KUWAIT: Kuwait’s media professionals gathered once again under the banner of Kilmitain, powered by Khaleejesque. Now in its sixth year, the event brought content creators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders on Thursday to discuss the challenges shaping local media and explore how creativity can drive its future. During a panel at the event titled “Investing in Local Production,” Abdullah Boftain, Managing Partner of Kuwait News and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait Times, shared his journey, along with a team of creatives, of transforming the paper from a fading legacy, the Gulf’s first English-language newspaper since 1961, into a lively platform across print and digital media that attracts young readers, nurtures talent, and maintains a presence at every youth-focused event and initiative.
“The challenge was how to breathe life back into this desolate place,” Boftain said. “The revival began by creating a healthy, inspiring work environment, from redesigning the newsroom to hiring young, fresh-minded journalists. Together, these crea tives worked through all the challenges and limited resources to produce content that resonated with readers. Over time, it became clear to Boftain that: “Creatives are the ones who make the money, not the money that creates us.’”
Still, money remained an unavoidable challenge. When he first took over the newspaper, Boftain was struck by the “accumulation of losses.” In an era where advertising is the main source of revenue, his priority was preserving the newspaper’s value. “The real test,” he said, “was finding the right balance, delivering informative, engaging content that readers care about, while making room for the ads that keep the paper running.” Behind inspiring success stories like Kuwait Times are partners such as Gulf Bank, which participated in the same panel. “We believe in the power of creativity of the Kuwaiti youth, where their ideas have no limits,” said Najla Aleisa, Chief Marketing Officer at Gulf Bank.
Abdullah Boftain
Ali Khajah, the moderator of the panel discussion, addressing questions to Shaikha Al-Sabah, CEO of the National Creative Industries Group.- Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat
Dalal Alessa pitching her project idea collekt co during the event.
Najla Aleisa during her segment on the panel.
Audience engaging with speakers during the event.
The panel talks about ‘Investing in Local Production’ during the Kilimtain event.
Alongside supporting businesses financially like Kuwait Times and other local initiatives through collaborations, Aleisa shared one of the bank’s own success stories, the launch of the Gulf Bank 642 Marathon, the largest and first marathon held in the heart of Kuwait City. “The idea began 11 years ago with two passionate individuals who pitched it to the bank, driven by their determination and willingness to make the event happen and grow,” she said. Aleisa highlighted that the bank’s approach reflects its openness to fresh ideas and new collaborations, as long as people come prepared and show genuine commitment, what she described as having “done their homework.”
Shaikha Al-Sabah, CEO of the National Creative Industries Group, said that the biggest challenge for Kuwait’s creative sector is not funding or producing content, but sustaining talent. “There are many creatives in Kuwait, but for some reason, they never last,” she explained. Directors may make a film or two and then shift to production, leaving gaps in creative development. She also pointed out the challenges in local television, including dialect differences that affect audience engagement, and stressed that as production institutions, there is a need for long-term vision. Investors in Kuwait, she noted, often remain hesitant to back the entertainment sector, which further complicates growth in the industry.
As part of Kilmitain’s intensive four-day blueprint for building, sustaining, and pitching a creative business, Dalal Alessa, an engineer, took the stage to present her project, Collekt Co, a platform that curates art for spaces while connecting artists across Kuwait and the GCC. Reflecting on the bootcamp experience, Alessa said: “It was an incredible experience. We learned how to transform raw concepts into meaningful projects and practiced presenting our work in ways that resonate with people.” The program, she added, offered more than training, it opened doors for networking and future partnerships. “Many participants reached out seeking collaboration. I hope to work with even more people to bring both this forum, and Collekt Co, to life.
The event also featured talks by Faisal Al-Agel, Kuwaiti media entrepreneur, co-founder of Sard and host of Bidon Waraq, who explored the opportunities and challenges of building a media company; and Farah Najeeb Al-Humaidhi, interior designer and entrepreneur, who discussed designing, building, and scaling creative businesses. The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) also hosted a session announcing its upcoming projects. At its core, Kilmitain empowers creative entrepreneurs in the Arab Gulf by fostering connection, learning, and access to resources to build thriving ventures and drive innovation.
