
NBK concludes full stack developer program in collaboration with CODED
KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has concluded the Full Stack Developer Bootcamp—an intensive 14-week training initiative held at the Bank's headquarters in collaboration with CODED Academy. The program aims to strengthen the technical capabilities of young professionals in the banking sector, equipping them with advanced skills in programming and technology to support the industry's digital transformation.
The closing ceremony of the program was attended by members of NBK's executive management led by Shaikha Al-Bahar, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer at NBK, Mohammad Al-Kharafi, Group Chief Operating Officer at NBK, and Emad Al-Ablani, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at NBK, alongside senior leaders from both the Bank and CODED Academy. During the event, certificates were awarded to the 19 trainees who successfully completed the program. Graduates presented their final projects, showcasing the technical skills and practical knowledge they gained throughout the training program, which drew highly favorable reactions from the audience.
The program was designed to equip trainees with professional competencies in software development, introducing them to advanced and comprehensive programming techniques and their practical applications in the workplace. It was structured in two phases: the first—a two-week selection and foundational stage—aimed to assess participants' technical readiness and commitment to the program's rigorous standards. The second phase, spanning 12 weeks, provided an immersive experience in advanced programming languages and integrated development techniques, enabling trainees to apply their skills in real-world scenarios.
Commenting on the program, Emad Al-Ablani, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at NBK, stated: 'NBK's organization of this distinguished program in collaboration with CODED Academy reflects our ongoing commitment to empowering Kuwaiti youth. We remain dedicated to launching innovative training initiatives, educational programs, and targeted workshops that foster creativity, drive innovation, and prepare young talent to navigate today's competitive job market with confidence.' He further noted that NBK offers full-time employment opportunities to top-performing graduates of the program.
Al-Ablani emphasized that, in line with NBK's pioneering role in driving digital transformation and its firm belief in the importance of empowering national talent, the Bank remains deeply committed to supporting Kuwait's strategic technological agenda. He noted that NBK continuously works to enhance the digital capabilities of Kuwaiti professionals by equipping them with the technical skills necessary to contribute effectively to the nation's economic development, address future challenges, and stay abreast of rapid technological advancements—across all sectors in general, and the banking industry in particular.
He emphasized that NBK remains committed to leaving a lasting social impact by supporting a wide range of programs and initiatives focused on developing highly skilled national talent. He added that Kuwaiti youth possess immense potential and capabilities that, with the right guidance and nurturing, can be effectively harnessed to advance the nation's sustainable development goals. NBK plays a pivotal role in shaping the development journey of the current generation of Kuwaiti youth, placing strong emphasis on programs and initiatives designed to equip young individuals with the knowledge and skills essential to their personal growth and the long-term prosperity of Kuwaiti society as a whole.
Furthermore, NBK remains firmly committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancement, continuously embracing innovation to pave the way for a successful digital future. The Bank consistently rolls out targeted training programs and initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and building specialized skill sets, including programming languages, coding, data analysis, and other key competencies essential to the evolving digital landscape.
Al-Ablani: We are committed to launching innovative training initiatives that foster creativity and empower Kuwaiti youth
Our goal is to equip a new generation with the skills needed to drive technological progress and actively contribute to the growth of the national economy
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Kuwait Times
6 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Gold prices surge amid economic, political tensions
KUWAIT: Women visit a stand during the 23rd international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in this file photo. - Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat KUWAIT: Global gold prices witnessed a sharp increase at the close of the first week of July, reaching $3,337 per ounce, as investors turned to the precious metal as a safe haven amid mounting economic and geopolitical uncertainties. In a report issued Sunday, Kuwait's Dar Al-Sabayek Company attributed the surge to a range of interrelated factors, foremost among them growing concerns over the widening fiscal deficit in the United States. The company noted that fears escalated after the US House of Representatives approved a tax cut and spending expansion package proposed by former President Donald Trump's administration. According to the report, projections by the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation estimate that the package will increase US public debt by more than $3.4 trillion over the next decade. The resulting pressure on the US dollar prompted many investors to boost their gold holdings to hedge against market instability and the weakening purchasing power of the currency. The report also highlighted the intensification of trade tensions following the US President's