KUWAIT CITY, May 18: LuLu Hypermarket, the regional retail heavyweight, held a heart-warming prize-‎distribution ceremony at their Al-Rai outlet on 15 May, to congratulate and ‎present prizes to winners of the LuLu World Food Festival competitions.‎

The competitions were held during the two-week long LuLu World Food Food ‎Festival that was launched on 30 April across all outlets of LuLu Hypermarket in ‎Kuwait. The cookery contests were held for different ages and skill levels and ‎spanned Indian, Arabic, Continental and Filipino cuisines, as well as a separate ‎dessert competition for those with a sweet touch.‎

The culinary contests pitted young ‘wanna-be chefs’ showing off their skills in ‎imaginatively titled competitions, such as Wow the Master Chef, Mom & Me ‎healthy salad-making contest, and the spirited Master Junior Chef, Other ‎competitions included the Barista Competition, the Cake Challenge, Biryani Battles, ‎and the mysterious Blindfold Food Taste challenge, ‎

The first prize winners of each competition received gift vouchers worth KD100, ‎while the second and third prizes winners were awarded KD75 and KD50 worth of ‎gift coupons respectively. The prizes were handed over to the winners by LuLu ‎Kuwait management.‎

Interestingly, none of the competitors had to walk away bare-handed, all the ‎participants in the contests were presented with valuable consolation prizes, ‎highlighting the fact that everyone is a winner at LuLu Hypermarket. ‎

As the prize-distribution ceremony came to a close, the participants and winners ‎conveyed their gratitude to LuLu Hypermarket for providing them with a platform ‎to showcase their culinary and creative skills, and expressed their thanks for the ‎valuable prizes provided to them.‎

KUWAIT CITY, May 18: Zain received a recognition from the American University of the Middle East (AUM) in ‎appreciation of its ongoing efforts to empower the local job market with skilled national talent ‎capable of leading Kuwait’s digital future. The recognition was presented during the university’s ‎annual Excellence Awards ceremony honoring leading companies, held at the Cultural Center ‎on its Egaila campus.‎

During the event, Tareq Al-Othman, Chairman of HumanSoft Holding, presented the award to ‎Hamad Al-Musaibeeh, Corporate Relations Department Manager at Zain Kuwait, in recognition ‎of the company’s continuous support of the AUM Career Expo. Zain recently sponsored the ‎expo’s 11th edition, which was also attended by AUM President, Prof. Dr. Georges Yahchouchi.‎

The award highlights the strength of the long-standing partnership between Zain and AUM, and ‎Zain’s strategic role in consistently attracting and developing national talent for the private ‎sector. This contribution helps strengthen the presence of local competencies in the job market, ‎especially in skillsets related to STEM.‎

Zain expressed its gratitude to AUM for this recognition, viewing it as a meaningful ‎acknowledgment from one of the country’s leading academic institutions of the company’s role ‎in supporting the development of both education and human capital, two key pillars for ‎advancing Kuwait’s economy.‎

Zain recently participated in the 11th AUM Career Expo, organized by the university’s Career ‎Development and Placement Center (Tawteen), under the theme “We Believe in Talents, We ‎Create Opportunities”. The event stands as one of the largest and most prominent career fairs ‎in Kuwait, with participation from over 55 local and international organizations offering more ‎than 300 job opportunities for graduates and job seekers.‎

At its dedicated booth, Zain showcased its recruitment policy and available career ‎opportunities, while also introducing university students to its Future University Network (FUN) ‎internship program, aimed at providing hands-on experience from the actual workplace ‎environment.‎

Through such initiatives, Zain aims to energize the local labor market, foster the exchange of ‎knowledge and expertise, and enable young people to find career paths that match their ‎ambitions and capabilities, ultimately contributing to the national economy and boosting ‎national talent participation in Kuwait’s private sector.‎

KUWAIT CITY, May 18: As part of its unwavering dedication to employee empowerment, gender equity, and sustainable ‎development, Burgan Bank recently participated in a forum celebrating Kuwait Women’s Day. ‎Representing the Bank at the event, titled “Strategies to Empower Kuwaiti Women in ‎Accordance with the Fifth Goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5)” and held under ‎the patronage and in the presence of H.E. Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah, Minister of Social Affairs, ‎Family and Childhood Affairs, was Ms. Danah Faisal Al Jasem – General Manager of Corporate ‎Communications and a group of female leaders at Burgan Bank. Al Jasem took part in a focused ‎session along side distinguished female figures to discuss the private sector’s role in empowering ‎women, while exploring strategies to help women over come challenges and barriers in the ‎workplace.‎

Reflecting on her participation in the forum, Al Jasem said: “It was a privilege to join a dialogue ‎that reflects the growing momentum around women empowerment in Kuwait, and to contribute ‎to a conversation that aligns so closely with Burgan Bank’s core values and Kuwait’s Vision ‎‎2035.”‎

She also highlighted Burgan’s ongoing commitment to gender equity and employee ‎empowerment, saying: “At Burgan Bank, fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace ‎is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic necessity for long-term success. Driven by our ‎overall ESG strategy, we believe that true equity provides a work environment with equal ‎opportunities and adheres to fulfilling the employees’ needs. Accordingly, Burgan Bank actively ‎supports women in the workplace by expanding opportunities for skill development, career ‎advancement, and financial independence, empowering them to grow on a personal level, ‎support their families, and positively impact the wider economy. This commitment is reflectedin ‎equal benefits for women and men, flexible working hours, work-life balance initiatives, and ‎additional self-care leave.”‎

Ms. AlJasem also underscored the importance of translating strategy into measurable progress, ‎highlighting Burgan’s achievements in female representation and inclusive workplace practices, ‎noting: “We view female empowerment as a collaborative effort, shaped by contribution from ‎relevant stakeholders. Within the workplace, we are committed to fostering an environment ‎where women have equal opportunities to thrive and lead. Across society, we actively support ‎initiatives that promote gender equality and provide women with the resources and support they ‎need to overcome barriers and achieve their full potential. Women currently represent46% of the ‎Bank’s employeesand 34% of leadership positions, making Burgan Bank a leading financial ‎institution in the local Kuwaiti market. Our current position aligns with the national vision for ‎boosting female representation in public and private sectors.”‎

It is worth mentioning that Burgan Bank continues to invest in initiatives that support the growth ‎of female employees at all levels. In 2024, employees received an average of 33 hours of ‎training, delivered through both digital and in-person platforms. Programs like Empower Her and ‎Lean-In Circle for Women Empowerment provide dedicated mentorship, professional skills, and ‎networking opportunities to help women work toward their goals. Burgan Bank remains ‎committed to enabling more women to pursue leadership positions and guide younger ‎generations of women professionals to follow their lead. ‎