Interview: Omar Al Omar, Minister of State for Communication Affairs, on accelerating access to global-grade digital cloud infrastructure
How is the ICT sector evolving in response to projected growth of $5.8bn in 2024 to $12.4bn by 2032?
OMAR AL OMAR: The forecasted expansion of the sector is a result of strategic investment and a core pillar of economic diversification under New Kuwait 2035. With over 99% internet penetration and nationwide 5G coverage, Kuwait has moved beyond basic connectivity. The national focus is now on building high-value digital capabilities in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and the data economy, supported by regulatory frameworks designed to accelerate progress and enable private sector innovation.
What steps are being taken to enhance digital government services, particularly through platforms such as the Sahel application?
AL OMAR: The Sahel application has fundamentally changed how individuals interact with government services by consolidating them into a single digital platform. Today, Sahel has nearly 3m active users and has facilitated over 110m electronic transactions across more than 460 integrated services. Users can complete transactions electronically, track progress in real-time and receive notifications without visiting service centres. Kuwait is now entering the next phase, transitioning Sahel from a reactive platform to one that provides proactive and intelligent services powered by data and AI, allowing users to receive bundled or pre-filled services automatically. In parallel, the Sahel Business platform enables companies and entrepreneurs to manage government transactions digitally, supporting a more efficient and transparent business environment.
To what extent is establishing an AI-powered Azure Region expected to impact Kuwait’s position in the regional technology landscape?
AL OMAR: The upcoming Microsoft Azure cloud region, alongside Google’s already operational cloud, strengthens Kuwait’s positioning as a digital and data centre in the GCC. Establishing cloud infrastructure within Kuwait supports data sovereignty and enables the public and private sector to leverage advanced AI and cloud services with low latency. This is expected to accelerate innovation across sectors such as financial services, health care and logistics by providing access to global-grade digital infrastructure within Kuwait’s borders.
Where are the key investment priorities in Kuwait’s digital infrastructure and how are they expected to impact service delivery?
AL OMAR: Investment is centred on expanding cloud and data centre capabilities to ensure data sovereignty and support the growth of AI and digital services. Kuwait is simultaneously strengthening its telecommunications backbone by advancing 5G networks and fibre infrastructure, which form the foundation for smart cities and internet of things applications. Kuwait recently launched the 5G-Advanced network and was ranked first globally in 5G leadership by the International Telecommunication Union, achieving a perfect score in internet network performance. Cybersecurity is being embedded into every layer of infrastructure to ensure resilience. These investments improve speed, reliability and security, enabling more efficient service delivery for both public and private users.
What strategies are in place to support the development of digital skills among Kuwait’s workforce to meet the demands of an evolving ICT sector?
AL OMAR: Kuwait views human capital as the most critical investment and is collaborating with global technology leaders to offer thousands of Kuwaitis with training and certifications in high-demand fields, including AI, data science, cloud administration and cybersecurity. These programmes target students, professionals and small and medium-sized enterprises to ensure the workforce keeps apace with market needs and the digital economy is developed and led by local talent.
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