The state visit of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the State of Kuwait tomorrow, Sunday, 10th November, constitutes a significant and new milestone in enhancing the fraternal and historical relations between the two brotherly countries, pushing them towards new horizons of constructive cooperation in all fields, thereby reinforcing their strategic partnership.
The UAE and Kuwait share close ties across various levels, evidenced by ongoing dialogue and high-level meetings between the two countries, as well as continuous ministerial and governmental discussions, reflecting the great interest both nations have in further developing their bilateral relations.
In this context, the visit of His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, to the UAE in last March highlighted the strength of bilateral relations, culminating in a joint statement affirming their commitment to furthering cooperation for mutual benefit.
Additionally, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, made an official visit to Kuwait on 8th October, following a nearly month-long visit by Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Interior of the State of Kuwait, to the UAE.
The two countries have a rich history of fraternal relations and social and economic ties that have developed over many years. Kuwait was among the first countries to establish official diplomatic relations with the UAE after the federation was formed in 1971, with the UAE opening its embassy in Kuwait in 1972, and Kuwait opening its embassy in Abu Dhabi in the same year.
The UAE-Kuwait Joint Higher Committee exemplifies the commitment of the two countries to bolstering bilateral relations and advancing cooperation and coordination across various fields. The fifth session of the committee, chaired by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Yahya, saw the signing of eight memoranda of understanding and executive programmes in areas such as infrastructure, communications and information technology, standardization activities, education, sports, culture, cybersecurity, as well as procurement and defense industries.
Relations between the two countries have notably developed over the past decades, encompassing various fields including political, economic, trade, military, security, cultural, and educational cooperation, resulting in dozens of agreements and joint memoranda of understanding.
Both countries are keen to maintain high-level coordination on all bilateral, Arab, and international issues that serve their mutual interests and enhance the unity and cohesion of the Gulf and Arab houses. They share a common vision for peace and stability in the region and actively promote diplomatic dialogue, advocating for diplomatic means to resolve regional disputes, adhering to international law, and preventing further escalation in the region. The UAE and Kuwait also play a significant role in supporting peaceful solutions to current conflicts in the region, in collaboration with the regional and international community.
The UAE and Kuwait continue to expand their economic cooperation and partnership, seizing available opportunities in both countries and exploring economic prospects in light of the “We the UAE 2031” vision and “Kuwait Vision 2035”. Both countries recognise the importance of joint economic and trade cooperation and the need to enhance it through increased trade exchange and strengthening economic relations in industrial, commercial, and investment sectors.
The non-oil trade exchange between the two countries reached $12.198 billion in 2023, marking a 2% increase compared to 2022 and a 16% increase compared to 2021. The UAE is the world’s largest destination for Kuwait’s non-oil exports, accounting for 22% of Kuwait’s total exports. Meanwhile, the UAE ranks third among the most significant import markets for Kuwait after China and the United States.
The flow of investments from the UAE to Kuwait from 2019 to 2023 amounted to $1.087 billion, while investments from Kuwait to the UAE during the same period reached $194.7 million.
In the tourism sector, the number of Kuwaiti tourists staying in UAE hotels in 2023 exceeded 381,000, compared to 250,000 in 2022, while the number of Emirati tourists in Kuwait from January to September 2024 was 42,236. National carriers operated 122 weekly flights to Kuwait during the first half of this year, while the total flights from Kuwait to the UAE reached 53 weekly.
Cooperation in culture and education reflects the close ties and commonalities between the two countries and their peoples. The UAE and Kuwait have signed numerous bilateral agreements in culture, education, and the arts, aiming to exchange expertise and enhance cooperation for the benefit of both countries. The number of Kuwaiti students studying at UAE universities reached 1,725, and Kuwait has issued decisions encouraging more students to study in the UAE, which will contribute to enhancing educational collaboration.
Kuwait actively participated in COP28 held in Expo City Dubai from November 30 to December 12, 2023, proposing several initiatives in the field of developing low-carbon projects to support global environmental sustainability. The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development presented several projects in renewable energy, water, sustainable agriculture, and organised lectures on climate change. Kuwait’s representation played an important role at COP28 in supporting environmental initiatives to achieve the conference’s goals, and Kuwait joined the UAE-launched Climate Change Alliance.