The UAE and Kuwait…a strategic partnership that seeks development and prosperity for both brotherly peoples

The visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the State, may God protect him, to the sister State of Kuwait represents a new and important milestone on the way to strengthening the fraternal and historical relations between the two brotherly countries, and pushing them towards a new vision of fruitful cooperation in every field, in a way that reinforces the strategic partnership between them.

The UAE and Kuwait have close relations at various levels, included in the ongoing dialogue between the two sides, meetings at the highest levels between the two countries, and ministerial and government meetings in a way that shows their great interest in developing bilaterally. relationship between them.

In this context, the visit of Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the sister State of Kuwait, to the UAE, last March, and at the conclusion a joint statement was sent to – out reinforcing the strength of bilateral relations. between the two countries and continues to push them forward for good and achieve their common interests.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, made an official visit to the sister State of Kuwait on October 8, about a month after the official visit by Sheikh Fahd . Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, Senior Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior of the sister State of Kuwait, to the United Arab Emirates.

The two countries have a rich history of fraternal relations and social and economic ties extending over many years. was opened in Kuwait in 1972, and the UAE embassy was also opened in Kuwait in Abu Dhabi in the same year.

The joint high committee between the UAE and Kuwait includes the level of commitment of the two brotherly countries in terms of developing bilateral relations and strengthening rapprochement and coordination in various fields. His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Abdullah Ali Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the sister State of Kuwait, 8 memoranda of understanding and action programs between the two countries in the fields of infrastructure, communication and information technology , standardization activities, education, sports, culture, and cybersecurity, as well as logistics and defense industries.

The relationship between the two countries has improved significantly over the past decades, and cooperation between them included a number of prominent areas, including political, economic, commercial issues , military and security, and cultural and educational relations, which led to dozens of agreements and memoranda of understanding.

Both countries are keen on high-level coordination on all bilateral, Arab and international issues, in a way that serves the interests of both sides and contributes to the unity and cohesion of the Gulf and Arab community in general.

The two countries have a common vision for peace and stability in the region, and they play an active role in promoting diplomatic dialogue, as both the UAE and the State of Kuwait want to find diplomatic ways to resolve regional disputes, maintain a position that is consistent with international. laws, and prevent any escalation in the region, and also play The UAE and Kuwait play an effective role in supporting peaceful solutions to current conflicts in the region, in cooperation with the regional communities and international.

Economic cooperation and trade

The UAE and Kuwait continue to expand the horizon of cooperation and economic partnership between them, investing in the opportunities available in both countries, and exploring and developing economic opportunities such as the result of the development “We are the Emirates 2031” and “Kuwait 2035”. views.

Both countries believe in the importance of economic and trade cooperation and the need to implement it by increasing trade exchanges and strengthening bilateral economic relations in the fields of industry, commerce and investment at the levels private and public.

The volume of non-oil trade exchange between the two countries will reach $12.198 billion in 2023, a growth of 2% compared to 2022 and 16% compared to 2021.

The UAE ranks first in the world as the largest recipient of Kuwait’s non-oil exports, accounting for 22% of Kuwaiti exports to the world alone, the UAE ranks third in the most important markets for Kuwaiti imports after China and the United States.

The amount of investments flowing from the UAE to Kuwait in the period from 2019 to 2023 amounted to approximately $1.087 billion, while investments flowing from the State of Kuwait to the UAE in the mentioned period amounted to approximately $194.7 one million.

The “Exhibition and Forum of Emirati Companies”, which was held last April in the State of Kuwait, was a great opportunity for companies and investment institutions in the two countries to meet and open a new perspective for cooperation between them.

In the field of tourism, the number of Kuwaiti tourists who stayed in the country’s hotels in 2023 reached more than 381,000 tourists, compared to 250,000 tourists in 2022, and the number reached of Emirati tourists in Kuwait 42,236 in the period between January and September 2024.

The number of flights by national carriers to the State of Kuwait in the first half of this year reached 122 flights per week, and the total number of flights from the Kuwaiti side to the Emirates reached 53 flights per week.

Cultural and educational cooperation

Cooperation in the fields of culture and education includes the level of rapprochement and commonality between the two countries and the two fraternal peoples As a translation of this rapprochement, the UAE and Kuwait have many bilateral agreements to decide in the field of culture, education, teaching. and the arts, with the aim of exchanging experiences and developing cooperation for the interest of both countries.

The number of Kuwaiti students studying in Emirati universities reached 1,725 ​​students, and Kuwait issued decisions encouraging more students to study in the Emirates, which will contribute to strengthening cooperation there the field of education.

Kuwait at COP28

The State of Kuwait took an active part in the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), held in Expo City Dubai, from November 30 to December 12, 2023, and sent forward several initiatives in the field developing low-carbon projects to support global environmental sustainability.

The Kuwait Development Fund presented several projects in the fields of renewable energy, water, and sustainable agriculture, and organized lectures on climate change.

The Kuwaiti delegation played an important role in the COP28 conference by supporting environmental initiatives to achieve the goals and aspirations of the conference.