announcement of new tariffs on several countries, potentially reaching up to 70 percent. These tariffs, expected to take effect in early August, have sparked fears of retaliatory measures by nearly 100 countries should trade agreements fail to materialize by July 9, as warned by the US Treasury Secretary. These developments have contributed to a retreat in the US dollar index, which fell to 97 points against major currencies, further strengthening gold's appeal. The report pointed out that the holiday-induced liquidity decline in US markets, particularly around the Independence Day holiday, helped reduce selling pressure in the final trading sessions of the week. Despite the upward momentum, gold's gains were partially curbed by positive US labor market data. Official figures showed that 147,000 jobs were added in June and the unemployment rate dipped to 4.1 percent. This data has dampened expectations of an imminent interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. Moreover, the rise in yields on 10-year US Treasury bonds to 4.338 percent exerted additional pressure on gold prices. Dar Al-Sabayek stated that gold continues to respond to shifts in both economic indicators and political developments, even with US markets closed. Investor sentiment remains cautious as markets await key monetary policy signals from global central banks, including the release of the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting minutes and weekly unemployment claims data. Locally, the report noted that gold prices mirrored global trends in the Kuwaiti market. The price of 24-karat gold reached KD 32.89 per gram (approximately $107), while 22-karat gold was priced at KD 30.15 per gram (about $98). The price of silver remained stable at KD 407 per kilogram (roughly $1,329). Gold is traditionally measured in troy ounces, with one troy ounce equivalent to approximately 31.103 grams, the standard unit for weighing precious metals. — KUNA

Kuwait Times
6 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
EU GDPR should merely be a guiding framework for Kuwaiti legal system
By Noura Almutairi Since May 25, 2018, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been applied across all EU member states, establishing a global benchmark. Several countries, including South Korea, Brazil, Japan, Kenya, Egypt, Indonesia and the US State of California, have enacted data privacy laws aligned with the GDPR. Unlike the EU Data Protection Directive (DPD), the GDPR aims to enhance control over personal information to safeguard fundamental rights, especially the individual's right to data protection. The right to protect personal information is distinct from the right to privacy under the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR). The values underlying the regulation and protection of the former right are transparency, autonomy, fairness, dignity and non-discrimination. These are different from the values of reputation and honor, which underpin the individual's right to privacy in Kuwaiti society. Nonetheless, this article urges Kuwaiti lawmakers to be guided by the GDPR, as the individual's right to privacy is one of the values underpinning the protection of their personal information under the GDPR. Some of an individual's personal information, as defined under Article 4 of the GDPR, is linked to their right to privacy, for example, their photo. In addition, most of the individual's sensitive or private information, as outlined in Article 9 of the GDPR, is linked to the individual's right to privacy or a private life under the Kuwaiti legal system. Examples of such information include genetic data and health data. Even the process of collecting an individual's non-sensitive or private information can be used to reveal hidden private data about them. To illustrate how this point is relevant to the GDPR, it applies to private companies (as data controllers) that monitor individuals' online behavior and activities through their online identifiers or observed data, such as IP addresses, cookies and location data. A massive amount of 'dynamic personal information' is collected through such observed data and can then be analyzed predictively or using AI, which may infer private information about the Internet. As such, the GDPR protects the individual's right to privacy. However, this article suggests that Kuwaiti decision-makers should be guided by the GDPR, rather than merely copying it, when drafting a comprehensive Data Privacy Law. The GDPR has legal loopholes and vague provisions, and it does not entirely suit Kuwait for the following reasons, as explained. Firstly, the meaning of 'personal information', which determines the material scope of the Data Privacy Law, should be interpreted broadly to cover an exponentially growing range of situations. This article finds that identifiability is the core element required to consider data or information as personal information under the definition of personal information under Article 4 of the GDPR. Therefore, the GDPR does not cover anonymous information within its scope; however, the re-identification of an individual's data may still occur. Re-identification of an individual's data can be easily achieved, for example, through the Internet of Things (IoT), such as wearable devices like a Fitbit or an Apple Watch; the combined data, including location information, can distinguish one person from millions of others. Therefore, this article recommends that when Kuwaiti decision-makers draft an information Data Privacy Law, they should broaden the definition of personal data to include not only identifiability but also the ability to single out an individual from a crowd, regardless of whether their identity can be confirmed. Although Recital 26 of the GDPR explicitly mentions 'single out,' there is no clear indication of whether singling out an individual without identifying them is covered under