AI Everything
In line with the UAE AI Strategy 2031, Ai Everything, AiE, will envision how the UAE has emerged as a global testbed for AI innovation and look at ways to create new vital markets that unlock high economic value for a sector that is expected to contribute US$320 billion to the Middle East economy by 2030.
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Zawya
8 minutes ago
- Zawya
Burgan Bank participates in IDC Kuwait CIO Summit 2025
Kuwait: Burgan Bank recently participated in the IDC Kuwait CIO Summit 2025, held under the theme 'Architecting an AI-Fueled Business' at Courtyard by Marriott Kuwait City, where it joined more than 150 industry leaders from public and private sectors to engage in vital industry conversations on the latest market-shaping technologies. Mr. Barrak Al-Mattar, General Manager – Information Technology, contributing to the summit's agenda and priorities. The Bank's participation aligns with its forward-looking digital transformation strategy, comprehensive social responsibility program, and committed adherence to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) best practices. 'It's an honor to represent Burgan Bank at an event as influential as the IDC Kuwait CIO Summit, which serves as a key enabler for driving forward momentum in our technologically fast-moving industry, while discussing the best localized courses of action that serve Kuwait's digital transformation, in line with the nationwide strategy and New Kuwait Vision 2035,' said Mr. Al-Mattar. He added that Burgan Bank's commitment to digitally transforming the banking experience it offers customers centers not only on convenience and speed but also on inclusivity and accessibility, noting that digital banking continues to be a primary pillar supporting the growth of entrepreneurship and SME growth in Kuwait. Other facets of the digital revolution in banking extend to vital considerations such as sustainability, which digitalization supports through reducing the carbon footprint, responsibly and consciously disposing of electronic waste, among other positive influences. In addition, Burgan Bank continues to utilize the latest technologies to fortify its cybersecurity systems, with the support of advanced AI capabilities, while operating within the responsible parameters of governance. This commitment is further reinforced through adherence to ISO standards and full compliance with the Central Bank of Kuwait's (CBK) regulations, underscoring the Bank's dedication to security, integrity and regulatory alignment. The 2025 edition of the summit centered on the key themes including the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), digital business strategies, digital economy trends, data platforms for the intelligent enterprise, data-driven customer experience (CX) transformation, the future of work, digital trust and security, Industry 4.0, sustainability, software innovation and modern app development, and the future of digital infrastructure. It is worth noting that Mr. Al-Mattar was awarded the 'Legend CIO' award in the '20+ years' experience in the field' category, as part of the World CIO 200 Summit's recognition of the most influential IT leaders in their respective industries worldwide in 2024. The Bank's unwavering commitment to leading with innovation and deploying digital transformation as one of its strategic pillars of success continues to cement its philosophy to be 'Driven by You' and vision to be the most modern and progressive bank in Kuwait. About Burgan Bank Established in 1977, Burgan Bank is a Kuwait-based conventional bank with a significant focus on the corporate and financial institution sectors. From its earliest days, the Bank has significantly sought to diversify its offering to cater to its growing retail and private banking customer base. Burgan Bank has majority-owned subsidiaries, collectively known as the 'Burgan Bank Group', in the MENAT region. This Group is supported by one of the largest branch networks across the region and includes: Gulf Bank Algeria – AGB (Algeria), Tunis International Bank – TIB (Tunisia), and Burgan Bank Turkey. Furthermore, Burgan Bank has a presence in the UAE through its corporate office, Burgan Financial Services Limited. The Bank has continuously improved its performance over the years, through an expanded revenue structure, diversified funding sources, and a strong capital base. The adoption of state-of-the-art services and technology has positioned it as a trendsetter in the domestic market and within the MENA region. Moreover, Burgan Bank's brand has been built on a foundation of real values – trust, commitment, excellence, and progression – which serve as a reminder of the high standards to which the Bank always aspires. In fact, the Bank's core philosophy of 'Driven by You' is the foundation on which its products and services are continuously developed. Burgan Bank has achieved the LEED v4.1 O+M: EB Gold Certification for its Head Office in Kuwait City. The Bank has also obtained the ISO/IEC 27001: 2022 Information Security Management Systems certificate (ISMS), ISO /IEC 27701:2019 Privacy Information Management Systems (PIMS), ISO/IEC 20000-1: 2018 Information Technology Service Management System (ITSMS) and was re-certified with the prestigious ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS), making it one of the few banks in the GCC and Kuwait to receive such certification for five consecutive times. At the same time, the Bank has the distinction of being the only Bank in Kuwait to have won the JP Morgan Chase Quality Recognition Award for twenty consecutive years. Moreover, in a testament to its dedication to the development of its human capital, Burgan Bank is the first bank in Kuwait to be certified as a Great Place to Work®, earning the distinct honor in 2023. Burgan Bank is a majority-owned subsidiary of KIPCO (Kuwait Projects Company), one of the largest holding companies in the MENA region.
