Architecture

Big little country. What’s going on in Kuwait right now?

The business world has been flying to the Emirates for a long time. The likelihood of meeting a celebrity or high-profile businessman in Dubai is probably the highest in the world.

Inspired by this story, Saudi Arabia has opened up its cities and incredibly beautiful coastline to the world at large. Dakar is being ridden, Ronaldo is playing, giant concerts are being held, the World Cup is coming up. Qatar has already managed to prove to the whole world that even a tiny country can host an athletics or football championship that is completely ‘smart’. Hundreds of thousands of guests can line up on a small area without anything not working. It’s a technology paradise. Europeans go to Bahrain or Oman for the beautiful sea and ideal weather. And Kuwait? It’s perhaps a little overshadowed by these large and dynamic neighbours. But it may not be for long, because a truly pompous project called Silk City is under way here. If it comes to fruition, it could soon become the epicentre of the entire Middle East. We also talked about this with Mohammed Farhan, who has been running ELKO EP’s Kuwait office for years.

What does the Kuwaiti branch do right now?

A lot. We once successfully opened a model home for smart technology here, where politicians, businessmen and customers still come to watch the latest technology. As a result, we have built an interesting position right from the start and are a relevant brand in the eyes of the most influential people in the country. More recently, we have turned our experience into a concrete business reference.

Can you be more specific?

We took care of energy efficiency at Al Salhiya Marriott Hotel, where we successfully installed iNELS low energy solutions in more than 110 rooms. We helped the owners to make significant savings while enhancing the guest experience.

Obsah článku
Al Salhiya Marriottt Hotel.

What are your next steps?

Our engineering team is introducing customers to the enhanced iNELS Smart array – or smart column – which includes structural improvements, is equipped with nanotechnology and works with artificial intelligence. This product aims to improve urban utilities. At the same time, we are testing personalised relays. All this consolidates our position in the market, where we are one of the main suppliers of advanced relays. We have also changed our website and online sales mechanics. We have launched an e-shop for customers to configure the smart home and its elements themselves. And then there’s the whole world of iNELS Matter, where we would soon be in a position to serve the whole of the Arabian Peninsula region in this area from Kuwait.

What is the situation in Kuwait right now anyway?

Kuwait is entering a promising period of renewed focus and forward momentum, with leadership showing strong commitment to development. Typically Silk City. A giant city in the north of the country that has ambitions to become the new Dubai and the centre of business. The plans are big, concrete, but implementation has been delayed in part because politicians have been dealing with internal disputes. Today, however, it looks as if everything could get up and running. For us, of course, there is a huge amount of opportunity in the project itself.