There are growing discussions across disciplines about the widespread impacts of emerging Information and Communication Technologies, such a social media, virtual and augmented realities, big data, the Internet of Things, and other similar advances collectively referred to as the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” (4IR). The increased digitization of daily life these technologies bring, and the tangible benefits derived from their consumption are, however, not universally distributed. It is here that government policies play a critical role. The Middle East is no exception to this evolving global picture, complete with both a capitalization on digital dividends and the perpetuation of massive inequities in their distribution. Within the region, countries of the Arabian Peninsula appear to be among the best positioned to reap these dividends due to a host of demographic, economic, technological and political factors. In fact, Gulf countries are frequently touted in global reports as having some of the highest per-capita rates of digital diffusion and consumption patterns in the world. This project examines Kuwait’s digital ecosystem—defined as a combination of its digital infrastructure, regulatory environment, and human capital. This ecosystem is crucial to the country’s ambitious economic diversification plans and revised social contract as articulated in its Vision 2035 strategy. However, based on available data, Kuwait currently has some of the Arabian Peninsula’s worst performing digital indicators. This project provides a comprehensive analysis of existing international studies on digital technology in the region, such as the World Internet Project, the International Telecommunications Union, the World Economic Forum, the Arab Social Media Report and others to ascertain what is known about Kuwait’s digital ecosystem within the context of the broader region. Interviews were also conducted with key members of local government agencies responsible for providing data about Kuwait to international organizations, as well the strategic planning for the country’s 4IR ecosystem. It reveals that hitherto underreported large-scale plans are afoot in a regional race to transform Kuwait into an international data hub and digital technology haven. However, there remains a scarcity of reliable media-use measures, dependable data, or country specific analyses on which to base such plans. This study outlines gaps between where the country appears to be and where it intends to go. Based on available evidence, these gaps are both numerous and exigent, but the potential payoffs derived from narrowing them is likewise substantial. It concludes with recommendations in the areas of data collection, governance, and innovation incubation.