Kuwait Proposes Creating a 'Silicon Desert' to Localize Technology Industries in the Gulf

State Minister for Economic Affairs and Investment and Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry, Abdulaziz Al-Murrouq, affirmed that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries possess the necessary foundations to transform into a rising global economic and technological power, given their abundant energy resources, sovereign wealth, developed human capital, and an investment-attractive legislative environment.

Speaking at the Global Investment Forum 2026 held in Doha, Al-Murrouq stated that Kuwait’s vision for the future of investment focuses not merely on the volume of foreign investments flowing into the region’s countries, but rather on their quality and the value-added they can generate for their economies.

He added that Gulf countries have excelled for decades in creating high-quality sovereign investments, a trend that began in Kuwait more than 70 years ago. He noted that GCC sovereign wealth funds have contributed to supporting companies and economic sectors worldwide, sowing the seeds of success in numerous fields.

He emphasized the importance of transitioning to a stage that transforms the GCC into an integrated economic zone, leveraging its available potential. This includes energy resources, which will remain a pivotal element in the global economy in the coming years and decades, alongside the availability of sovereign capital, continuous development of human capital, and a robust legislative environment.

In this context, Al-Murrouq proposed launching the concept of “Silicon Desert” to localize modern technology industries in the region. He pointed out that investing in infrastructure and localizing specialized, particularly technological, industries could make the GCC a key center for the future of the global economy in the coming decades.