Kuwaiti Entrepreneurs Transform Ideas into Thriving Global Businesses

KUWAIT CITY: Young entrepreneurs in Kuwait are no longer solely reliant on government employment, as many have successfully transformed their innovative ideas into flourishing businesses that now operate on both regional and international scales. Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) spoke with several of these ambitious individuals who founded businesses locally and later expanded them globally, marking significant success in the Arab and Gulf regions, and even reaching into European markets. According to Kuwait News Agency, Abdulaziz Al-Loughani, Co-founder and CEO of Floward, shared that his company currently operates in 40 cities across the Gulf and the Middle East and employs 1,000 people. Established in 2017, Floward has faced challenges such as developing the necessary technical skills to keep up with growth and building customer trust in online flower orders. The company has innovated by integrating artificial intelligence to enhance user experience, providing high-quality product descriptions, and offering cura ted arrangements tailored to customer preferences. Floward's achievements include participation in the Saudi Unicorns program, acquisition of the company Mubkhar, and securing an official flower business license from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, becoming the first in the championship's history to do so. Ali Al-Ebrahim, Co-founder of the COFE app, revealed that his company began in 2018, capitalizing on a surge in global coffee production and expanding into the broader beverage industry. The COFE app, which has been downloaded over 4.1 million times across several countries including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, aims to simplify the process of obtaining coffee and other beverages, now valued at USD 1.5 trillion. Al-Ebrahim highlighted that one of the biggest challenges has been finding strategic partnerships and suitable workforce, urging local universities to offer relevant workshops to aid in these efforts. Athbi Al-Enezi, Co-founder and CEO of the Justclean app, noted that the platform was launched in 2017, ins pired by the success of online food ordering services. Justclean facilitates cleaning and laundry services across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with local teams in each nation. Despite facing disruptions during the Coronavirus pandemic, the app processes thousands of orders daily, evidencing significant customer trust. With a valuation of USD 70 million and a workforce of more than 80, Justclean aims to continue its expansion into new markets. These stories of innovation and entrepreneurship reflect a broader trend in Kuwait where young business minds are progressively making their mark globally, overcoming challenges, and setting ambitious future goals for further expansion and development.