KUWAIT: Minister of State for Communication Affairs Omar Al-Omar said on Thursday that Kuwait Oil Company’s (KOC) new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center is the first concrete result of Kuwait’s strategic partnership with Microsoft.
At the opening in KOC’s Ahmadi headquarters—attended by Minister of Oil Tareq Al-Roumi, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sheikh Nawaf Saud Al-Sabah, and Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) Director General Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al-Sabah—Al-Omar said in a statement that the facility would weave advanced AI tools into KOC’s daily technical work, saving time, effort and money. Officials hope to replicate this model across other sectors, he added.
President of Microsoft for Middle East and Africa (MEA) Naim Yazbeck
Meanwhile, President of Microsoft for Middle East and Africa (MEA) Naim Yazbeck called the launch a historic turning point in Kuwait’s drive toward a knowledge-based economy.nHe said Microsoft recently expanded its Kuwait presence because it trusts the country’s potential and is committed to supporting a full digital transformation.
The partnership, he noted, focuses on training Kuwaiti talent, developing tailored AI solutions and using data analytics to sharpen real-time decisions that improve production and transport networks, with KDIPA’s support. Yazbeck underlined that the center is more than a training lab; it is an integrated platform for future innovation, operational excellence and sustainability, designed to equip young Kuwaiti professionals with cutting-edge skills.Engineers demonstrated the first major project – an AI system that schedules drilling rigs in real time, instantly analyzes operational data and offers predictive recommendations.
Executives say the tool will cut costs, boost productivity and advance the country’s New Kuwait 2035 vision. Overall, the center aims to accelerate AI adoption across KOC, reduce operating costs, improve decision-making and keep Kuwait’s energy sector aligned with global technological trends. — KUNA
