Ooredoo Kuwait: AI as a Pillar to Enhance Investment Appeal

Ooredoo Kuwait, the leading telecommunications and technology company in Kuwait and one of the Ooredoo Group’s subsidiaries, participated as the strategic partner in the fifth edition of MoneyTech 2026, an annual summit organized by Al-Jarida newspaper that brings together leaders from the investment, business, and technology sectors, marking the company’s second consecutive year of participation. The summit’s opening session featured a dialogue with Abdulaziz Yaqoub Al-Babtain, CEO of Ooredoo Kuwait, focusing on building trust during challenging times and investing in Kuwait’s digital future. During the discussion, Al-Babtain highlighted Ooredoo Kuwait’s ability to sustain growth and maintain service continuity amid regional challenges, noting that service diversification, continuous planning, and investment in human capital have been the pillars of this performance. He explained that the company is collaborating with government entities and sector partners to diversify international connectivity routes through terrestrial networks and submarine cables, commending the role of the government and the Public Authority for Communications Technology (PACT) in supporting the stability of telecommunications services and protecting critical infrastructure. As the needs of Kuwait’s vital sectors evolved during the crisis, Ooredoo Kuwait partnered with relevant institutions to provide connectivity, hosting, and security solutions that ensured the continuity of their operations. Al-Babtain stated, “A true partner is one who stands by you in the most difficult circumstances. This is the role Ooredoo Kuwait has played in supporting the country’s vital sectors, and we will continue to fulfill it.” This performance is reflected in the company’s achievements, as Ooredoo Kuwait was awarded “Telecom Company of the Year” at the Asian Telecom Awards for the third consecutive year in 2026. Looking ahead, Al-Babtain emphasized that artificial intelligence (AI) lies at the core of Ooredoo Kuwait’s strategy. Following the company’s announcement at MoneyTech 2025 of launching Kuwait’s first AI-powered sovereign data center, the partnership between the Ooredoo Group and NVIDIA is helping to expand these capabilities locally, support local applications, and enhance the company’s cybersecurity resilience amid evolving threats. He viewed partnerships with major global technology firms and local institutions as the fastest way to deliver these capabilities in Kuwait, while ensuring knowledge transfer and capacity building among local teams. Al-Babtain added, “AI represents one of the most significant economic opportunities in the coming phase, and we aspire for Ooredoo Kuwait to be a leading partner in enabling various sectors in Kuwait to leverage it. The value of our global partnerships lies in the opportunities they create for Kuwait and the national capabilities they help build.” Al-Babtain also highlighted the knowledge and ambition of Kuwaiti youth, particularly in the fields of AI and cybersecurity. He noted that major companies like Ooredoo can broaden opportunities for these talents by providing digital infrastructure, connecting innovators with real business opportunities, and supporting startups in transforming their ideas into scalable products, citing Kuwaiti projects that have already succeeded in reaching global markets.

Al-Babtain added: “Kuwait’s next globally impactful technological innovation may come from a young Kuwaiti awaiting the right opportunity, and part of our role is to ensure that such opportunities exist here in Kuwait.”

Overview of “Fintech 2026”

The Fintech 2026 summit was held on Sunday, November 1, at the St. Regis Kuwait hotel, bringing together 17 speakers across nine sessions. The fifth edition focused on investment and growth amid uncertainty, with discussions covering business continuity, deal-making in volatile markets, and strengthening Kuwait’s position as a destination for long-term capital.

Strategic partnerships supporting Kuwait’s digital economy

The strategic partnership with Al-Jarida, now in its second year, is part of a broader set of collaborations through which Ooredoo Kuwait links its digital infrastructure with key players in the national economy. From Ooredoo Group’s partnership with NVIDIA in the field of artificial intelligence to its cooperation with government entities on critical infrastructure and national institutions supporting entrepreneurs, these partnerships converge to achieve a shared goal: transforming Kuwait’s digital readiness into sustainable economic value, in support of the country’s journey toward realizing Kuwait New 2035.