Ministry of Information: Digital Transformation Enters New Phase Led by AI - Sarmad

Kuwait’s Acting Director General of the Central Authority for Information Technology, Najwa Ibrahim, confirmed on Monday that digital transformation is entering a new phase driven by artificial intelligence, supported by data and smart technologies. This shift offers opportunities to develop services, enhance government performance, and support decision-making, alongside responsibilities related to governance, data protection, cybersecurity, and building digital trust.

This statement was made by Ibrahim during her speech at the opening of the fifth edition of the Kuwait Digital Transformation Conference 2026, titled “From Digital Transformation to the Smart Nation.” The event is organized by OM Events in collaboration with the Central Authority for Information Technology, and in partnership with the Public Authority for Communications and Information Technology, and will last for two days.

Ibrahim stated that artificial intelligence represents a key pillar in Kuwait’s digital transformation journey, with a focus on its practical applications and frameworks that ensure its responsible use, as well as building national capacities capable of leading this transition.

She added that technological transformations are accelerating at an unprecedented pace, with AI advancing to become 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 ways to leverage technology to serve development.

She clarified that the Central Authority for Information Technology places special emphasis on developing digital competencies and skills, with 8,488 trainees benefiting from its training programs between January 2024 and August 2026.

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

She indicated that the Authority continues to work on developing digital infrastructure, data centers, and cloud computing, while strengthening cybersecurity and digital trust, developing government services, and supporting transformation in vital sectors such as health, education, the financial sector, transport, and smart cities.

Ibrahim emphasized that the real challenge lies not in possessing technology, but in converting it into tangible and sustainable impact that translates into easier, faster, and more integrated services for citizens and residents, as well as enhancing 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 2035” Vision for a more innovative economy, a more efficient government, and a society better equipped to seize future opportunities.

For her part, Manal Al-Mutairi, Deputy Chairman of the Public Authority for Communications and Information Technology, stated in a similar address 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-Mutairi said 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 further stated that effective governance constitutes a fundamental enabler of digital transformation, by enhancing competition, safeguarding user interests, monitoring service quality, and supporting the responsible and orderly development of the telecommunications and information technology sector.

She clarified that the next phase requires a reliable and resilient digital infrastructure, high-quality data, genuine institutional integration, and national competencies capable of leveraging modern technologies and managing their risks responsibly.

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

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

She explained that the responsible institutional adoption of artificial intelligence begins with identifying the problem, desired outcomes, performance standards, 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, especially since its ability to produce highly convincing content does not necessarily imply accuracy.

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

She further highlighted 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 impact for beneficiaries.

For his part, Sheikh Mohammed Ahmed Al-Sabah, President of the Kuwait Artificial Intelligence of Things Association, affirmed in a statement 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 system in which institutions communicate and exchange data securely, and modern technologies serve humanity.

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

He clarified that building a smart nation requires transitioning from isolated digital initiatives to an integrated national system that combines artificial intelligence, digital identity, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things to deliver smarter, safer, and more efficient services.

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

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

He warned that the ease of using artificial intelligence does not necessarily guarantee its safe use, particularly in light of security and geopolitical challenges and the sensitivity of information related to infrastructure and strategic sites.

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

Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah stressed that artificial intelligence should serve as a tool to enhance the state’s capabilities, not as a window that could be exploited to access sensitive information, urging the unification of efforts among government entities, the private sector, and academic institutions to translate 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 artificial intelligence to develop services, enhance institutional efficiency, and support the move toward building a smart state.

The conference also included an accompanying exhibition featuring 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 exposure to modern technical solutions.