Central Bank of Kuwait Launches Advanced Cybersecurity Leaders Programme in Partnership with SANS Institute

The Central Bank of Kuwait has announced the launch of the first cohort of the Advanced Cybersecurity Leaders Programme, a new initiative designed to develop senior cybersecurity talent within the Kuwaiti banking sector.

The announcement was made by Basel Al-Haroun, Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute of Banking Studies, on Wednesday 1 April 2026.

The programme is part of the Central Bank's broader "Kafa'a" initiative, developed in collaboration with local banks and managed by the Institute of Banking Studies. It aims to develop national talent and expertise, enhance technical capabilities in cybersecurity, and address the banking sector's evolving technological and security needs.

Al-Haroun stated that the initiative directly aligns with the Central Bank's strategic priorities to strengthen cloud infrastructure security and safeguard banking operations against emerging cyber threats — a priority that has taken on added urgency as the GCC banking sector faces an elevated threat environment in 2026.

The programme is designed for experienced Kuwaiti cybersecurity professionals and offers advanced practical training across three disciplines: cloud computing security, threat detection, and security engineering. Participants will be able to earn internationally recognised GIAC certifications upon completion.

The programme will begin with the Cloud Environment Security track — an eight-week course conducted in partnership with the SANS Institute, one of the world's leading cybersecurity training and certification providers. SANS has previously partnered with Bahrain's Tamkeen to deliver similar upskilling programmes across the GCC region.

Applicants will be selected based on objective criteria, including successful completion of prescribed assessments and personal interviews. Applications are open from 1 April until 30 April 2026 through the Kafa'a initiative website at kafaakw.org.

For GCC banking institutions and cybersecurity leaders, the programme represents a direct signal from Kuwait's central bank that regulatory-grade cybersecurity capability is now a workforce priority — not just a technology investment. Organisations looking to benchmark their own talent development strategies against regional best practice should take note.