KUWAIT: The KUNA Center for Media Capacity Development launched on Sunday a specialized training program titled “Preparing and Editing Books, Publications and Documentary Materials,” aimed at equipping participants with the essential skills required in the preparation and editing of various print and documentary content. Running until May 15, the program is led by KUNA researcher Abdullah Badran and includes the participation of several staff members from KUNA’s Information and Research Center.

It introduces foundational concepts in the production of publications and documentary materials, including defining types of publications, choosing suitable layouts and titles, and identifying appropriate sources – whether written, oral or personal. The training also focuses on key editorial practices such as content drafting, chapter organization, quoting techniques, concise writing and accurate documentation of references. Emphasis is placed on credibility and precision in information selection, as well as the effective use of images relevant to various topics.

Program presenter and researcher at Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Abdullah Badran

Participants are also introduced to technical aspects of book production, including selecting suitable fonts, page sizes, cover designs and determining the number of pages. The program highlights distribution methods, copyright procedures, marketing strategies, and both print and digital publishing techniques. A notable component of the program is dedicated to editing documentary materials – addressing source selection, paragraph sequencing, headline formulation, and information verification.

The integration of artificial intelligence tools in writing and editing processes is also explored. Founded in December 1995, the KUNA Center for Media Capacity Development is one of the region’s leading institutions for media training, having organized hundreds of programs aimed at enhancing individual media competencies and fostering professionalism across the sector. — KUNA

KUWAIT: In a new effort to support the growth and development of Kuwait’s national calibers, Burgan Bank participated in the annual Career Fair hosted by the American University of the Middle East (AUM) in search of ambitious individuals seeking to build a career in Kuwait’s banking and financial sector. This initiative comes as an extension to Burgan’s robust human capital development & sustainability strategy and dedicated contribution to the success of the national goals outlined in Kuwait Vision 2035. “We were delighted to participate once again in AUM’s annual Career Fair, and honored to receive two awards the ‘Elite Employment and Talent Development’ at AUM Corporate Award 2025,” commented Abdulwahab Jamal Abdulraheem, Executive Manager – Talent Acquisition at Burgan Bank.

“Our commitment to partaking in Kuwait’s renowned career fairs goes beyond our need for fresh talent to support Burgan’s continued growth. It stems from our robust talent acquisition strategy, which is invested in identifying the market’s needs and aspirations for a balanced and fulfilling career and professional experience. Our on-ground presence allows our team to have valuable conversations with some of Kuwait’s brightest young minds, which inspire and guide our continuous efforts to expand the professional experience we offer our employees.”

Abdulwahab Jamal Abdulraheem

This engagement, and the award-winning commitment to excellence it projected, reflects Burgan Bank’s broader purpose, as guided by its vision: “To be the most progressive bank in Kuwait, driven by our employees, customers and community.” Burgan’s mission reinforces this direction through its commitment to delivering outstanding customer experiences, leading with innovation, being an employer of choice, supporting the community, and driving prosperity for all stakeholders. Underpinning these efforts is considered a sustainable strategic approach to implementing Burgan’s core values ‘Ownership, Passion, Teamwork & Transparency’. In addition to Empowerment, Agility, and Innovation, which shape its people-first culture and progressive work environment.

Throughout the career fair, Burgan representatives were actively engaged with the event’s visitors, whereby they discussed the Bank’s professional experience at length, beginning with the market-leading employee benefits to the year-long learning and development opportunities, and the overall thriving work culture that defines the Burgan professional experience. In addition, the Bank’s representatives seized this opportunity to share vital banking awareness and financial literacy information with the event’s visitors, in line with Burgan’s continued support of the “Let’s Be Aware” (Diraya) campaign launched by the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) and Kuwait Banking Association (KBA), with the unanimous support of local banks.

