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This academic publication explores the vital role of modern geographical sciences in shaping and supporting public policy and strategic planning in the State of Kuwait. Edited by Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Elsayed Hassan Elkasaby, the book presents a collection of empirical studies that demonstrate how spatial analysis, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and remote sensing can address complex national challenges. The research covers a diverse range of applications, including urban land-use planning, the optimization of transportation networks, environmental risk assessment, and the management of natural resources. By providing data-driven geographical insights, the book aims to bridge the gap between academic research and the practical needs of decision-makers in Kuwaiti governmental and private sectors. It serves as a specialized reference for geographers, urban planners, and policy analysts interested in the intersection of spatial science and sustainable development in the Arabian Gulf.

Recently, the use and management of water resources have become a critical issue, especially in arid and semi-arid surroundings. In such areas, the importance of mapping groundwater potential zones is unmeasurable since water is a critical human resource. Focused on the semi-arid region of Kuwait, our research integrates Google Earth Engine and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), offering a robust admission to identifying groundwater potential zones. To this end, thirteen criteria including geology, slope, rainfall, elevation, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Land Surface Temperature (LST), drainage density, Land Use and Land Cover (LULC), lineament density, topographic wetness index (TWI), geomorphology, and the water table were integrated to reach a wise decision through AHP-MCDM. Our findings revealed that Kuwait’s groundwater potential zones are extremely well suited to the country’s north and east. Appropriate potential zones with high and moderate degrees encompass 12% and 37%, respectively, while extremely high suitability is less than 1.5%. These findings are based on the input data (mainly rainfall, NDVI, NDWI, and LST). The likelihood of groundwater potential is higher in the lower regions of the country. Over 7500 km 2 —nearly 50% of the total area—are classified as low potential. Furthermore, Our research shows that combining more factors can increase precision while ensuring the stability of the detection process of GWPZs. Around 242 km 2 as promising targets for future groundwater exploitation within Kuwait. Rigorously validated through on-site field observations and corroborated by maps showing the distribution of productive groundwater wells in Kuwait, our results exhibit a considered alignment. It is recommended that we extend the application of our methodology beyond the borders of the studied terrain and urge decision-makers to consider our findings in their strategic planning processes.

In response to global energy depletion, this study addresses the critical challenge of selecting optimal wind farm sites in Kuwait, a key pillar of the “New Kuwait” 2035 vision for 15% renewable energy integration. A robust, hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework was developed, integrating Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) with Entropy-based objective weighting and Type-2 Fuzzy logic within a GIS environment. This approach effectively mitigates expert subjectivity and manages the high “Footprint of Uncertainty” inherent in complex desert environments. Twenty-six technical, environmental, and socioeconomic criteria—including wind power density, proximity to the national grid, and oil field restrictions—were analyzed at a modern utility-scale hub height of 100 m. The spatial results identified approximately 1444 km² (8.6%) of Kuwait’s territory as ' Highly Suitable’ for wind development, primarily concentrated in the western (Al-Jahra) and northern (Al-Abali) corridors. Validation against existing Shagaya Renewable Energy Park and Global Wind Atlas data confirmed a strong spatial correlation (R 2  = 0.84). The identified zones represent a potential generation capacity of 2500 MW, providing a data-driven roadmap for national energy planners to meet sustainability targets while minimizing land-use conflicts with oil production and urban expansion.

E-commerce saw a paradigm shift during COVID. Consumers turned to online shopping when pandemic lockdowns caused brick-and-mortar stores to shut for extended periods. Although the pandemic drove more buyers online, it had negative impacts that affected e-commerce performance. This study assesses both positive and negative impacts and their relative significance. The findings are then used to prioritize different strategies for e-commerce development in four vibrant Middle Eastern economies: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait. The study employs a hybrid approach incorporating grey analytical hierarchy process (GAHP) and grey relational analysis (GRA). The GAHP evaluates the relative significance of impacts, whereas the GRA ranks the strategies. The study is based on the responses from 36 local e-commerce specialists. The findings revealed that the supply chain disruption was a rather significant factor, and that “expanding supplier base” was a top-ranked strategy. The study suggests that increasing market share of e-commerce will necessitate the improvement of the supply chains, including the expansion of the supply base, as well as the establishment of sustainable supply chains. In addition to that, the moment has come to implement meaningful changes, such as digital transformation of supply chains, in order to fulfil customer expectations.

