10/06/2026
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10/06/2026
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In an interview with the newspaper, economic and information technology experts attributed the leadership of the sector over the other 16 sectors receiving foreign direct investment in Kuwait to the significant and sustained government focus on information technology in recent years. Former Ministry of Finance advisor and economic analyst Mohammad Ramadan stated that although overall direct investment in the country declined and remained below KD2 billion, foreign investments in information technology outpaced investments in all other service sectors. He stated that digital transformation has become the main engine driving growth in commercial and economic activities, as well as other sectors. He stressed the importance of the Kuwaiti government’s reliance on technology to simplify and accelerate government procedures and transactions that were previously time-consuming and cumbersome.
He explained that Kuwait is moving swiftly toward full e-government implementation, a development that encouraged major global technology and telecommunications companies to invest in the local market, particularly since the government continues to embrace advances in information technology, artificial intelligence and cloud computing. He cited another factor behind the growth of information technology investments -- the banking sector’s adoption of advanced information technologies aimed at supporting digital transformation and delivering innovative banking solutions, along with distinguished digital products and services, keeping pace with rapid technological developments in the international banking industry. Asked why oil and gas investments ranked second at 27.65 percent while telecommunications and information technology investments secured first place, he said “despite the oil and gas sector’s long-standing history, the telecommunications and information technology sector managed to surpass it.”
He clarified that digital transformation technologies are now considered the most promising avenue for generating attractive returns on foreign investments in Kuwait, considering they constitute one of the key pillars of Kuwait Vision 2035. He added that the vision is based on diversifying sources of income to reduce the State’s reliance on oil revenues, while investments in digital infrastructure also support startups in the public and private sectors. He asserted that the expansion of digital technologies goes hand in hand with intensified government efforts to strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure and enhance protection for government websites and information networks. Information technology and cybersecurity expert Huda Al-Kuraibani stated that technology- related projects are among the most attractive sectors for foreign investors in the country.
She explained that such projects represent more than conventional commercial investments, serving as a channel for transferring knowledge, improving services, and raising efficiency in public and private institutions, while contributing to the creation of high-quality employment opportunities for Kuwaiti youths. She said Kuwait has several strengths that make it an attractive destination for technology investments, including rising purchasing power, a developing digital infrastructure, and growing reliance on electronic services. She added that the country is making rapid progress in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, financial technology and cloud services. She emphasized that foreign investors are not merely seeking markets in which to market their services, as they are rather looking for stable environments, transparent regulations, simplified procedures, and genuine partnership opportunities with government institutions and the private sector. According to Al-Kuraibani, the more these factors are strengthened and facilitated, the greater Kuwait’s ability to attract high-quality technology investments—not merely foreign company branches, but projects that create added value for the national economy.
She predicted that foreign investment in Kuwait’s technology sector will continue to expand in the coming years, particularly in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital financial services, data centers, and smart solutions serving vital sectors such as healthcare, education and energy. However, she stressed that achieving this growth will require continuous improvements to the regulatory framework, faster licensing procedures, and stronger support for partnerships involving Kuwaiti talent. She asserted that the true value of technology investment should not be measured solely by the amount of capital invested, but by its capacity to build a more diversified, efficient and sustainable economy. She concluded that technology is no longer a secondary option, as it has become one of the most important drivers for attracting foreign investment and strengthening Kuwait’s position as a competitive regional hub within the digital economy.
Economist and information technology expert Salem Al-Kandari affirmed that the expansion of Kuwait’s telecommunications and information technology market affirms its leading role in attracting foreign investment and its continuous commitment to developing the information and telecommunications technology sector. According to American information centers, the value of Kuwait’s telecommunications and information technology sector exceeded $20 billion by 2025 and is projected to reach $35 billion before 2030, due to the expanding activities in the sector, which generate substantial returns for both domestic and foreign investors. Al-Kandari noted that the telecommunications and information technology market experienced rapid growth in Kuwait following the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting government institutions and private entities to increase investments in artificial intelligence, internet technologies, big data and cloud services.
