Zain Strengthens Dialogue on AI Governance and Cybersecurity

Zain Kuwait announced its role as the strategic partner for the fourth edition of the 2026 Gulf AI and Cybersecurity Forum, hosted by the American International University in Kuwait (AIU). The event brought together a distinguished group of policymakers, government, academic, and technological leaders, as well as experts and specialists from Kuwait and the region.

The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Fayza Al-Kharafi, Chairperson of the AIU Board of Trustees; Areej Al-Ghanim, Board Member; Dr. Youssef Hayek, President of the University; Dr. Khalid Al-Zamil, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Communications and Information Technology (PACIT); Abeer Al-Awadi, President of the National Cybersecurity Center; Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah, President of the Kuwait Internet of Things AI Association; and Walid Al-Khesheti, Chief Executive Officer of Corporate Relations and Institutional Affairs at Zain Kuwait.

Zain’s participation extends its role in supporting platforms that connect the private sector with academic institutions and policymakers, fostering the exchange of knowledge and expertise on the major transformations in the technology sector. This is particularly relevant given the rapid acceleration in AI applications and the associated challenges related to governance, cybersecurity, privacy, ethics, and the responsible use of technology.

Over two days, the forum featured a comprehensive program focused on the future of AI and cybersecurity, including policies, Large Language Models (LLMs), Agentic AI, digital transformation, and governance. The first day brought together executive and government leaders for strategic dialogues, while the second day, held on the university campus, focused on the next generation of technical talent through workshops, panel discussions, and practical demonstrations.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Walid Al-Khesheti stated, “Zain’s strategic partnership with this forum comes at a time when AI is evolving rapidly, reshaping the way we work, innovate, and create value for society.” He added, “At Zain, we believe in the importance of collaboration between the private and academic sectors. Addressing emerging technologies cannot be done in isolation. The private sector offers practical expertise and real-world application, while the academic sector provides research, knowledge, and young talent that will help shape the future.”

Al-Khesheti continued, “Zain was among the first companies in Kuwait to implement responsible AI usage across several of its business units, including solutions based on Large Language Models (LLMs). Crucially, these capabilities are developed and managed internally by our national talent, operating within Zain’s internal infrastructure to ensure data sovereignty and enhance security and privacy.”

He emphasized that innovation and cybersecurity must advance together, noting that Zain continues to strengthen its cybersecurity capabilities and foster a strong cybersecurity culture across the organization. This is accompanied by investments in the next generation, empowering youth with digital skills and AI and cybersecurity competencies essential for the future of Kuwait’s digital economy.

Al-Khesheti concluded, “The real opportunity lies not just in adopting AI at a faster pace, but in doing so responsibly and securely, creating sustainable value for all.”

On the sidelines of the forum, Zain participated in several panel discussions, including a session titled “AI Policies and Governance: Shaping Responsible Adoption,” featuring Hessa Al-Amiri, Head of the Cloud Systems and Databases Team at Zain Kuwait. The session explored practical ways for governments, institutions, and companies to build effective frameworks for the responsible adoption and governance of AI. The discussion focused on balancing innovation support with appropriate controls, addressing accountability, transparency, trust, privacy, security, risk management, and responsible technology use, while highlighting the specificities and requirements of the regional context.

On the second day of the forum, Zain also participated in a panel discussion titled “From Education to Innovation: Preparing the Next Generation for a Digital Future,” featuring Hamoud Al-Khamis, Director of Cloud Network Management at Zain Kuwait. The session highlighted the importance of developing digital skills among youth and enhancing the integration between academic education and practical application, helping students keep pace with emerging technologies and changing labor market demands. It also emphasized the role of partnerships between the academic and private sectors in transforming knowledge into practical experience and preparing young talent to actively participate in the innovation ecosystem and the digital economy.

The forum addressed several issues dominating the current technological landscape, including the future of AI-related policies, governance and ethics, Large Language Models, Agentic AI, digital transformation, and the growing relationship between AI technology development and cybersecurity requirements. The program included specialized sessions and workshops with regional and international experts, aiming to shift the dialogue around these technologies from forecasting opportunities and challenges to actionable practices and recommendations.

This partnership aligns with Zain’s ongoing efforts to support Kuwait’s innovation ecosystem, enhance collaboration between the private sector and academic institutions, and contribute to the development of national skills in advanced technological fields, thereby supporting the construction of a safer, more innovative digital economy capable of leveraging the opportunities offered by future technologies.