Ministry of Information Technology: Artificial Intelligence as a Key Pillar in Kuwait's Digital Transformation Journey

- Al-Ibrahim: 8,488 trainees and 40,000 AI licenses in government entities

- Al-Moreid: The true value of digital transformation lies in delivering more reliable and easier services, more efficient procedures

- Mohammed Al-Sabah: Digital transformation has become a fundamental element in the strength of nations, the competitiveness of their economies, and their ability to shape the future

In a speech delivered during the opening of the fifth edition of the Kuwait Digital Transformation Conference 2026, titled “From Digital Transformation to the Smart Nation,” organized by OM Events in collaboration with the Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT), in partnership with the Public Authority for Communications Technology (PACT), Al-Ibrahim stated that artificial intelligence represents a key pillar in Kuwait’s digital transformation journey, with a focus on its practical applications, frameworks ensuring its responsible use, and building national capacities capable of leading this shift.

She added that technological transformations are accelerating at an unprecedented pace, with AI emerging as a primary driver of the future of government work, the economy, and society. She noted that the conference has solidified its position as a national platform for dialogue among policymakers, experts, and public and private entities on leveraging technology to serve development.

She clarified that the Central Agency for Information Technology places special emphasis on developing digital competencies and skills, noting that the number of beneficiaries of its training programs reached 8,488 trainees between January 2024 and August 2026.

She pointed out that the government’s “Microsoft Copilot” initiative, which covered 79 government entities, saw 13 entities successfully complete the adoption phase, with over 40,000 licenses activated and more than 170 use cases identified, reflecting a gradual transition from exploring AI potential to its practical application to boost productivity and improve service quality.

Al-Ibrahim emphasized that the real challenge does not lie in possessing technology, but in transforming it into tangible and sustainable impact that translates into easier, faster, and more integrated services for citizens and residents, as well as enhanced institutional efficiency, productivity, and innovation capacity.

She stressed the importance of integrating the roles of government entities, the private sector, academic institutions, and technology providers to advance digital transformation and support the aspirations of Kuwait Vision 2035 toward a more innovative economy, a more efficient government, and a society better equipped to seize future opportunities.

For her part, Manal Al-Moreid, Deputy Chairman of the Public Authority for Communications Technology, affirmed that digital transformation is no longer merely about adopting modern technologies or moving services and procedures to an electronic environment, but has become a comprehensive institutional transformation linked to management efficiency, decision quality, optimal resource utilization, and institutional responsiveness to changes.

Al-Moreid stated that the true value of digital transformation lies in delivering more reliable and accessible services, more efficient procedures, data-driven decisions, and an environment better capable of fostering innovation and attracting investment.

She noted that the growing reliance on digital services amplifies the importance of service continuity, network and system resilience, their ability to meet increasing demands, and their capacity to recover from failures and disruptions.

Al-Moreid emphasized that the true value of data depends on its accuracy, freshness, consistency, and the ability to use it securely and reliably. She pointed out that genuine digital integration requires institutional agreement on data, its definitions, procedures, and management responsibilities, rather than mere technical connectivity between systems.

She highlighted that responsible institutional adoption of artificial intelligence begins with identifying the problem, desired outcomes, performance criteria, and acceptable risk levels before selecting, testing, and validating technical solutions prior to scaling up implementation.

She noted that the use of generative AI must be accompanied by output verification, data protection, documentation of tests, and clarity of responsibilities, particularly since its ability to produce highly convincing content does not necessarily guarantee accuracy.

She emphasized the need to strengthen AI governance, accountability, and risk management, while tightening oversight standards as the impact of decisions increases on individual rights or the continuity of essential services.

Al-Mutairi further pointed out that the latest World Bank data on the 2025 Government Technology Maturity Index confirms ongoing global progress in the digital transformation of the public sector and the expanding scope of digital government services, with the next challenge lying in service integration, quality, and achieving tangible benefits for beneficiaries.

For his part, Sheikh Mohammed Ahmed Al-Sabah, President of the Kuwait AIoT Association, stressed in his speech that digital transformation has become a fundamental element in national strength, economic competitiveness, and the capacity to shape the future.

Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah stated that Kuwait does not merely need more digital services, but rather a smarter, more integrated national ecosystem where institutions communicate, exchange data securely, and leverage modern technologies to serve humanity.

He added that the success of digital transformation requires three key pillars: reliable and organized data as a strategic asset; enhancing digital trust, privacy protection, and cybersecurity; and investing in human capital through education development and the qualification of national talents.

He noted that Agentic AI represents a new stage in which systems can execute complex tasks and make decisions with increasing autonomy, necessitating clear governance, effective accountability, human oversight, and qualified national expertise.

He affirmed that the goal is not to replace humans in decision-making, but to assist them in making better and more accurate decisions, emphasizing that technology, no matter how advanced, cannot achieve its objectives without humans capable of managing and guiding it.

He warned that the ease of using AI does not necessarily imply its safety, particularly in light of security and geopolitical challenges and the sensitivity of information related to infrastructure and strategic sites.

He stressed that protecting state information is not solely the responsibility of security and technical agencies, but of every employee who handles it, calling for verification of data sources and access permissions before entering sensitive information and documents into AI platforms.

Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah affirmed that AI should serve as a tool to enhance state capabilities, not as a window that could be exploited to access sensitive information, urging unified efforts among government entities, the private sector, and academic institutions to transform technology and knowledge into tangible national achievements.

The conference featured a panel discussion titled “From Digital Transformation to the Smart Nation,” which explored ways to accelerate digital transformation, leverage modern technologies and AI to develop services, enhance institutional efficiency, and support the shift toward building a smart state.

The conference also featured an accompanying exhibition with the participation of several companies specializing in information and communications technology and digital solutions, which showcased their latest technologies and services in the fields of digital transformation and artificial intelligence, facilitating the exchange of expertise and providing insights into modern technological solutions.