Kuwait: Enhancing Arab Security Cooperation and Information Exchange to Combat Cybercrime

- Colonel Al-Humoud: We are working to develop monitoring and analysis mechanisms and leverage artificial intelligence for the early detection of criminal indicators

Kuwait reaffirmed on Wednesday its commitment to developing its security framework to combat cybercrime, and to enhancing cooperation, information exchange, and expertise sharing with Arab countries to address security challenges arising from the rapid evolution of criminal methods, particularly cross-border cybercrimes.

This was stated by Colonel Hamad Al-Humoud, Assistant Director of the Cybercrime Combating Department at Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior and head of the Kuwaiti delegation participating in the Third Conference of Arab Interior Ministry Officials Responsible for Combating Information Technology Crimes, in an interview with the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

Colonel Al-Humoud added that the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation, represented by the Cybercrime Combating Department, possesses specialized and trained human resources equipped with the latest methods of electronic investigation, 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 skills in proactive monitoring and identifying emerging criminal patterns and methods.

He noted that the Cybercrime Combating Department is working to develop monitoring and security analysis mechanisms and to utilize 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 indicators, and the implementation of preventive measures to reduce their occurrence.

He emphasized that Kuwait pays special attention to combating fraud and cyber-scam crimes through coordination with government agencies, financial institutions, and telecommunications companies, while strengthening security, technical, regulatory, and legislative measures to address emerging fraud methods and protect society.

In this context, he highlighted a statement by First Lieutenant Engineer Sultan Al-Anzi from the Cybercrime Combating Department, which outlined Kuwait’s efforts in combating cyber fraud in 2026. These efforts included registering 493 cases of cyber fraud and scam, 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-Humoud highlighted that Kuwait’s participation focuses on prominent criminal methods, including impersonation of official entities, direct financial fraud, and investment and commercial fraud, alongside newly introduced security initiatives. These include establishing joint virtual rooms with relevant commercial companies and 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 Digital Commerce Law, as well as combating bank forgery and phone billing fraud.

Colonel Al-Hamoud concluded his statement by emphasizing that combating transborder cybercrimes requires the integration of Arab security efforts, enhanced exchange of information and technical expertise, and the development of human and technical capacities, as well as a shift from traditional countermeasures 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 strengthening cybersecurity and protecting Arab societies.

The conference, held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers of Interior in Tunis over two days, is examining several key topics, including the preparation of a model organizational structure for specialized agencies combating information technology crimes, the utilization of artificial intelligence technologies in combating electronic financial fraud, the presentation of emerging criminal methods and cases monitored by member states, and the exchange of experiences and security expertise to enhance the capacities of specialized agencies.

Representing the State of Kuwait at the conference, alongside Colonel Hamad Al-Hamoud, are Major Abbar Bahbahani from the General Directorate of International Relations, and First Lieutenant Engineer Sultan Al-Anzi from the Cybercrime Combating Directorate.