Interview: Maziad Alharbi, CEO, stc Kuwait In what ways are changing consumer demands and technological advancements shaping the industry? MAZIAD ALHARBI: The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the technological revolution and prompted a shift towards digitalisation and digital transformation. This in turn created opportunities and cost-efficient strategies for businesses, driving the transition from physical…
The New Kuwait 2035 long-term development plan focuses on reducing the country’s oil dependency by fostering economic diversification and building up the private sector. Among other goals, the plan seeks to establish the country as a prominent global ICT centre. This involves prioritising work on digital infrastructure to elevate the country’s global standing. Increased ICT expenditure is expected…
The New Kuwait 2035 long-term development plan focuses on reducing the country’s oil dependency by fostering economic diversification and building up the private sector. Among other priorities, the plan seeks to establish the country as a prominent global ICT centre. This goal involves prioritising work on digital infrastructure to elevate the country’s global standing. Kuwait’s commitment to…
High global oil prices have enabled Kuwait to maintain a trade surplus despite the domestic political changes observed in recent years, measuring a GDP growth of 8.9% in 2022. Although 2023 saw the country’s GDP contract by 0.6% amid global headwinds, diversification efforts guided by New Kuwait 2035, new infrastructure developments in and beyond the hydrocarbons sector, and a push for privatisa
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, mobile networks have provided the reliable connectivity needed to sustain economic and social activities. As MENA countries gradually brought the pandemic under control, their governments have sought to drive economic recovery and foster sustainable development. Digital services and technologies have been instrumental in achieving this goal, spurring economic…
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 caused disruptions across the global economy, prompting an increase in the number and sophistication of cyberattacks. According to a poll of 800 chief audit executives conducted by the UK-based Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors, 77% of respondents thought the war in Ukraine had elevated cybersecurity and data-security risks. Senior cybersecurity…
Advanced technologies are being adopted across the business landscape, bringing innovation and disruption and driving growth. Cloud services have helped businesses transform their processes across a broad range of sectors in recent years. As such, cloud solutions have emerged to form a dynamic and growing industry. Cloud services have become central to corporate digital transformation processes in…
Interview:Maziad Alharbi As Kuwait continues to diversify its economy, what role might the local ICT sector play in accelerating the country’s post-pandemic recovery? MAZIAD ALHARBI: Kuwait has been developing its ICT sector for the past decade. However, the Covid-19 pandemic hastened the rate by which the country adapted to challenging new scenarios. For example, the education sector had…
Technology development is central to Kuwait’s longterm plans to diversify the economy, with the government attempting to position the country as a regional leader in ICT and financial services. The competition in those spaces across the GCC is fierce, as countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia are making concerted investment in ICT infrastructure and financial technology (fintech). The highly…
With connectivity widely recognised as a key driver of the post-Covid-19 economic recovery, the GCC countries are poised to expand their 5G networks and in turn increase the value of the region’s ICT industry. 5G in the GCC Kuwait’s 5G strategy is part of the wider digital ambitions laid out in New Kuwait 2035 of accelerating digital development to attract foreign investment, laying the foundations…