It is worth noting that Burgan Bank, a certified Great Place to Work, continues to offer one of the best and most dynamic learning and development (L&D) programs in Kuwait’s banking sector, with wide opportunities that cater to Burgan Bank’s employee needs, interests, and preferred learning styles. This includes the flagship talent development program ‘Ro’ya’, which invests in the Bank’s future leaders, and ‘Entelaqah’, designed to introduce fresh graduates to the professional banking industry as well as many more initiatives.

KUWAIT: A wave of relief has swept across Kuwait’s expatriate community following the launch on Sunday of a new service on the Sahel app that allows non-Kuwaiti residents to update their civil ID address online. The long-awaited feature replaces a chaotic, time-consuming process with a simplified digital solution, ending months of frustration over the lack of appointments, unclear requirements and a growing reliance on unofficial intermediaries.

In recent months, residents have voiced growing concerns about the increasingly difficult process of changing addresses. With no available appointments, a confusing list of required documents and the threat of fines or suspended services, many turned to unlicensed brokers — sometimes paying up to KD 130 — just to update their details. But since the government announced the addition of the address service to Sahel, the tone online has shifted dramatically.

“Booking an appointment was a major issue. People began selling appointments, and some transactions were halted due to address problems,” wrote Salim Albadawi on Instagram, reacting to the announcement posted on PACI’s official account. Others shared their reactions in the comments section of Kuwait Times’ Instagram post, with user Hassan Mir simply exclaiming, “Finally!” while another, identified as Safy, described it as “an excellent step forward” on another local news post.

Christian Varon, a 33-year-old Colombian who works at a coffee shop in Kuwait, is among those optimistic. “The new service seems really helpful. Just with some clicks, you can complete the process,” he told Kuwait Times.

With his civil ID set to expire in three months, Varon feels the pressure to act, hoping the new system will finally cut through the bureaucracy. “It’s supposed to be easier now. Before, you had to wait forever for appointments, and even when you got one, you often ended up going back to the government office two or three times. They keep sending you from one employee to another,” he added.

While many residents welcomed the digital shift, some expressed confusion over how to use the new service. “What are the steps?” one commenter asked — a sentiment echoed widely across social media. According to the app’s guidelines, expatriates will need to submit several documents, including a sublease contract, proof of ownership, employer authorization and a signed declaration form to complete the request.

One Indian resident who has been struggling to resolve his address change issue for five months immediately tried using the app after the launch. He shared with Kuwait Times that the transaction was promptly approved after submitting all required documents, receiving a confirmation message that read, “Your request has been successfully received. It will be processed within the next three days.”

However, not all residents are able to access the new feature. For those whose addresses were previously removed from PACI’s records, the Sahel app reportedly does not open, preventing them from using the very tool intended to assist them. “Without an address, the Sahel app won’t open. How do we update the address using the app?” one resident asked. Another, Mahmoud Znaty, commented, “If someone’s address was removed and Sahel isn’t working for them, how can they use the service?”

These questions highlight a lingering gap in the system: Although the Sahel update is a significant step forward, it remains inaccessible to a segment of the population affected by PACI’s recent address cleanup. For those still unable to access the app, the only option may be to go through the old process — booking an online appointment and waiting indefinitely for an open slot.

The root of the issue dates back to last year, when the Public Authority for Civil Information intensified efforts to eliminate fake or overcrowded housing registrations. The campaign included a new regulation requiring residents to register a valid address within 30 days of moving — or face heavy fines and potential legal action.

The sudden changes and lack of official guidance led many to rely on social media videos not produced by experts or to pay third-party services and unlicensed typists for assistance. “Every time we try to sign up for an appointment, it is fully booked,” a Palestinian resident told Kuwait Times earlier this year. “This should be easy. You book an appointment, gather the paperwork and visit the department simple.”

Now, the new Sahel feature appears to be a direct response to that pressure. Yet while many are optimistic, the rollout has not resolved all issues. “I hope the process for making changes is simple,” Ibrahim Tawakol wrote — capturing the cautious optimism shared by many.