Deprescribing is defined as the reduction of medications to improve patient care. For effective deprescribing regular evaluation of medication adjustment regimens is required as it is documented to be an effective method to reduce polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications while improving patient well-being. Several factors, including patient-related aspects, influence the deprescribing process. Among these factors, patient willingness plays a pivotal role, making it essential to better understand their perspectives and attitudes towards medication use and deprescribing to successfully implement and maintain a deprescribing approach. We investigated the attitudes of older patients attending geriatric clinics in Kuwait toward deprescribing and identified predictors that influence their willingness to undergo this process. We enrolled patients aged ≥65 years who were attending geriatric clinics in primary care settings in Kuwait. These participants completed the revised Arabic version of the Patients’ Attitudes Towards Deprescribing (rPATD) questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to assess the participants’ willingness to participate actively in medication decision-making and their inclination toward discontinuing certain medicines. Descriptive statistics was applied to gain insight into the characteristics of the participants and their responses to the rPATD questionnaire. Binary logistic regression identified predictors influencing the desire to deprescribe among participants. The study included 535 participants, out of which 388 were analyzed, with 233 (43.6%) being women. The majority, 77% (n = 412), were aged between 65 and 74 years. Out of the total, 205 patients (38.4%) had one to two medical conditions and were prescribed between one and five medications. The participants showed a high willingness to deprescribe, and this willingness was inversely associated with sex (p = 0.15), age (p = 0.15), and polypharmacy (p = 0.044). Many older patients visiting geriatric clinics in primary care settings in Kuwait were receptive to the concept of deprescribing medications, particularly if advised by their doctor. Nevertheless, it was observed that male patients, individuals on more than 5 medications, and older age groups showed lower willingness to deprescribe.

For nations heavily dependent on fossil-fuel exports, hydrogen is emerging as a promising solution to reduce carbon emissions while preserving economic stability and promoting countries’ energy independence. This research study examines hydrogen potential as a renewable energy source to facilitate the transition toward a sustainable economy with a special focus on Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. The analysis delves into policy frameworks, technological advancements, and infrastructure adaptations to build a reliable green hydrogen supply chain for a scalable and bankable future. The role played by other renewable energies like solar and wind, together with the risk related to the high demand for water resources to achieve the green hydrogen transition, has also been assessed. Furthermore, key challenges have been highlighted, including the repurposing of the existing pipelines into the energy networks, public–private partnerships to secure investment, and legislation requirements to encourage the adoption of novel hydrogen applications. In order to do that, a SWOT-PESTEL analysis has been carried out to identify the main decarbonization strategies for achieving a replicable framework. Moreover, a multi-criteria decision analysis was performed, applying 11 indicators across supply-side (e.g., solar/wind potential, LCOE, and water stress), demand-pull/logistics (e.g., maritime connectivity, steel production, and LNG export capacity), and risk/regulation dimensions (e.g., governance effectiveness, regulatory quality, and fossil rent dependence). The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used for weighting, the entropy method for weighting variability (hybrid 50/50 combined weights), min–max normalization for costs, 5% Winsorization for outliers, and TOPSIS for aggregation following OECD-JRC composite indicator guidelines. Results have been validated through a multiple scenario analysis (base, supply-led, and risk-aware) and sensitivity testing via Dirichlet bootstrapping (5000 iterations) with ±20% weight perturbations. Six countries of the MENA region have been studied. The multi-criteria decision analysis outcomes rank Egypt (composite score 0.518), Algeria (0.482), and Oman (0.479) as the most suitable countries for large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia production/export, while Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait achieved lower supply scores in the base case due to higher perceived risks.

The evaluation of water resources management practices is essential for water usage decisions in regions with limited water resources. The literature provides numerous assessment frameworks, but many ignore the unique characteristics and conditions of some special arid and semi-arid regions, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which lack any permanent rivers or lakes. Thus, this study, the first in a two-part series, seeks to develop a conceptual Sustainable Water Resources Management Assessment Framework (SWRM-AF). General and particular criteria explain how components and indicators were identified. The conceptual SWRM-AF provided here has four components (environment, economy, society, and infrastructure) and 24 indicators. Almost every indicator has been selected from the literature and is briefly explained and justified. This research presents, possibly for the first time, clear and straightforward directions for evaluating each indicator in colour-coded tables. To create a more holistic framework for arid and semi-arid regions, social indicators like “intervention acceptability” and environmental indicators for assessing the impacts of desalination treatment plants have been added to form a unique framework applicable to such regions. Therefore, the components and indicators of conceptual SWRM-AF could work collectively to aid the process of decision-making. The next phase is validating this framework using a participatory approach.

