Kudd Academy Concludes 'Academy X'

- Ahmed Maaref: Women’s talents are present with their ambition and achievements

- Faisal Al-Sultan: Women’s competence is not a future promise, but a reality taking shape

- Hessa Al-Najjada: The ambition of young talents contributes to the prosperity of the future

- Sara Al-Rabab: Empowering young women digitally and shaping Kuwait’s future opportunities

- Amal Bu-Khamsin: We support young talents who represent the nation’s wealth

- Abdulrahman Al-Humaidi: We develop participants’ technological skills

- Mohammed Al-Abd: Participants have enhanced their digital skills

- Khaled Al-Sayer: Media is a partner in creating impact and highlighting success

“CodeD,” the first AI and programming training academy in the Arab world, is concluding the third edition of the “Academy X” program, as part of a strategic partnership with Bank Burkan, Zain Telecom, Makazon, Talabat, Boutiquates, alongside media sponsorship from Al-Rai Global Advertising and Public Relations Company, and hosted by the American University of Kuwait. A total of 625 female students were accepted across three cohorts this year, bringing the cumulative number of female participants since the program’s launch to over 1,500.

The 2026 edition introduces a qualitative leap in content, launching for the first time the “AI Marketing” track with 247 participants, alongside the “AI Tech Entrepreneurship” track with 378 participants.

What distinguishes these two tracks is that artificial intelligence was not merely an add-on on the periphery of the curriculum, but was woven into the core of every session and every project. Both tracks ran concurrently across all three cohorts, with three evening sessions per week at the American University of Kuwait campus.

In his speech during the closing ceremony, Ahmed Maaref, Co-Founder and CEO of CodeD, stated: “Women’s talents in Kuwait are always present, through their ambition, achievements, and ability to make an impact. Kuwait has been and remains a pioneer in believing in these talents, in creating greater opportunities for greater ambitions, and in providing Kuwaiti women with the space to realize their aspirations and prove their capabilities. From this belief, we launched ‘Academy X,’ a space where they develop their skills and take their first steps toward success.”

He added: “Our strategic partners’ support was not merely support for a program, but a belief in Kuwaiti women and an investment in their talents and dreams. Thanks to them, we continue this investment and transform this belief into impact and achievements we are proud of. When we invest in our daughters today, we are investing in their ideas, ambitions, and the impact they will create tomorrow—an impact that grows with them and expands Kuwait’s ambitions. The more opportunities we create for Kuwaiti women, the greater future we build for Kuwait.”

For his part, Faisal Al-Sultan, Chairman of the Board of Makazon, said: “When we invest in the ambitions of our daughters, we are investing in Kuwait’s entire economy. This is the principle we started from three years ago with our partnership in Academy X. Today, we celebrate the third cohort of graduates who have mastered two pivotal tracks: AI Tech Entrepreneurship and AI Marketing.”

He added: “Three consecutive years of support have taught us one thing clearly: women’s competence in Kuwait is not a future promise, but an existing reality taking shape before us with each new cohort. What has been achieved today by this group of graduates reflects the impact we aspire to when supporting initiatives of this kind: building women’s capabilities to compete, innovate, and lead their own projects, or to confidently enter the job market.”

He continued: “We renew our gratitude to CODED for the partnership that has spanned the past three years, and for their constant commitment to delivering high-quality content befitting the ambitions of Kuwaiti young women. We congratulate every graduate on this achievement and look forward to what they will accomplish in the coming phase.”

For her part, Hessa Al-Najjada, First Director of Media Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility at Burqan, stated: “Our strategic sponsorship of the Academy X program for the second consecutive year stems from Burqan’s belief in the importance of corporate social responsibility and our role in investing in young talent and supporting women’s empowerment. Over the two years of sponsorship, more than 1,000 students have graduated from the program, acquiring skills in entrepreneurship and programming, alongside banking culture, in line with the ‘Let’s Be Aware’ campaign launched by the Central Bank of Kuwait in collaboration with the Kuwait Banks Association and local banks. Through these initiatives, we strive to achieve a sustainable impact aligned with Burqan’s strategy and Kuwait Vision 2035. We believe that this young talent represents the generation of the future, and that their ambition and capabilities can contribute to shaping a prosperous future for Kuwait.”

