ZainTECH, the digital solutions arm of Zain Group, and Microsoft co-hosted ‘AI-Ready Kuwait’ on September 17 at the Waldorf Astoria, gathering senior policymakers and digital transformation leaders to advance Kuwait’s AI ambitions under Vision 2035.
The event marked a milestone ahead of the launch of Kuwait’s first AI-powered Microsoft Azure Region, a development that will reinforce data sovereignty and public sector resilience. It showcased how AI and cloud solutions, deployed locally by ZainTECH in partnership with Microsoft, can modernize government services and scale secure, mission-critical operations across sectors.
Driving Kuwait’s Digital Future
Hamad Al-Marzouq, Chief Enterprise Business Officer of Zain Kuwait, emphasized that AI leadership means aligning policy, platforms, talent, and security to deliver faster public services, safer infrastructure, stronger cyber resilience, and higher productivity. He stressed that ZainTECH integrates cloud, cybersecurity, data, and AI into a unified stack, bringing best-in-class platforms and investing in local talent.
Andrew Hanna, CEO of ZainTECH, added that the summit was about “execution—turning digital ambition into action”, noting Kuwait’s readiness to scale proven AI solutions that address healthcare, education, emergency response, and citizen engagement.
Microsoft’s Strategic Role
Alaeddine Karim, Microsoft Kuwait Country Manager, highlighted the alignment between Kuwait’s national AI agenda and Microsoft’s commitment: “It’s a powerful example of how AI is transforming business, government, and daily life—accelerating Kuwait’s digital future.”
Real-World Applications
Attendees explored solutions such as Azure ExpressRoute for secure connectivity, resilient cloud services for continuity, OpenAI copilots for smarter public engagement, and sector-specific AI applications in healthcare, education, and emergency services. These capabilities are underpinned by ZainTECH’s local compliance expertise and delivery capacity.
Strategic Impact
The ‘AI-Ready Kuwait’ event reinforced ZainTECH and Microsoft’s shared commitment to enabling responsible AI adoption and building sustainable, future-ready digital infrastructure, positioning Kuwait as a regional AI hub.
