Kuwait Cabinet okays GCC excise tax draft law

27/10/2026

Kuwait Cabinet okays GCC excise tax draft law

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 27 : The Kuwaiti Cabinet stressed on Tuesday that it is essential to adhere to timelines for development projects, including the maintenance of the main highway network and cleaning of the rainwater drainage system. The Cabinet made the call during its weekly meeting, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah following a visual presentation by Minister of Public Works Dr. Noura Al-Mashaan regarding road maintenance, installation of traffic signs and the development of the road network and infrastructure for the new Kuwait International Airport (T2) and the comprehensive maintenance of internal streets across Kuwait. The Cabinet said that this is intended to speed up progress and promote the quality of maintenance works, thus ensuring the safety of road users, reducing traffic density and congestion on major highways and internal roads, and facilitating the smooth fl ow of traffic throughout the country.

The Cabinet then approved a draft decree-law concerning the Unified Excise Tax Agreement for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and its amendment and submitted it to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The Minister of Public Works also informed the Cabinet that it had recently laid the foundation stone for the North Kabd wastewater treatment plant project, covering its study, design, construction, operation and maintenance in the presence of Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait Yang Xin. She said that the project comes under the direction of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who attach much attention to infrastructure and sustainable development projects. At the onset of the meeting, the Cabinet was apprised of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah’s reception of the Prime Minister of the friendly Italian Republic, Giorgia Meloni, and her accompanying delegation, on the occasion of her official visit to the country on Friday.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed strong bilateral relations, noting their continuous development across various sectors. They also discussed ways to further strengthen and expand the horizons of bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic and defense fields, in a manner that serves their mutual interests. The two sides also addressed a number of issues of common concern, as well as the latest regional and international developments. The State of Kuwait and the Italian Republic signed two memoranda of understanding and a letter of intent, covering the promotion of direct investment, defense, and military and industrial cooperation.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the continued terrorist attacks carried out by the Houthi militia over the past few days against several areas in Saudi Arabia. It said that these attacks include an attempt to target Makkah and Madinah with two ballistic missiles, as well as a blatant attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, which killed two people and injured several others. It underlined that the continued targeting of civilian airports and vital facilities constitutes a serious escalation and a direct threat to the lives of civilians and the safety of air navigation, something that necessitates a firm international stance to halt these attacks and hold those responsible accountable. In this regard, the Cabinet restated Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with Saudi Arabia, and reiterated its support for all measures taken by the Kingdom to safeguard its sovereignty and security, and to protect the Two Holy Mosques and preserve their sanctity.

It reaffirmed that the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an integral part of the security of the State of Kuwait and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Furthermore, it expressed the State of Kuwait’s strong condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist attack that targeted a church in the Karak Governorate in Jordan, which resulted in several deaths and injuries. It affirmed the State of Kuwait’s categorical rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism that target places of worship and terrorize innocent people.

The Cabinet then listened to a briefing from Minister of Defense Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Salem Al- Sabah on his attendance at the inauguration of the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial in Washington, in the presence of Kuwait’s Ambassador to the United States, Sheikha Al-Zain Al- Sabah. He said that the memorial commemorates the sacrifices of US-led international coalition forces and their role in liberating Kuwait in 1991 and represents a historic legacy of solidarity and cooperation. Finally, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah kept the Cabinet posted on his ministry’s ongoing political and diplomatic efforts to address the latest regional and international developments. (KUNA)