Diversified services, continuous planning and investment in talent helped sustain Ooredoo Kuwait’s performance through regional challenges, said CEO Abdulaziz Yaqoub Al-Babtain.

Speaking at the MoneyTech 2026, the fifth edition of Aljarida’s annual summit on investment, business and technology, he explained that the company is diversifying its international land and subsea routes with government entities and sector partners and acknowledged the role of the government and the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) in supporting the stability of telecom services and protecting critical infrastructure. 

As the needs of the country’s vital sectors shifted during the crisis, Ooredoo Kuwait worked with them on connectivity, hosting and protection solutions that kept their operations running.

Al-Babtain led the summit’s opening session with a fireside chat on building trust in times of challenge and investing in Kuwait’s digital future.

Readiness and growth through regional challenges

During the conversation, Al-Babtain said: “The right partner is the one who stands beside you when conditions are at their hardest. That is the role Ooredoo Kuwait played for Kuwait’s vital sectors, and it is the role we will continue to play,” said Al-Babtain.

This performance is reflected in the company’s achievement as in 2026 the company was named Telecom Company of the Year at the Asian Telecom Awards for the third consecutive year.

AI at the centre of the next phase

Looking at the next phase, Al-Babtain placed artificial intelligence at the centre of Ooredoo Kuwait’s strategy. One year after the company announced Kuwait’s first sovereign AI-enabled data centre at MoneyTech 2025, Ooredoo Group’s partnership with NVIDIA is expanding AI capabilities in Kuwait, supporting local applications and strengthening the company’s cybersecurity as threats evolve. 

He described partnerships with global technology leaders and local institutions as the fastest route to bringing these capabilities to Kuwait, provided the knowledge stays with local teams.

“Artificial intelligence is one of the most important economic opportunities of the coming phase, and our ambition is for Ooredoo Kuwait to be a leading partner in enabling it across Kuwait. The value of our global partnerships lies in the opportunities they open for Kuwait and the national capabilities they help us build,” Al-Babtain said.

Opening doors for Kuwaiti talent

Al-Babtain also highlighted the knowledge and ambition of young Kuwaitis, particularly in AI and cybersecurity. He said large companies such as Ooredoo can open the door for them by providing digital infrastructure, linking innovators with real business opportunities and helping start-ups take an idea to a product that can scale, pointing to Kuwaiti ventures that have already reached global markets.

“Kuwait’s next great technology export may well come from a young Kuwaiti waiting for the right opportunity, and part of our role is to make sure that opportunity exists here at home,” Al-Babtain added.

MoneyTech 2026 was held on Sunday November 1 at The St. Regis Kuwait and brought together 17 speakers across nine sessions. This year’s edition focused on investing and growing through uncertainty, with discussions on business continuity, dealmaking in turbulent markets and positioning Kuwait as a home for long-term capital. – TradeArabia News Service