Revenue in the GCC digital health market is forecast to reach $2.58bn in 2025 and grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.93% to total $3.50bn by 2029. Kuwait’s digital health market generated approximately $540.3m in revenue in 2024 and is projected to reach $1.8bn by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 22.9%. At present, telemedicine is the largest contributor to the sector’s growth. In line with the modernisation objectives set out in New Kuwait 2035, the government is seeking to digitalise a wide range of medical services. While Kuwait ranks among the highest health care spenders in the GCC, it has lagged behind neighbouring countries in the adoption of digital health solutions. Nevertheless, growing public investment in electronic health care records systems, mobile health applications and telemedicine platforms, which remain at an early stage of development, is expected to strengthen the competitiveness of the digital health care sector.
Digital Technologies
The Ministry of Health (MoH) plans to develop a hospital information exchange platform to improve operational efficiency and data integration across the public health system. It also aims to transition the paper-based National Centre for Health Information, which currently serves 28 public hospitals and health centres, to a fully digital platform. Currently, Al Amiri Hospital is the only public facility with a comprehensive digital health care system. However, the adoption of digital technologies is steadily increasing.
Jaber Hospital has emerged as a leader in this area, using artificial intelligence (AI) for a range of applications, including radiological diagnosis, surgical procedures and scientific research. In 2023, surgeons at Jaber began using three-dimensional devices to provide advanced visualisations of patients’ internal organs during procedures, marking the first use of the Olympus device in the GCC. The hospital also carried out Kuwait’s first AI-assisted endoscopic operation, enabling the detection of colon and stomach tumours that are difficult to identify with the naked eye. As several new public hospitals and specialist clinics are developed across the country, the MoH is increasingly equipping facilities with advanced technologies, including AI-driven and robotic systems. Over the medium to long term, the broader integration of digital tools is expected to significantly enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.
Despite this progress, limited collaboration between health care institutions risks creating a fragmented national digital health ecosystem. That said, efforts are under way to promote greater coordination and knowledge sharing. In December 2024, Kuwait hosted the Second Surgical Conference on AI and Robotics, bringing together regional experts to exchange insights and best practices aimed at strengthening collaboration.
Telemedicine And E-Health Start-Ups
Demand for telemedicine and digital health services increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, accelerating the uptake of remote care solutions. Expanded telehealth services offer the MoH an opportunity to improve access for underserved populations, reduce health care disparities and deliver remote diagnostics, chronic disease management and more cost-effective care. The rollout of digital health services has been supported by favourable public policies and rising internet penetration.
These conditions have helped stimulate growth in health care start-ups. The e-health start-up sector across MENA has expanded rapidly in recent years, with 472 active start-ups recorded in 2019. Kuwait is now home to more than 70 health technology companies, including 12 founded during the pandemic in 2021.
Nonetheless, challenges remain. Limited digital literacy among certain segments of the population may slow the adoption of new technologies. To ensure growth, the government will need to continue developing robust regulatory frameworks for digital health and addressing issues such as data protection. Ongoing digitalisation initiatives within the education sector is expected to improve digital literacy among future generations, supporting the wider uptake of digital health services.
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