KUWAIT CITY – Minister of State for Communications Affairs Omar Al-Omar affirmed that the telecommunications and postal sectors are witnessing rapid and ongoing transformations that profoundly affect economic and social progress across the Gulf region.
Speaking at the 29th meeting of the GCC Ministers of Post and Telecommunications Committee, hosted by Kuwait, Al-Omar described these shifts as both a strategic opportunity and a challenge for Gulf nations, urging members to adapt quickly and harness technological advancements to achieve national and regional development goals.
Al-Omar emphasized the importance of localizing advanced technologies, integrating digital intelligence, and adopting innovative digital solutions to strengthen the region’s global competitiveness. He noted that the GCC’s achievements in the telecommunications and postal domains have already opened new avenues for sustainable growth, investment attraction, local talent development, and entrepreneurship.
He stressed that enhancing Gulf cooperation, sharing expertise, and adopting advanced digital models are essential to transforming these sectors into integrated platforms of excellence. Such collaboration, Al-Omar said, ensures that Gulf countries remain at the forefront of global technological innovation while delivering high-quality, citizen-centric services that fuel economic growth.
The minister added that the meeting’s agenda included several recommendations from specialized technical committees, covering telecommunications and postal reforms. These will serve as a strategic roadmap for advancing Gulf integration, improving sector infrastructure, and enhancing government service efficiency in alignment with the region’s long-term digital vision.
GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi praised Gulf leaders’ commitment to joint economic and developmental cooperation, highlighting the committee’s role in advancing integration across telecommunications, postal, and space technology sectors.
Al-Budaiwi outlined several regional achievements reflecting the Gulf’s determination to maintain regional and global leadership:
- The UAE ranked first worldwide in mobile network coverage and mobile phone usage, and successfully hosted the 28th Universal Postal Union Congress with participation from 192 countries.
- Bahrain ranked fifth globally in the 2024 ICT Development Index, while Saudi Arabia topped the 2025 edition and secured membership on the UPU Board of Directors and Investment Council (2026–2029).
- The Sultanate of Oman led the Arab world in the 2025 Postal Development Index and performed strongly in ICT indicators.
- Qatar received international recognition for its express mail services and customer care excellence.
- Kuwait, the host nation, ranked fourth globally in the 2025 ICT Development Index, achieving 100% 5G network coverage, underscoring its commitment to building a resilient and future-ready communications infrastructure.
The session concluded with renewed emphasis on collective innovation, shared digital frameworks, and policy harmonization to strengthen the GCC’s leadership in global digital transformation.
