07/10/2026 06:04 AST
Zain Kuwait announced its strategic partnership with the fourth edition of the AI & Cybersecurity GCC Forum 2026, hosted by the American International University in Kuwait (AIU). The forum brought together a distinguished group of decision-makers, government officials, academic and technology leaders, experts, and specialists from Kuwait and across the region.
The opening ceremony was attended by AIU Board of Trustees Chair Dr Faiza Al-Kharafi, AIU Board Member Areej Al-Ghanim, AIU President Dr Youssef Haik, Chairman of the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) Dr Khaled Al-Zamel, Head of the National Cybersecurity Center Abeer Al-Awadhi, Chairman of the Artificial Intelligence of Things Association Sheikh Mohammed Al-Sabah, and Zain Kuwait Chief Corporate Affairs and Relations Officer Waleed Al-Khashti.
Zain's participation builds on its ongoing role in supporting platforms that bring together the private sector, academia, and decision-makers to exchange knowledge and expertise around the most significant shifts shaping the technology landscape. This is particularly important as AI adoption continues to accelerate, bringing with it new considerations around governance, cybersecurity, privacy, ethics, and the responsible use of technology.
Over two days, the forum featured a comprehensive program focused on the future of AI and cybersecurity, including AI policy, Large Language Models (LLMs), Agentic AI, digital transformation, and governance. The first day brought together senior executives and government leaders for strategic discussions, while the second day, held at the AIU campus, focused on the next generation of technology talent through workshops, panel discussions, and practical experiences.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Waleed Al-Khashti said: "Zain's strategic partnership with this forum comes at a time when AI is advancing at an extraordinary pace, reshaping how we work, innovate, and create value for society."
He added: "At Zain, we strongly believe in the importance of collaboration between the private sector and academia, particularly as emerging technologies cannot be addressed in isolation. The private sector brings practical experience and real-world application, while academia contributes research, knowledge, and the young talent that will help shape the future."
Al-Khashti continued: "Zain has been among the early companies in Kuwait to responsibly deploy AI use cases across different areas of the business, including solutions based on Large Language Models (LLMs). More importantly, these capabilities are developed and managed internally by our national talent and operated within Zain's own infrastructure, helping us maintain data sovereignty while strengthening security and privacy."
He stressed that innovation and cybersecurity must advance together, noting that Zain continues to strengthen its cybersecurity capabilities and foster a strong cyber-aware culture across the organization. This commitment also extends to investing in the next generation and equipping young people with the digital, AI, and cybersecurity skills that will be essential to the future of Kuwait's digital economy.
Al-Khashti concluded: "The real opportunity is not simply to adopt AI faster, but to adopt it responsibly and securely in a way that creates sustainable value for everyone."
As part of the forum, Zain also participated in a number of panel discussions, including "AI Policy and Governance: Shaping Responsible AI Adoption," featuring Hind Al-Amiri, Cloud and Database System Team Leader at Zain Kuwait. The session explored practical approaches that governments, institutions, and businesses can adopt to establish effective frameworks for responsible AI adoption and governance. The discussion examined how organizations can balance innovation with appropriate safeguards, while addressing accountability, transparency, trust, privacy, security, risk management, and responsible technology deployment. It also explored these issues from a regional perspective and considered the specific priorities and requirements of the GCC.
On the second day, Zain also joined a panel titled "From Education to Innovation: Preparing the Next Generation for a Digital Future," featuring Humoud Al-Khamees, Cloud Networking Department Manager at Zain Kuwait. The discussion highlighted the importance of developing young people's digital skills and strengthening the connection between academic learning and practical application, helping students keep pace with emerging technologies and the evolving demands of the job market.
The session also highlighted the role of collaboration between academia and the private sector in transforming knowledge into practical experience and preparing young talent to contribute meaningfully to the innovation ecosystem and the digital economy.
The forum addressed a wide range of issues shaping today's technology landscape, including the future of AI policy, governance and ethics, Large Language Models, Agentic AI, and digital transformation, as well as the increasingly important relationship between advances in AI and cybersecurity requirements. The program featured specialized sessions and workshops led by regional and international experts, with a focus on moving the conversation beyond identifying opportunities and challenges toward practical approaches and actionable recommendations.
Zain's strategic partnership reflects its continued efforts to support Kuwait's innovation ecosystem, strengthen collaboration between the private sector and academic institutions, and contribute to the development of national capabilities in advanced technology fields. These efforts support the development of a safer, more innovative digital economy that is better equipped to capitalize on the opportunities created by emerging technologies.
Kuwait Times
Please wait...