Khaleej Times
17 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
American Safety and Health Institute approves Health Tech Training as pioneer centre
Health Tech Training Center LLC (HTTC), a leading medical and non-medical training hub and a subsidiary of Response Plus Holding, the largest pre-hospital care and emergency medical services provider in the region, has been approved as a pioneer training centre by the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI). With this first-of-its-kind endorsement by ASHI, HTTC is now authorized to conduct inspection and quality programmes of other centres providing essential emergency training courses. HTTC delivers a wide array of first-aid courses, including BLS, ACLS, PALS, Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) and the All-Hazards Disaster Response (AHDR) courses. Commenting the achievement, Dr Rohil Raghavan, Chief Executive Officer of Response Plus Holding PJSC, said: 'Over the past decade, HTTC has maintained a steady growth with its tailored medical and non-medical training courses. This endorsement by ASHI will go a long way in shaping HTTC's expansion in the region and beyond, further bringing to life the centre's vision to provide globally-accredited training modules to healthcare providers, educators, and corporate teams.' Founded in July 2014, Health Tech Training Center is accredited by leading entities. All HTTC courses follow a hands-on approach, encouraging learners to practice and demonstrate essential skills and knowledge crucial for saving lives. As for the instructors, they hold certifications from accredited bodies and utilize educational tools and realistic scenario-based teaching methods for optimized training results and impact. The American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) is a reputable and well-established organization that specializes in providing training and certification programs for individuals in the fields of safety, health, and emergency response.
Khaleej Times
17 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE banks spur GCC profit surge with $639.6m Q1 growth
The UAE banking sector has emerged as a standout performer in the GCC in the first quarter of 2025, posting the largest absolute growth in net profits at $639.6 million, an 11.8 per cent increase year-on-year, according to data provided by Kamco Invest. This robust performance contributed to the GCC banking sector's record-high net profits of $15.6 billion, reflecting a 7.1 per cent quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) and 8.6 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) growth. Despite a decline in net interest income, UAE banks leveraged higher non-interest income, lower operating expenses, and a sharp seasonal drop in impairments to drive this growth, underscoring the sector's resilience amid evolving economic conditions, analysts at Kamco Invest said. The UAE's banking sector benefited from a dynamic economic backdrop, with outstanding credit facilities surging 24.1 per cent y-o-y in February 2025, outpacing Saudi Arabia's 16.3 per cent growth, as per central bank data. This lending boom, driven by a strong project pipeline and resilient non-oil sector growth, saw net loans in the GCC rise 4.1 per cent q-o-q to $2.2 trillion, the highest in 15 months. Financial sector experts said amid tighter liquidity and shifting deposit trends faced by the GCC banking sector, UAE banks are well-positioned to capitalise on regional opportunities, particularly in project finance and real estate. With a strong economic foundation and strategic lending, the UAE continues to set the pace for banking excellence in the region, driving sustainable growth in 2025, they pointed out. UAE-listed banks contributed $20.1 billion to this growth, a 3.2 per cent q-o-q increase, reflecting robust demand across sectors like real estate, construction, and services. However, aggregate contract awards in the GCC dipped 26.8 per cent y-o-y to $52.4 billion, though the UAE and Kuwait bucked the trend with healthy growth. Despite a 1.7 per cent q-o-q decline in GCC net interest income to $22.8 billion, driven by rate cuts in the second half of 2024, UAE banks mitigated the impact through diversified revenue streams. The aggregate yield on credit in the GCC fell to 4.16 per cent from 4.21 per cent in Q4-2024, reflecting lower interest rates. UAE banks, however, maintained revenue growth of 0.6 per cent q-o-q, reaching a share of the GCC's record $34.6 billion in banking revenues. Non-interest income, including fees from advisory services and wealth management, played a pivotal role in offsetting the decline in interest-based earnings. Customer deposits in the UAE surged to $903.8 billion, a 6.7 per cent q-o-q increase, outpacing the GCC's 5.1 per cent growth to $2.65 trillion. This deposit growth, driven by financial market volatility, bolstered liquidity but led to a decline in the loan-to-deposit ratio to 67.3 per cent ---- the lowest in the GCC --- down 220 basis points from Q4-2024. This shift reflects improved asset utilisation and a strategic pivot towards high-yield lending, with UAE banks increasingly financing projects in Saudi Arabia to support yields, according to Bloomberg. The UAE's economic vitality is evident in its manufacturing activity, with a PMI of 54.0 points in March 2025, slightly below Saudi Arabia's 58.1 but ahead of Qatar's 52.0 and Kuwait's 52.3, per Bloomberg's Markit Whole Economy Surveys. Dubai's PMI stood at 53.2, signaling steady growth driven by new orders and output. This aligns with the UAE's non-oil sector expansion, which supports lending growth in sectors like real estate (up 2.5 per cent q-o-q in Kuwait, a comparable market) and construction. While Saudi banks led in lending growth with a 5.5 per cent q-o-q increase to $801.5 billion, the UAE's strategic focus on diversification and high-yield opportunities positions it as a regional leader. Challenges remain, including pressure on funding costs, with GCC banking sector costs at 3.83 per cent in Q1-2025, and a decline in low-cost CASA deposits to 52 per cent from 54 per cent in Q4-2024. However, the UAE's ability to navigate these pressures through operational efficiency and non-interest income growth highlights its adaptability.
