For the second consecutive year, Kuwait Finance House (KFH) is continuing its partnership for the largest cybersecurity hackathon in Kuwait. In collaboration with CODED Academy Kuwait and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the competition is held under the patronage of His Excellency, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah.

KFH organized a meeting attended by KFH Deputy General manager Public Relations and Media, Yousef Abdullah Al-Ruwaieh, NCSC Vice President for Governance and Risk Management, Taiba Al-Qabandi, and CODED Academy CEO, Ahmad Marafi.

KFH Deputy General Manager Public Relations and Media, Yousef Abdullah Al-Ruwaieh, affirmed KFH’s keenness to empower the youth and develop their talents and enhance their knowledge while adding value to society.  He also stressed its commitment towards youth-focused initiatives as part of its social responsibility, particularly those initiatives centered on technology and software development aiming at enhancing their digital capabilities.

Al-Ruwaieh pointed out that Kuwait Hackathon competition plays a crucial role in building a generation skilled in digital forensic and cybersecurity. The competition also empowers them to keep abreast of the rapid developments in the digital world, “These initiatives not only enrich the trainees experience but also provide them with official accreditation that enhance their CVs and boost their employment chance” he remarked, “Such efforts align with KFH’s strategy to support the community, empower the youth and promote innovation.”

He reiterated the critical role of modern technology, digital learning and artificial intelligence in strengthening cybersecurity, highlighting its significance to the global economy and banking sector in serving the public interest of protecting the data and information of the customers.

Al-Ruwaieh noted that the strategic partnership with CODED Academy, established in 2018, aligns with KFH’s strategy to foster innovation and digital transformation initiatives. He asserted the Bank's commitment to supporting the youth by nurturing their talents and shaping a future capable of driving the community forward. He added that through this partnership, the focus remains on technological applications, coding and other digital means which have become essential languages of today and the future.

He further underscored KFH’s ongoing efforts to social responsibility, aiming to strengthen its leadership and pioneering role in social responsibility.

NCSC Vice President for Governance and Risk Management - Taiba Al-Qabandi

NCSC Vice President for Governance and Risk Management, Taiba Al-Qabandi, lauded KFH’s support of this initiative, saying that it highlights the importance of public-private collaboration in a manner that achieve the greater good for the youth and the community.

She added that Kuwait Hackathon targets young cybersecurity enthusiasts to develop their skills through world leading training methods in collaboration with CODED Academy. She further said that these initiatives help nurture and harness the talents of young individuals, enabling their personal and professional growth.

CODED Academy CEO - Ahmad Marafi

In his statement, CODED Academy CEO, Ahmad Marafi commended the strategic partnership with KFH which has extended for 7 consecutive years. He said that this collaboration led to the development of CODED and an increase in the number of beneficiaries.

This year, the Kuwait Hackathon will span three weeks, commencing on October 27th at Kuwait University's Al-Shadadiya campus. The competition, which includes an intensive bootcamp, is aimed at young individuals aged 21-26 who will be registered upon successful completion of the initial tests.