6 decades of UAE, Kuwait partnership, shared vision

Kuwait: The bilateral relations between Kuwait and the UAE continue to develop rapidly in all fields under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

Over the past six decades, the State of Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have signed a large number of agreements and memoranda of understanding aimed at enhancing their comprehensive strategic partnerships and close relations, and pushing these ties toward broader horizons. These agreements and partnerships span various fields, particularly political, economic, and social cooperation, based on mutual trust and bilateral coordination to achieve the strategic plans of both countries and their long-term developmental visions.

Sunday’s visit comes after several high-level reciprocal visits between the two brotherly countries, starting in 2024 with a significant state visit by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the UAE and his meeting with President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, which undoubtedly contributed to furthering efforts for cooperation and coordination between the two countries. Among the other notable high-level visits in September and October were those of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense, and Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah. During these visits, the overall brotherly relations were reviewed, and ways to strengthen them in various fields were discussed.

Trade exchange reflects the strong ties between the two nations, with the trade volume reaching 36 billion dirhams (approximately KD 3 billion) by the end of the third quarter of this year. The UAE is the second-largest trading partner of Kuwait globally. In turn, Kuwait ranks twelfth among the UAE’s most important global trading partners, and the UAE accounts for more than 55 percent of Kuwait’s total trade with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, according to 2023 data. Additionally, the two countries are connected by 162 weekly flights, which help boost communication and increase travel and tourism between the two brotherly nations.

Shared vision

In 1972, when the embassies of both countries were opened in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait City, the journey of signing joint agreements began, reaching a total of 33 agreements by the end of 2020. In addition, the two countries signed four memoranda of understanding and executive programs during the same period, all aimed at enhancing joint cooperation and advancing development in both countries. Politically and diplomatically, the leaderships of the two brotherly nations share visions on several regional and global issues, including the necessity of intensifying efforts to achieve a comprehensive and just resolution to the Palestinian issue, based on the two-state solution, which guarantees the Palestinian people their right to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

On regional crises, both sides emphasize their support for peace and stability in the region, stressing the importance of prioritizing dialogue and diplomatic solutions to resolve conflicts and disputes. They also advocate for opening communication channels to build bridges of partnership and cooperation, promoting values of solidarity, tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and ensuring the sustainability of growth, stability, and global peace for present and future generations in the region.

The fifth session of the Joint High Committee between the two countries, held in Abu Dhabi on September 2 of last year, culminated in the signing of several agreements within the framework of memoranda of understanding and executive programs, reflecting the two countries’ determination to strengthen their close relations in various vital fields. Some of the inked agreements during the session tackled products standardization, the infrastructural environment, communication, information technology, education, sports and culture. The two sides had also inked MoUs for cooperation in cyber security and defense procurements. In February 2023, Kuwait City and Abu Dhabi inaugurated the first project for pooling traffic violations data. And, in April 2023, they opened a marine route for tankers from Khalifa port to Al-Shuwaikh port.