12/06/2026 06:52 AST
Zain participated in a high-level roundtable discussion hosted by global media group The Business Year, in collaboration with the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), under the title Thought Leadership Circle: Unlocking Kuwait's Market Potential. The panel featured Abdulaziz Al-Marzouq, Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, and discussed Kuwait's evolving economic landscape, investment outlook, and the reforms needed to support the country's long-term economic diversification agenda under Kuwait Vision 2035.
The session brought together senior government officials, business leaders, financial institutions, regulators, and private-sector stakeholders. Zain Kuwait CEO Nawaf Al-Gharabally joined the panel to share Zain's perspective as one of Kuwait's flagship national companies and a leading regional player, highlighting the expanding role of telecom and digital infrastructure in supporting Kuwait's economic diversification, capital market development, and long-term digital growth.
During the session, Al-Gharabally stated: "Kuwait's telecom sector has evolved far beyond voice, data, and traditional connectivity. Today, it is becoming a wider digital ecosystem that supports individuals, households, enterprises, SMEs, government entities, smart districts, and emerging digital businesses. For Zain, this evolution is closely aligned with our '4WARD-Progress with Purpose' strategy, which is guiding our transformation from a telco into a regional TechCo."
He added: "Connectivity will always remain the foundation of our business, but the real opportunity today is in building on that foundation to deliver digital solutions, cloud, AI, cybersecurity, IoT, fintech, smart infrastructure, and customer-centric experiences. Our role has long evolved from providing mere connectivity to enabling the digital foundations of Kuwait's economic transformation."
Al-Gharabally further said: "A clear example of this evolution is our recent partnership with United Real Estate Company, where Zain is powering the digital infrastructure of Hessah District, one of Kuwait's most ambitious urban developments. This reflects how the telecom market is expanding into new segments such as smart districts, real estate technology, connected workplaces, smart homes, and digitally enabled community experiences."
He continued: "We also see fintech as one of the key growth areas in the evolution of the telecom sector. Through initiatives such as Zain Insure, we are helping introduce simpler, faster, more inclusive, and more customer-centric financial experiences. The opportunity is not only to digitize existing financial services, but to create a new layer of digital financial capability in Kuwait, supported by strong infrastructure, trusted national players, and a regulatory environment that balances innovation with protection."
On the future of Kuwait's capital market, Al-Gharabally said: "Over the next three to five years, Kuwait's capital market has the opportunity to become more diversified, more technology-driven, and more connected to the transformation taking place across the wider economy. AI will be a major enabler of this shift, powering everything from digital infrastructure and enterprise operations to customer experience, fintech, insurance, healthcare, education, and large-scale government projects. Investors will increasingly look for companies that are not only financially strong, but also digitally mature, AI-ready, and capable of using technology to create long-term value."
He concluded: "As Kuwait attracts leading global technology companies and advanced digital capabilities, there is a valuable opportunity to further integrate national private-sector companies as strategic partners in major development projects. This will help localize expertise, strengthen execution, and build sustainable national capabilities that create long-term value for Kuwait."
The roundtable explored several key themes, including capital-market development, broadening investor participation, digital financial services, public-private partnerships, and the role of technology in accelerating Kuwait's economic diversification. Discussions also highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration between government entities, national private-sector companies, and global technology partners to support major development projects and build sustainable digital capabilities within Kuwait.
Zain continues its long-standing partnership with The Business Year to support platforms that bring together decision-makers, investors, and private-sector leaders to exchange perspectives and identify opportunities that contribute to Kuwait's progress. The company is also keen to contribute to advancing KDIPA's efforts to enhance Kuwait's business environment, attract investment, strengthen competitiveness, and position the country as a regional financial and investment hub.
Kuwait Times
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