Central Bank of Kuwait Launches the Sixth Cohort of the 'Cybersecurity Leaders Program'

The Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Banking Studies Institute, Bassel Al-Haroun, announced today the launch of the sixth cohort of the “Cybersecurity Leaders Program,” aimed at Kuwaitis interested in specializing in this field.

In a press statement, Al-Haroun said the program offers participants the opportunity to hone their skills and enhance their capabilities, ultimately fostering a generation of professional technicians capable of developing appropriate solutions to protect information systems in Kuwait’s banking and financial sectors, in line with best practices in information security.

He added that the program aligns with the Central Bank’s strategy to develop national competencies in the banking sector and the national economy, and to build technical capacity in cybersecurity. This aims to strengthen the resilience of the financial and banking sectors against the risks posed by the rapid advancement of modern technologies used in information systems, ensuring the adoption of the latest technologies while simultaneously mitigating their associated risks.

Al-Haroun clarified that the program is part of the “Kafa’a” initiative, launched by the Central Bank in collaboration with Kuwaiti banks and managed by the Banking Studies Institute. He noted that the program builds on fruitful cooperation between the Central Bank, Kuwaiti banks, and the Banking Studies Institute, as part of a comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at developing and preparing national cadres to lead in this field.

He stated that the “Cybersecurity Leaders Program” will be implemented in partnership with the SANS Institute, one of the world’s leading cybersecurity training institutions, specializing in training and providing accredited professional certifications in the field over a three-month period.

The Governor mentioned that the program includes a training workshop at its conclusion, conducted in collaboration with the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). This follows the program’s progress and successes in previous years, achieved through cooperation with the same partners, with the aim of enhancing cybersecurity resilience in the banking and financial sectors, particularly across all vital participating sectors.

He pointed out that applicant selection criteria have been established based on objective standards, including mandatory completion of prescribed tests and personal interviews. Interested candidates can review program details and submit applications starting today until Thursday, September 24, 2026, through the program’s website at www.Kafaakw.org.