Kuwait’s Fintech Summit in its fourth season
KUWAIT CITY, Nov 3:The fourth Ooredoo Fintech Summit kicked off in Kuwait on Sunday, focusing on investment opportunities in data centers, as well as in financial, medical, and real estate technologies, with discussions highlighting the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation in the country.
Ooredoo Kuwait CEO Abdulaziz Al-Babtain said during the opening session that the company is integrating AI through a strategic cooperation agreement with NVIDIA, marking a major step toward establishing Kuwait’s first sovereign AI data center.
CEO of Ooredoo Kuwait, Abdulaziz Al-Babtain
He explained that the agreement enables Ooredoo Group’s data centers to provide GPU services, paving the way for advanced intelligent computing infrastructure. “This initiative is a qualitative leap in empowering the nation with artificial intelligence and strengthening the digital ecosystem that connects people, data, and innovation,” Al-Babtain stated.
He added that Ooredoo has already implemented AI in its operations, particularly in its call center, which has improved customer service efficiency by reducing turnaround times from three weeks to three days. The company also plans to collaborate with NVIDIA to introduce AI-related curricula at universities to nurture future talent in Kuwait.
Chief Technology Officer Issa Haidar said Ooredoo is transitioning from a telecommunications company into a national smart computing platform by integrating NVIDIA technologies into its data centers. “We now have the first locally managed, advanced AI computing infrastructure that processes data within Kuwait with the highest levels of security and sovereignty,” he noted.
Haidar emphasized that this infrastructure will enable Kuwaiti institutions to develop and operate smart applications domestically, fostering innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainability in digital services.
The summit featured 11 main sessions with participation from over 24 leaders representing Gulf and U.S. technology sectors, alongside major companies, industry pioneers, and specialized investors.
Participants discussed how emerging technologies, particularly AI, are reshaping the financial and digital landscapes, creating new investment opportunities while posing challenges in workforce development and digital infrastructure modernization.
The event underscored Kuwait’s growing role in advancing regional innovation through strategic technology partnerships and its commitment to building a robust, AI-driven economy.
