Director of 'Encouraging Investment': Artificial Intelligence and Human Capital at the Core of Kuwait's Priorities

- Participated in the roundtable discussion on “Digital Commitments in the Middle East”

- Microsoft plans to invest more than $10 billion in the region by 2030

On Wednesday, Sheikh Dr. Meshal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Director General of the Public Authority for Foreign Investment (PAFI), affirmed that Kuwait places investment in artificial intelligence and human capital at the core of its priorities, in line with the objectives of “Kuwait Vision 2035.”

This statement came during Sheikh Meshal Jaber Al-Ahmad’s participation in the roundtable discussion on “Digital Commitments in the Middle East,” organized by Microsoft under the theme “Technology, Trust, and Talent in the Age of AI,” held in New York on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Sheikh Meshal Jaber Al-Ahmad stated that Kuwait recently signed a strategic ten-year partnership with Microsoft, as part of its direction toward investing in artificial intelligence and developing human capital.

He highlighted Kuwait’s strong emphasis on empowering youth and equipping them with the necessary skills to keep pace with technological advancements and leverage the opportunities offered by AI.

The roundtable’s agenda focused on ways for governments and the technology sector to collaborate in harnessing AI to support economic growth, develop public services, and enhance competitiveness, alongside cybersecurity, data protection, and the continuity of digital services.

Its key topics included linking investment in digital infrastructure with the development of local skills, strengthening institutional capacities, and workforce readiness, thereby supporting long-term digital partnerships in the region.

During the event, Microsoft, through its President and Vice Chairman Brad Smith, announced a new framework for its commitments in the Middle East, initially focusing on Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, covering technology, digital resilience, and human capacity development.

The company also confirmed its intention to invest more than $10 billion in capital and operational expenditures in the region by 2030, to expand cloud computing and AI infrastructure, while enhancing cooperation in data protection, cybersecurity, and skills development.