Google Cloud has officially opened new offices in Kuwait, licensed by the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA). The announcement was made at a significant event attended by Omar Saud Al-Omar, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Communication Affairs.
This expansion highlights Google Cloud’s dedication to supporting Kuwait’s national digital transformation goals, including the modernization of government services and the promotion of economic development.
The newly established Google Cloud offices in Kuwait will serve as a center for collaboration and innovation, uniting experts from across Google Cloud to work closely with customers and partners.
“Under the visionary leadership of His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince, and the guidance of His Highness the Prime Minister, Kuwait has made great strides towards realizing its National Vision 2035,” stated Al-Omar during the inauguration. “This progress includes driving digital transformation, accelerating our smart economy, and developing crucial infrastructure.”
He further emphasized, “The significance of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies, in general, cannot be overstated. They are fundamental to economic growth and national development. By leveraging these technologies in government services, we can significantly improve the quality of life for our citizens and residents, foster sustainability, and drive innovation. Our partnership with Google Cloud has already yielded numerous successes, which we are confident will enrich Kuwait’s economy and create promising employment opportunities for our youth.”
In January 2023, Google Cloud announced a national alliance framework agreement with the Kuwaiti government to develop a roadmap for a comprehensive digital transformation program across government entities and key state-owned enterprises. This partnership will bring Google Cloud’s cutting-edge technology, data expertise, and AI capabilities to government agencies and state-owned entities, enhancing their operations and cybersecurity.
Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban, Managing Director of Google Cloud in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, stated at the event, “Opening Google Cloud offices in Kuwait is yet another step to meet the demand for our services and expertise in Kuwait to support the New Kuwait Vision 2035, which aims to transform the country into a digital society and diversify its economy. We are working with the Government of Kuwait towards digitizing citizen services and increasing the productivity of government employees, in addition to participating in several digital transformation initiatives in healthcare, education, disaster recovery, and smart living.”
Shaymaa Alterkait, Country Manager of Google Cloud in Kuwait, added, “At Google Cloud, we believe that technology, when combined with the coordinated efforts of governments, the private sector, and civil society, can drive economic growth and stability for all communities. Our expansion in Kuwait reinforces our dedication to this vision.”
Google Cloud is operating within the strategic alliance framework with the government, in collaboration with KDIPA, the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA), and the Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT). Since establishing a presence in Kuwait, Google Cloud has been working with CAIT through a national skilling program to upskill government employees, entrepreneurs, and recent graduates in digital technologies using Google Cloud’s advanced data analytics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and information security solutions.
A Google-commissioned study by Access Partnership indicates that digital technologies enabled by cloud computing could create a potential economic impact of up to $3.4 trillion per year across major and emerging economies in the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe by 2030. In Kuwait, research by Access Partnership found that if all entities in respective sectors were to fully adopt cloud technologies, the combined annual economic impact could reach up to $29.8 billion by 2030.
