News

Google Cloud Opens New Kuwait Office To Aid Digital Transformation

The search giant is bringing its AI and data expertise to Kuwait, adding to a national upskilling initiative to help realize the country’s 2035 vision.

Published

12 months ago

July 10, 2024

Nour Nasir

google cloud opens new kuwait office to aid digital transformation

Google Cloud is opening new offices in Kuwait after receiving a license from the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA). The Google Cloud facility will act as a central hub for collaboration and technological innovation, bringing together a range of experts who will work closely with both customers and partners.

“Under the visionary leadership of His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince, and the guidance of His Highness the Prime Minister, Kuwait has made great strides towards realizing its National Vision 2035,” stated His Excellency Mr. Omar Saud Al-Omar, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Communication Affairs.

omar saud al-omar minister of commerce and industry and minister of state for communication affairs

Eighteen months ago, Google Cloud revealed details of a national alliance framework agreement with Kuwait’s government that intended to develop an all-encompassing roadmap for digital transformation. Government entities and specific state-owned enterprises would benefit from Google Cloud’s cutting-edge data expertise and technologies — such as AI — enhancing their operations and bolstering cybersecurity.

Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East

According to Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban, Managing Director of Google Cloud in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, “Opening Google Cloud offices in Kuwait is yet another step to meet the demand for our services and expertise to support the New Kuwait Vision 2035 vision […] in addition to participating in the implementation of several digital transformation initiatives in healthcare, education, disaster recovery, and smart living”.

Google has also collaborated in a national upskilling program in Kuwait to help government employees, entrepreneurs, and graduates better understand the latest digital technologies. According to a Google-commissioned study by Access Partnership, the overall annual economic impact cloud computing technologies could bring Kuwait may reach a colossal USD29.8 billion by 2030.

News

Stake Powers Instant Payouts With Checkout.com Pay To Card

The new feature lets investors in the UAE, KSA, and UK receive real estate returns in minutes — cutting withdrawal times to under 10 minutes.

Published

2 days ago

June 19, 2025

Nour Nasir

stake powers instant payouts with checkout.com pay to card

Stake, a leading digital real estate investment platform, has unveiled Pay to Card, a next-generation withdrawal feature built on Checkout.com’s global payment infrastructure. The integration enables investors to have dividends and returns credited directly to their bank cards — often within minutes — dramatically reducing the traditional multi-day payout process.

After a successful pilot in May involving over 200 users, some investors reported receiving their funds in under 10 minutes. Ricardo Brizido, CPTO and Co-Founder of Stake, emphasized the importance of speed and reliability: “With Pay to Card, we’re eliminating unnecessary delays and putting returns in our investors’ hands almost instantly. This feature was built to directly solve one of the most common pain points in real estate investing, and it’s already driving strong results”.

The feature launch coincides with rapid growth in real-time finance across the Middle East. Checkout.com’s “State of Digital Commerce in MENA 2025” report highlights a 388% year-on-year surge in Account Funding Transactions (AFTs) in the UAE, reflecting strong demand for immediate payout solutions. The same study recorded a 176% increase in total processing volume from 2023 to 2024 and noted that daily online transactions have jumped 320% since 2020.

Since its 2021 debut, Stake has facilitated over AED 1 billion in property transactions, advancing its mission to democratize real estate investment in high-growth markets. By integrating Pay to Card, Stake reinforces its commitment to customer-centric innovation and operational transparency.

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Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA at Checkout.com, praised the collaboration: “Stake has always led with customer-first financial experiences. Together, we’re meeting the expectations of a region that is no longer just digital-first, but real-time-first. Pay to Card exemplifies how modern payment infrastructure can directly solve investor pain points”.

Pay to Card is now available to all Stake users in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. By slashing withdrawal times from days to minutes, Stake and Checkout.com are setting a new standard for seamless, on-demand real estate investing.