Purpose: It is explanatory and descriptive research to explain the relationship among factors influencing the orthopedic physician's decision of purchasing medical devices and equipment. Methods: Quantitative method will be used in this study as all heads of departments in MOH hospitals refused to make one-to-one interviews and suggested only questionnaires that will be high in confidentiality. Results: For the first question: What is the ranking of factors that influence orthopedic physician decision in purchasing medical devices and equipment in MOH hospitals in Kuwait? According to HB analysis, the most preferred attribute is implant review in a journal and the lowest preferred factor is product training. Moreover, Brand was the second preferred attribute followed by leader influence. Surprisingly, price came after all these attributes. Physicians ranked technical support and sponsorship in the fifth and sixth places. For the second question: How can marketing and sales management predict orthopedic physicians' decisions before designing product proposals? This will assist M&S department in creating proposals that satisfy orthopedic physicians through expecting their decisions on various alternatives. Conclusion: There is a good opportunity for all medical devices companies, after discussion with SMEs, either for growth or leaving stagnation phase. However, SMEs have no real understanding of what factors matter to the orthopedic physicians' decision in purchasing medical devices and equipment. Thus, one of the goals of this research is to give M&S departments in medical devices companies with recommendations that will help them in forming attractive product offers to orthopedic physicians in MOH hospitals in Kuwait. Moreover, predicting the response from them in the future. In addition, four simulation scenarios have been conducted in this research to reach the best economic offer that maintains physicians attracted. Keywords: medical devices, decision-making, consumer behavior, medical equipment, orthopedic physician, conjoint analysis, medical marketing

Background These Delphi recommendations aimed to establish regional consensus for the effective management of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation/infection and CMV disease following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). Method A modified Delphi approach, comprising three rounds of anonymous questionnaires with field experts, was used. The first round included open-ended questions to identify and prioritize key topics, while the subsequent rounds focused on refining responses and reaching a consensus. A predefined consensus threshold of 70% agreement among panelists was used. Results After two rounds, a consensus was reached on 21 key questions related to the diagnosis and management of CMV reactivation and CMV disease post-alloHSCT. The panel identified these areas as priorities for future research or guideline refinement. Conclusion This Delphi study successfully established an expert consensus on pre-emptive therapy and prophylactic treatment for managing CMV reactivation and treatment strategies for CMV disease. The study findings, based on inputs from experts related to clinical practices in the region, can serve as an additional tool for clinical decision-making. Moreover, the panelists highlighted the unmet need for harmonizing diagnostic practices and thresholds among hematology centers in the Gulf region. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

Pharmacists play a crucial role in healthcare and are expected to uphold high ethical standards. Establishing a code of ethics for pharmacists is essential as it supports improved patient outcomes and increases trust in the healthcare system. Regulatory organizations worldwide have recognized the significance of such codes in guiding professional behaviour and ensuring quality care. However, a national code of ethics for pharmacists in Kuwait has not yet been published. The aim of this study was to propose a national code of ethics for pharmacists in Kuwait, using insights from a survey of practicing pharmacists and a modified Delphi study involving expert consensus. A mixed methodology was employed comprising a survey of practicing pharmacists to gather their views on the clarity and acceptance of the 14 FIP standards and a modified Delphi study involving a group of experts to finalize and formulate the national code of ethics for pharmacists in Kuwait. For the survey, all registered pharmacists practicing in Kuwait were invited to participate through the Kuwait Pharmaceutical Association. Data collection occurred between February and May 2019 via an electronic questionnaire. The Delphi study participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling, with data collection taking place between March and June 2023. The Delphi study required a 90% consensus threshold for standard inclusion. A total of 304 pharmacists (7.6% response rate) participated in the survey. The median age was 32 years, with a gender distribution of 56.6% female. The majority (85%) reported Arabic as their first language, and 75% held a BPharm degree. Most participants found the standards clear and acceptable, with clarity percentages generally above 88% and acceptance percentages similarly high. Standards 3 (patient autonomy) and 11 (competency of support staff) had slightly lower ratings, indicating potential areas for improvement. Comments highlighted issues such as patient knowledge and the clarity of support staff roles. In the Delphi study, 30 experts participated in the first round, with standards needing a 90% consensus for inclusion. Seven standards reached consensus in the first round, four in the second, and four in the third. Standard 11 failed to achieve consensus and was removed. The iterative process ensured thorough evaluation and refinement of each standard based on expert feedback. This study proposed a national code of ethics for pharmacists in Kuwait based on a comprehensive mixed-methods approach. The survey indicated high clarity and acceptance of most FIP standards among pharmacists, though areas for improvement were identified. The Delphi study achieved consensus on 13 out of 14 standards. This proposal provides a foundation for regulators to establish a formal code of ethics, aiming to enhance professionalism and patient trust in the healthcare system.