Sarah Al-Rabab, Head of Inclusion and Data at Zain, said: “We are proud to celebrate the successful conclusion of a new season of the X Academy initiative, and to witness the progress, creativity, and ambition demonstrated by the participating young women. Their achievements affirm our belief that empowering young women with the right digital skills, confidence, and opportunities is an investment in Kuwait’s future. Through our ongoing partnership with CODED, we aim to provide a space for girls and young women to explore the world of technology, nurture their talents, and enhance their role as active contributors to the digital economy. We are also proud to support a platform that builds technical capabilities, encourages ambition and creativity, and promotes women’s participation in fields that shape the future.”

Amaal Al-Bu-Khamseen, Director of Corporate Affairs at Talabat, stated: “Talabat’s sponsorship of the Academy X program for the third consecutive year, offered by Coded Academy, reflects our commitment to genuinely investing in Kuwait’s future by empowering national female cadres in the field of biotechnology. Our support for this initiative stems from our firm belief that our daughters are a vital source for the future economy. Through the program, we have witnessed participants being equipped with tomorrow’s skills, such as programming, artificial intelligence, and smart marketing, to prepare a new generation of female leaders and innovative startups. We reaffirm our full commitment to supporting this young talent, which represents the nation’s true wealth, and we extend our sincere thanks to the academy’s team for their efforts in achieving this success.”

Abdulrahman Al-Humaidi, Head of Corporate Communications at Boutiques, emphasized that Boutiques’ sponsorship of the Academy X program stems from its interest in supporting education and technology and empowering young talent, particularly female entrepreneurs. He praised the fruitful strategic partnership with CODED and the opportunity it provided to contribute to developing participants’ skills and enhancing their knowledge in technology and entrepreneurship. Al-Humaidi also commended the remarkable engagement and enthusiasm displayed by the students throughout the program, reflecting their genuine passion and desire to develop their skills and translate their ideas into practical steps toward the future.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd, Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the American University of Kuwait (AUK), said: “The American University of Kuwait (AUK) is proud to celebrate the successful conclusion of the ‘Academy X’ initiative, presented by CODED. Throughout these programs, participating students demonstrated remarkable creativity, dedication, and enthusiasm, while developing valuable skills in digital, leadership, and entrepreneurial fields.

He added: “The university congratulates all participants on their achievements and extends its gratitude and appreciation to CODED, the trainers, mentors, families, and everyone who contributed to the success of these initiatives. This collaboration reflects the university’s ongoing commitment to education, innovation, and community engagement. We look forward to these young learners building on their experiences, exploring new opportunities, and contributing to shaping a more innovative and technologically advanced future for Kuwait.”

Khaled Salah Al-Sayer, CEO of Al-Rai Global Advertising and Marketing Company, emphasized that “supporting distinctive initiatives that invest in the capabilities of youth, particularly Kuwaiti young women, represents an extension of Al-Rai’s role in supporting development, knowledge, and innovation pathways, rather than merely providing media sponsorship for an event or program.”

Al-Sayer stated: “We believe that media is a fundamental partner in creating impact, and its role extends beyond reporting success stories to highlighting, supporting, and motivating society to engage with them. This is why Al-Rai sponsors the initiative, which has successfully provided an environment that integrates education, technology, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship, equipping young women with practical tools to help them turn aspirations into achievements.”

He added: “What has been achieved over three years, with the participation of more than 1,500 Kuwaiti young women, reflects the vast potential within our society and confirms that true investment begins with building and empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills they need for the future.”

Al-Sayer affirmed that “artificial intelligence is no longer a specialized field for a select few, but has become part of various sectors and professions. Therefore, expanding knowledge of AI among youth contributes to preparing a generation more capable of innovation, competition, and participation in building a knowledge-based economy.”

He concluded: “We are proud to have Al-Rai as a media partner in this journey, and we look forward to continuing our support for initiatives that provide Kuwaiti youth with greater opportunities to learn, develop, and transform their ideas into projects and achievements that benefit them and their country.”

Over three years and nine cohorts since the program’s launch, Academy X has successfully opened its doors to more than 1,500 Kuwaiti participants. Among them are female entrepreneurs who launched their own businesses and specialists who apply artificial intelligence in marketing and entrepreneurship. This track record carries greater responsibility and ambition for upcoming seasons, which aim to enhance the quality of the experience, not just increase numbers, and to build a cohesive female tech community that shares knowledge, generates solutions, and inspires one another.

CODED also invites all interested individuals to follow its official channels for the next season of Academy X, with registration details to be announced via coded.kw.