Kuwait is buzzing with innovations in telecommunications, finance and media that are fuelling the pivot away from the reliance on crude oil revenue.
The country is eager to lead the technology charge in the Middle East, and these developments will massively improve the local infrastructure.
Read on as we analyse three game-changing initiatives shaping the Kuwait’s digital future.
Open RAN and the Future of Kuwait’s 5G Infrastructure
Zain Kuwait and Rakuten Symphony have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the first Kuwaiti cloud-native Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN).
This project marks the beginning of a revamp in Kuwait’s telecommunication infrastructure.
As they deploy Open RAN, Zain will use a suite of virtualised Distributed Unit and Centralised Unit software provided by Rakuten Symphony to build 5G Standalone (SA) sites across Kuwait.
Open RAN does not have the limitations of traditional networks. They allow operators to mix and match different vendors. It also aids flexibility and lowers costs.
The first rollout will precede deployment across the Gulf nation. Zain Group plans to further the project into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The company wants to leverage a cloud-native environment to reduce time-to-market for network services. It also boosts scalability and operational efficiency. This means faster mobile data speed, stronger connections and access to 5G capabilities for customers.
Zain Kuwait’s Daaij Al-Oud also believes it will play an active role in the country’s digital future. Kuwait is one of the early adopters of this network trend.
The technology will be pivotal as Kuwait marches toward digital sovereignty and smarter cities.
WAMD and the Real-Time Payment Revolution
WAMD, a Kuwaiti real-time payment solution, has become one of the fastest-growing instant payment systems in just over a year.
It is the product of a collaboration between KNET and global payments giant ACI Worldwide. The project is the new benchmark for digital finance outfits.
Leveraging ACI’s Digital Central Infrastructure, WAMD allows instant account-to-account (A2A) transfers with just a mobile number. It also removes the friction that occurs during interbank transfers.
Since launching operations in June 2024, over one million users have signed up. Banks from across the country are also willing participants.
The transfers have changed customer behaviours, reduced cash dependency, and made the user experience more seamless on mobile and online banking platforms.
Kuwait could use this payment system to support a regulated iGaming industry. While the country prohibits gambling, online casinos in Kuwait operated by international firms are thriving.
The Gulf nation must consider legalising this highly lucrative sector in its bid to diversify the economy. It can enforce the use of WAMD to support financial transactions.
WAMD can also help integration with financial technology providers and small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) via QR codes and Request to Pay features.
According to research by ACI, real-time payments are macroeconomic drivers.
They predict that these solutions can contribute around $285.8 billion to global gross domestic product (GDP) and provide financial services to millions of unbanked users.
For Kuwait, WAMD is shaping up to be a key tenet of a more inclusive, innovative and digitally mature financial ecosystem.
AI, Media Reform and the Rise of Digital Influence
During the Media Forum 2025 at the Arab Media Summit, regional leaders were effusively calling for media reforms via artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation and collaborative innovation.
His Excellency Abdulrahman Al Mutairie, Minister of Information and Culture in Kuwait, noted the importance of speed, credibility, and transparency to the media.
Over 70 percent of Kuwaitis consume their news on social media, meaning traditional media outlets face a fight to remain relevant in this age of fast-paced, decentralised information.
Al Mutairie pointed to Platform 51, a Kuwaiti digital media initiative, as an example of how the country is adapting. The project has equipped Kuwait with practical experience in new media tech and content formats.
At the forum, leaders of the Arab world were on the same wavelength. They all reiterated how AI can transform the media scene with some interesting propositions.
Bahrain’s Minister of Information shared an interesting three-pillar model – strategic, functional and legislative – that embeds AI into mainstream media systems.
Meanwhile, representatives of Egypt and Lebanon were more interested in pan-Arab cooperation and unified storytelling.
Kuwait understands the implications of AI in media. It will improve audience targeting, automate workflows and enhance content personalisation.
However, it also requires media literacy, ethical frameworks and investment in talent to thrive.
If Kuwait can execute well, the Middle Eastern nation can blaze the trail for innovation, influence and cultural preservation in the digital age.
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