the GDPR's scope. The GDPR also does not clarify whether inferred data falls within the scope of personal information, and the European Court of Justice's approach is inconsistent. To emphasize this point, the judgment in the case YS, M and S v Minister voor Immigratie, Integratie en Asiel clearly excludes inference data from the safeguards of Data Protection Law, while a later judgement of the case Peter Nowak v Data Protection Commissioner in 2017 attributes the status of 'personal data' to inferences. However, in the former case, the Court was clear that GDPR does not grant all rights for inference data. As such, this article recommends including inferred data within the protection or material scope, since these types of data contain hidden private information. Secondly, Article 8 (1) of the GDPR states that the processing of minors' data (those under the age of 16, or if the law of the Union Member State sets a lower age, but not younger than 13) must be authorized by the holder of parental responsibility. This article argues that the decision maker in Kuwait, instead of ignoring this requirement, should consider the following questions before implementing the parental consent requirement under Article 8 (1): Whether the age setting under Article 8(1) accurately reflects the concept of childhood, culture, social heritage, and the Kuwaiti legal system; Should the requirement for parental consent apply to all online service providers, or should online services that are offered directly to children be excluded? If so, what are the indicators that an online service is offered directly to children? How can it be ensured that parents give verification in cases where a parent is no longer responsible for their child, or when parents are deceased? Thirdly, the digital privacy rights are the legal mechanisms that put an individual in a position of control over their personal information, thereby safeguarding the individual's right to privacy. However, not all the rights that regulate users under the GDPR are necessary to put Internet users in control of their data, to safeguard their right to privacy from the challenges posed in the digital age. To illustrate this point, the right to data portability, as outlined in Article 20 of the GDPR, empowers individuals to take control of their data by allowing them to retrieve it from one service and transfer it to another. Although it offers individual control, it is not rooted in the right to privacy; rather, it stems from competition laws. The right to data portability aims to foster competition among private companies, serving a primarily economic purpose to enhance the market, which is one of the main objectives of the GDPR. Therefore, this article does not recommend that Kuwaiti lawmakers recognize data portability as a new right within a Data Privacy Law, as it is not directly related to the right to privacy. Also, some rights under the GDPR are redundant, as they can be exercised through other rights. For instance, the right to restriction of processing under Article 18 of the GDPR is an alternative or optional right that an individual can exercise in place of other rights in some legal cases. As an alternative right, whether this right is regulated or guaranteed is less critical, since another right takes its place. To emphasize this point, if an individual's consent is not valid, instead of requesting erasure, they may request a restriction on processing. As such, this article emphasizes that there is no need to set the right to restriction of processing, except in cases where the individual requires that right for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims against a company for breach of their right to privacy by misuse of their private data, in which case the plaintiff can request restriction of processing through an immediate injunction under the KCC. NOTE: Noura Almutairi is an Assistant Professor at Kuwait University School of Law, Private Law Department, with research interests in the right to privacy, AI, the tort liability of tech companies and IP law.


Arab Times
17 hours ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait, UK seek to deepen trade and investment relations
KUWAIT CITY, July 7: Kuwait's Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs, Noura Al-Fassam, met on Sunday with the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, David Lammy, to discuss ways of increasing bilateral trade and advancing investment cooperation between the two nations. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, the meeting reviewed the outcomes of the recent historic visits of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, to the United Kingdom. Both sides affirmed their commitment to further developing the strategic investment partnership between Kuwait and the UK. As the current president of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Kuwait emphasized its intention to accelerate negotiations on a free trade agreement between the GCC and the UK. Minister Al-Fassam conveyed this position during her discussions with the British official. Also present at the meeting was Sheikh Saud Salem Abdulaziz Al-Sabah, Managing Director of the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), who reiterated the Authority's interest in reinforcing investment relations with the UK. He highlighted the Kuwait Investment Office (KIO) in London, established over 70 years ago, as a key player in managing Kuwaiti assets across various sectors, laying a solid foundation for further expansion. Minister Lammy expressed the UK's readiness to support Kuwait's development goals and contribute to major infrastructure and economic projects through British investment. The talks were also attended by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance Aseel Al-Mneify, Kuwait's Ambassador to the UK Bader Al-Munayekh, and the UK's Ambassador to Kuwait Belinda Lewis.