ZainTECH highlights its role in shaping AI and regional digital economy at IDCF 2026 in Kuwait. * As strategic partner to the DCO-hosted 2nd International Digital Cooperation Forum (IDCF) * Forum highlights Kuwait's prominence on the global digital map as leaders from 60 countries convene * DCO General Assembly adopt the Kuwait Declaration on Responsible AI for Global Digital Prosperity Kuwait City, February 4, 2026 As strategic partner to the second edition of the International Digital Cooperation Forum (IDCF) 2026, held 4 and 5 February 2026 at the Jumeirah Messilah Hotel, Kuwait City, ZainTECH is supporting the Forum's momentum on responsible artificial intelligence, digital investment, and cross-border cooperation, as key players from across the digital ecosystem convene under the theme "Inclusive prosperity in the age of AI." Hosted by the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), the two-day IDCF Forum brings together senior policymakers, ministers, business leaders, and international organizations from 60 countries to move beyond dialogue and align policy, investment, and innovation around the opportunities and risks of AI-driven digital transformation. It was attended by Dr. Hajar El-Haddaoui, Director General of the IDCF. IDCF 2026 is being held on the sidelines of the 5th DCO General Assembly, during which Member States adopted the Kuwait Declaration on Responsible AI for Global Digital Prosperity, setting a shared political direction for the ethical, inclusive, and human-centric development and deployment of artificial intelligence. Andrew Hanna, CEO of ZainTECH, said: "IDCF 2026 highlighted the critical role of collaboration between governments, industry leaders and the private sector in advancing responsible AI at scale. We fully support DCO's efforts to translate shared priorities into practical solutions that strengthen digital infrastructure, skills, and innovation." Hanna added: "AI is already transforming economies and institutions. But its real value lies not in speed or scale, it lies in trust. ZainTECH is shaping the future of AI and the regional digital economy by focusing on building digital ecosystems that are inclusive, secure, and built to last through a simple operating model that is Digital, Intelligent and Resilient." On the sidelines of the Forum, ZainTECH hosted a dedicated booth, welcoming delegates, partners, and innovators to explore its integrated digital solutions portfolio and engage directly with its experts. The booth served as an interactive touchpoint to showcase how ZainTECH enables organizations to translate AI ambition into trusted execution, through practical use cases and solution pathways spanning data and AI, cybersecurity, cloud, and end-to-end digital transformation, aligned with its Digital, Intelligent and Resilient operating model. Across plenary discussions, ministerial engagements, and curated side events, conversations underscored that AI-enabled growth will deliver broad-based prosperity only when anchored in responsible governance, trusted digital foundations, skills development, and sustained international cooperation.

ZainTECH collaborates with KKU and MCIT on drone technology course for Saudi students. ZainTECH, a digital solutions provider under Zain Group, has partnered with King Khalid University (KKU) and the Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) to introduce a specialized course on drone technology. The initiative is part of KKU's "Explore Innovate Disrupt" Tech Camp. The course, titled "Drones & Robotics for Tomorrow's Leaders," was designed to teach university students about the basics of drone technology, its practical applications, use case development, and included hands-on demonstrations. The program aims to encourage innovation and provide students with skills relevant to emerging technologies in Saudi Arabia. Andrew Hanna, CEO of ZainTECH, stated: "This collaboration with King Khalid University and MCIT reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing the Kingdom's digital future. This program is about more than just learning how drones work, it's about helping students understand the transformative potential of emerging technologies in shaping future industries, communities, and careers. As part of our long-term engagement in Saudi Arabia, we're contributing to Vision 2030 by equipping young talent with critical skills and supporting national efforts to build a knowledge-driven economy." The five-day course took place at KKU's Abha campus in late July. Experts from ZainTECH's Drones and Robotics unit led sessions that combined theoretical content with interactive demonstrations tailored for students specializing in computer science or related disciplines. Dr. Areej Al-Asiry, Dean of the College of Computer Science at King Khalid University, said: "We are delighted to partner with ZainTECH and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) to bring this valuable learning experience to our students. This partnership reflects the university's commitment to being a national leader in digital transformation and its ongoing efforts to align academic programs with the Kingdom's strategic vision. By bridging the gap between academia and industry, we aim not only to equip our students with practical tools and insights but also to contribute to building a knowledge-based, tech-driven economy." The initiative supports Saudi Arabia's broader goals for digital transformation as outlined in Vision 2030 by fostering collaboration among educational institutions, government bodies, and industry partners. Related organizations: Join the forum discussion: Alpha Dhabi Holding PJSC has acquired 82.5 million shares in NMDC Group from AD Ports Group, a deal valued at AED 1.6 billion. ADNOC has announced it will extend its multi-year partnership with Ethara to sponsor the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Dubai Humanitarian, in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD), will host the Second Conference of Countries Hosting the World's...

Zain Group data award puts Bahrain on the map for hybrid AI infrastructure. Zain Group's Data Office, working with ZainTECH,has been awarded the Hybrid & Infrastructure Modernization Award at Cloudera's EVOLVE25 Data Impact Awards in Dubai. The recognition highlights how the group has built a modern hybrid data environment that connects on premise and cloud systems so data can move quickly and securely across its seven operating companies. According to Zain's own announcement, the new stack gives teams a unified and secure way to work with data across markets, while keeping costs under control and improving access for analytics and AI use cases. Key benefits include stronger data governance, better performance, and faster routes from raw data to insight. "This award reflects Zain Group's ongoing journey toward digital and data excellence," said Mohammed Al Murshed, Chief Technology Officer of Zain Group, noting that enterprise data is now one of the most valuable assets inside any organisation. He described the modernised hybrid infrastructure with Cloudera and ZainTECH as a stronger foundation for innovation, security, and growth. Cloudera's Chief Technology Officer, Sergio Gago Huerta, framed the win as proof that Zain is using data in a meaningful way in an era where AI powered insight must be secure, responsible, and real time. The award itself sits within Cloudera's long running Data Impact Awards, which celebrate organisations that drive measurable change through data across sectors from finance to telecom. For Bahrain, where Zain Bahrain is a key operator in the Kingdom's telecom market, the move aligns with a wider national push to treat data infrastructure as a growth engine rather than just a back office asset. The government's National Digital Economy Strategy sets out a roadmap to position Bahrain as a competitive global digital hub, with investments in cloud, connectivity, and talent to back this ambition. Those infrastructure ambitions are visible in recent projects supported by the Bahrain Economic Development Board, such as the USD 320 million 2Africa Pearls submarine cable and Bahrain Data Center Park, which aim to boost capacity and resilience for data heavy services. For founders, that means lower latency, better regional reach, and more options for hosting sensitive workloads inside the Kingdom. On the human capital side, Bahrain is also investing in AI and data skills. National initiatives with the Labour Fund Tamkeen, highlighted on the government's "Building skills in AI and STEM" portal, support specialised AI and data science training with partners like General Assembly, Localized, and Reboot01, giving Bahrainis access to software engineering, data analytics, and cloud engineering paths. Put together, Zain Group's regional data award and Bahrain's own push on digital infrastructure and skills send a clear signal. For local founders and tech teams, now is the moment to stress test data architectures, plug into Tamkeen backed training, and look for partnerships with operators and cloud providers so their products can sit comfortably on top of the same kind of hybrid, AI ready foundations that global players are starting to build across the region.