KUWAIT CITY, June 3: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and in the presence of 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 received UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, on the occasion of his official visit to the country. Sheikh Mansour conveyed to His Highness the Amir the greetings the UAE President Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, and their wishes for His Highness of good health and continued well-being, and for the people of Kuwait further progress and prosperity.

In turn, His Highness the Amir conveyed his greetings to Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, wishing them good health and wellness and to the UAE and its people further development and prosperity. During the meeting, the historic ties between the two countries and brotherly peoples were touched on. The meeting was attended by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah and other state officials. Sheikh Mansour and his accompanying delegation were received upon arrival on Tuesday by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, the Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Shereeda Al- Musharji, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya. The UAE Vice President is accompanied by an official delegation including Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al-Nahyan, Minister of Health and Prevention and Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, Abdulrahman bin Mohammad Al-Owais, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail Mohammad Al-Mazrouei, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Dr. Sultan Al-Jaber, Minister of Community Empowerment, Shamma Al-Mazruei, Minister of Education, Sarah Al-Amiri, Minister of Justice, Abdullah Al-Nuaimi, Minister of Investment, Mohammad Al-Suwaidi Minister of State, Khalifa Al-Marrar and a number of senior officials During the visit, Kuwait and UAE signed several agreements and memorandums of understandings (MoU) overseen by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al- Ahmad Al-Sabah and UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

The governments of the two countries signed a number of memorandum of understanding on diplomatic cooperation, land transport and road assets, social affairs and development, industry and advanced technology, education cooperation, oil and gas, combating human trafficking, electricity and water, encouraging direct investment and protection of data and information exchanged in joint security projects. For over 60 years, Kuwait and the UAE have maintained a strong partnership built on strategic cooperation and deep integration.

The Kuwaiti- Emirati relations are characterized by shared goals, a unified approach to regional and global challenges, and the mutual commitment of both countries’ leadership to strengthen bilateral ties, expand cooperation, and develop strategic partnerships across political, economic, and social sectors to support national interests and regional stability. Over the years, Kuwait and the UAE have signed numerous agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening comprehensive strategic partnerships and advancing bilateral relations to broader horizons. These MoUs cover a wide array of fields, particularly in political, economic, and social domains, reflecting a shared vision of long-term development and mutual trust.

In 2024 alone, reciprocal visits by the leaderships of both countries have further cemented this relationship and introduced new dimensions to the strategic partnership, resulting in a series of MoUs and agreements across various sectors. A notable milestone in this partnership was the state visit of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, to the UAE on March 5, 2024, during which he held talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan focusing on bilateral relations and avenues for development across multiple sectors. Following this visit, a joint statement was issued, lauding the close cooperation between the two nations in multiple fields such as politics, diplomatic affairs, economy, trade, finance, investment, the private sector, energy, cybersecurity, communications, and technology, among other areas.

The statement also highlighted the growth in bilateral trade and investment, noting that non-oil trade between the two countries reached approximately USD 2.12 billion in 2023, marking a two percent increase from 2022. Both sides underscored the importance of expanding economic cooperation and partnerships, leveraging available opportunities, and exploring new economic prospects in line with Kuwait Vision 2035 and the UAE’s “We the UAE 2031” Vision. Regarding defense and security, the two countries affirmed their commitment to enhancing defense cooperation and developing strategic partnerships to safeguard the security and stability of both nations and the region. They also pledged to strengthen collaboration in combating all forms of crime, counterterrorism, and border security, while commending the robust levels of existing security and intelligence cooperation. (KUNA)