Talabat has launched a monthly knowledge-sharing programme in Kuwait aimed at strengthening digital skills among young professionals and students, signalling a deeper push by the delivery platform into long-term technology development beyond its core food and grocery services.Branded “Next Tech Gen”, the initiative is designed to provide practical exposure to industry practices through workshops, mentorship sessions and talks by senior engineers and product leaders. Company executives said the programme will be hosted at talabat’s Kuwait headquarters and will invite participants from universities, coding bootcamps and early-stage start-ups.
The move reflects growing competition among technology firms operating in the Gulf to cultivate local talent amid a regional drive to diversify economies and reduce reliance on expatriate expertise. Kuwait has placed increasing emphasis on digital transformation under its national development plans, with authorities encouraging private-sector collaboration to accelerate innovation in artificial intelligence, data analytics and cloud computing.
Talabat, which operates across the Middle East and North Africa and is part of the Delivery Hero group, said the programme will focus on real-world case studies drawn from its own operations. These include managing high-volume transactions, optimising delivery logistics through machine learning models and enhancing cybersecurity frameworks for consumer platforms. Executives added that participants will have opportunities to interact with cross-functional teams spanning engineering, product design and data science.
Company representatives described the initiative as a structured, recurring forum rather than a one-off corporate outreach effort. Each monthly session is expected to address a specific theme, ranging from software architecture and agile development to digital payments and user experience design. Talabat said it would also explore partnerships with academic institutions to align the sessions with university curricula.
Kuwait’s technology ecosystem remains smaller than those of neighbouring Gulf states such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, yet it has shown steady growth in fintech and e-commerce ventures. Analysts note that access to mentorship and industry exposure has often been cited by local entrepreneurs as a gap in the market. Corporate-backed knowledge platforms are increasingly viewed as a bridge between academic training and commercial application.
Talabat’s country management said the programme aligns with its broader regional strategy to invest in community development and workforce readiness. Over the past few years, the company has expanded its technical workforce across the region, particularly in engineering and data analytics roles, as demand for digital ordering and rapid delivery services intensified following pandemic-driven shifts in consumer behaviour.
Industry observers say that while delivery platforms are commonly associated with logistics and consumer convenience, their back-end systems are among the most complex in the digital economy. Real-time order processing, route optimisation, fraud detection and customer analytics require sophisticated infrastructure. Exposure to such systems can offer aspiring developers insight into large-scale application management rarely encountered in classroom settings.
Kuwait’s higher education institutions have expanded technology-related programmes, but employers continue to stress the importance of hands-on training. Talabat executives said the “Next Tech Gen” initiative aims to demystify corporate technology environments by giving participants visibility into decision-making processes and project lifecycles. They added that interactive components, including coding demonstrations and problem-solving exercises, would form a core part of each session.
Regional technology analysts note that similar initiatives have emerged across the Gulf as governments press for greater private-sector participation in skill-building. Multinational technology firms and homegrown platforms alike have launched coding academies, hackathons and internship schemes to develop talent pipelines. Kuwait’s labour market dynamics, characterised by a significant public-sector workforce, have also prompted calls for stronger private-sector engagement in youth employment.
Talabat’s leadership in Kuwait indicated that the programme is open to both nationals and residents, underscoring its inclusive approach. The company plans to track participation levels and gather feedback to refine content over time. While the initiative is currently centred in Kuwait, executives did not rule out expanding the model to other markets where the company operates.
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