Kuwait: Eager to Enhance Arab Security Cooperation to Combat Cybercrime

Kuwait has reaffirmed its commitment to developing its security framework to combat cybercrime and to enhance cooperation, information exchange, and expertise sharing with Arab states to address security challenges arising from the rapid evolution of criminal methods, particularly cross-border cybercrimes. This was stated on Wednesday by Colonel Hamad Al-Hamoud, Assistant Director of the Cybercrime Combating Department at the Ministry of Interior and head of Kuwait’s delegation to the Third Conference of Officials Responsible for Combating Information Technology Crimes in Arab Interior Ministries, in a statement to KUNA.

Colonel Al-Hamoud added that the General Directorate of Criminal Investigations, represented by the Cybercrime Combating Department, possesses specialized and trained human resources equipped with the latest methods of electronic investigation and inquiry, digital evidence collection and analysis, and handling various types of cybercrimes. This is achieved through continuous training, enhancing the capabilities of specialized security teams, and developing their technical capacities in proactive monitoring and detecting emerging criminal patterns and methods.

He noted that the Cybercrime Combating Department is working to develop monitoring and security analysis mechanisms and to leverage artificial intelligence technologies for the early detection of criminal indicators. Additionally, it is establishing joint virtual rooms with relevant commercial companies and government entities to enhance coordination, information exchange, proactive monitoring of electronic criminal activities, analysis of fraud and scam indicators, and the implementation of preventive measures to reduce their occurrence.

Al-Hamoud emphasized that Kuwait pays special attention to combating electronic fraud and scamming through coordination with government agencies, financial institutions, and telecommunications companies. This involves strengthening security, technical, regulatory, and legislative measures to counter emerging fraud methods and protect society.

In this context, he referred to a statement by First Lieutenant M. Sultan Al-Anzi from the Cybercrime Combating Department, which outlined Kuwait’s efforts in combating electronic fraud and scamming in 2026. These efforts included registering 493 cases of electronic fraud and scamming, suspending service for 1,090 phone numbers used in fraudulent operations, blocking 790 fraudulent websites, recovering more than 300 electronic accounts, and providing technical assistance.

Al-Hamoud highlighted that Kuwait’s participation addresses prominent criminal methods, including impersonation of official entities, direct financial fraud, and investment and commercial fraud, alongside new security initiatives. These include establishing joint virtual rooms with commercial companies and relevant government entities, developing a unified platform for telephone fraud reports, and enhancing proactive monitoring capabilities using artificial intelligence technologies. He also mentioned the presentation of regulatory and legislative initiatives related to the anticipated E-Commerce Law and the combating of bank forgery and phone billing fraud.

Colonel Al-Hamoud concluded his statement by stressing that combating cross-border cybercrimes requires the integration of Arab security efforts, enhanced exchange of information and technical expertise, and the development of human and technical capacities. This entails transitioning from traditional combating methods to proactive security systems capable of early detection of criminal activities and taking necessary measures to prevent crimes and mitigate their impacts, thereby contributing to the enhancement of cybersecurity and the protection of Arab societies.

The conference, held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab Ministers of Interior Council in Tunisia over two days, is discussing several key topics, most notably the preparation of a model organizational structure for specialized agencies combating crimes.

Information technology and the deployment of artificial intelligence technologies in combating electronic financial fraud, alongside an overview of emerging criminal methods and cases identified by member states, as well as the exchange of security experiences and expertise to enhance the capacities of relevant authorities. Representing the State of Kuwait at the conference, in addition to Colonel Hamad Al-Humoud, are Major Abarar Bahbahani from the General Directorate of International Relations, and First Lieutenant M. Sultan Al-Anzi from the Cybercrime Countermeasures Department.