Academy visits Kuwait Times, Kuwait News

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KUWAIT: A group of students from Indian Learners Own Academy visited the offices of Kuwait Times and Kuwait News on Monday for an interactive media tour on Thursday. Aimed at sparking curiosity and creativity, the visit gave students a glimpse into the dynamic world of journalism beyond the classroom. Thursday’s visit was the second this week, after another group of students from the academy explored Kuwait Times and Kuwait News on Wednesday.

Jana Alnaqeeb, Kuwait Times’ PR & CSR Manager, led the tour alongside members of the digital and editorial teams. The students explored various departments, including the editorial section, studio, printing press, and archives, gaining firsthand insights into how news stories are created, edited, and published. They also learned about the importance of credible reporting and how social media content is crafted to engage younger audiences.

Adding a playful twist to the visit, the team organized a game of hide and seek for the students, who dashed through the newsroom and turned the space into a lively, energetic environment.

The visit was part of the school’s initiative to blend education with real-world exposure and Kuwait Times’ ongoing mission to connect with and inspire future generations.

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AUK students unite for Gaza with ‘Play it Forward’ awareness event

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KUWAIT: The Finance Club at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) organized an awareness event titled “Play it Forward” on Wednesday, in collaboration with the Office of Student Life and 12 student organizations, to shed light on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Speaking to Kuwait Times, Shoroq Bukhamsin, President of the Finance Club, said the event’s primary aim was to amplify awareness. “We wanted people to remember the cause, to remember the people. It’s still relevant and it will never stop being relevant,” she said.

A key feature of the event was an emotional art exhibition titled “Gaza Habibti” by Untold Palestine, which displayed photographs of Gaza’s people before and after the war. “The gallery traces the emotional journey — beginning with life before the war, then documenting the devastation and personal stories from the current conflict,” Bukhamsin explained. “It reminds us they are not just numbers. They are souls, families, daughters and sons.”

The exhibition also included large-scale installations by regional artists, including a moving piece known as the Martyr’s Wall, which displayed photos of 1,300 Palestinians who lost their lives. “This is not even a fraction; the current death toll exceeds 50,000,” Bukhamsin noted. She extended heartfelt thanks to AUK, faculty advisors, club executives, supporting businesses, and Kuwait Times for their support and coverage.

Jumanah Al-Bloushi, Vice President of the Finance Club, said the event also featured an open market and game zone. Local businesses and food vendors participated, pledging 25 percent of their proceeds to humanitarian causes related to Palestine. Attendees were encouraged to donate through interactive games.

A performance show by ArtScene and Argan Bedaya capped the event, featuring music, poetry and storytelling in tribute to Palestinian identity and resilience. Al-Bloushi praised the collective spirit: “It’s so beautiful to see so many different organizations come together just to make this happen today.” She added, “This event is a reminder that even after a year, the Palestinian cause is still relevant and we will not let it be forgotten.”

Mishari Al-Ibrahim, a member of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in Kuwait, also participated in the exhibition. He emphasized the boycott as a powerful form of resistance: “Here in Kuwait, we’re pioneers and active in this field,” he said. “These events allow us to explain the different forms of boycott — commercial, academic and sports — as tools to counter normalization and raise awareness.”

He encouraged individuals to engage by staying informed and making conscious choices. “At the very least, refrain from buying targeted products and raise awareness among your family and peers,” he said. “When you have the right information, you become a source of knowledge. That’s how you become an active member of the global boycott movement and part of the change.”

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