UAE-Kuwait Joint Committee Co-Chairs Sign Five MoUs And Executive Programmes
The UAE and Kuwait strengthened cooperation across trade, health, tourism and governance during the sixth session of the UAE-Kuwait Joint Higher Committee, chaired by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Abdullah Ali Al Yahya, where both sides signed key memoranda and confirmed their shared regional priorities.
The gathering took place during H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s working visit to Kuwait City, which aligned with a week-long nationwide programme in the UAE celebrating bilateral ties under the theme "UAE and Kuwait: Brothers Forever", reflecting the political importance attached to this relationship by both leaderships.
Economic discussions highlighted the rapid expansion of trade links, with total non-oil and oil trade between the UAE and Kuwait surpassing US$13.5 billion in 2024, the highest level recorded so far, confirming Kuwait’s position as a key partner in the UAE’s regional and global economic network.
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan underlined that Kuwait is the UAE’s primary trading partner among Gulf and Arab states and the second-largest partner worldwide for Kuwait, noting that around two-thirds of Kuwait’s total trade with GCC countries is conducted with the UAE.
According to the meeting, the UAE has also become the top global destination for Kuwait’s non-oil exports, which officials said reflects the depth of logistical, financial and regulatory links between the two markets and supports joint efforts to enhance economic resilience in the wider Arabian Gulf region.
Following the formal talks, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Abdullah Ali Al Yahya signed the official minutes of the sixth session of the UAE-Kuwait Joint Higher Committee and observed the conclusion of several new memoranda of understanding and executive cooperation programmes between the two governments.
The documents covered consumer protection, commercial oversight, tourism, standards, integrity and public sector auditing, reflecting a broad agenda that extends beyond trade alone and aims to strengthen institutional cooperation between regulatory, tourism and accountability bodies in both countries over the coming years.
{TABLE_1}The tourism executive programme for 2026–2028 focuses on coordinated promotion, exchange of expertise and facilitation measures for visitors from both states, while the standardisation cooperation programme for 2026–2028 targets closer alignment of technical regulations to support smoother trade and reduce barriers for companies operating in both markets.
UAE-Kuwait Joint Higher Committee governance and integrity focus
Another memorandum addressed cooperation on consumer protection and commercial control, aiming to improve information sharing on market practices and strengthen enforcement mechanisms, while a separate understanding on integrity and combating corruption, together with an accord on public sector oversight and auditing, reinforced efforts to ensure transparent and accountable government operations.
The meeting also discussed expanding collaboration in future-oriented fields, with H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan pointing to opportunities in industry, renewable energy, infrastructure, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies as areas where both countries can build new projects that support economic diversification and sustainable development.
UAE-Kuwait Joint Higher Committee political ties and health cooperation
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasised that the UAE regards Kuwait as a strategic partner and an essential participant in collective efforts to advance progress and stability in the Arabian Gulf and the broader region, underscoring the alignment of political positions and shared security interests between the two neighbours.
Health cooperation formed another key pillar of the session, with officials recalling the organ transplant exchange mechanism that has been in place since 2021 and has enabled 153 organ transplants for patients from Kuwait, demonstrating a high degree of medical coordination and operational readiness between health authorities in both states.
UAE-Kuwait Joint Higher Committee historical and cultural relations
The discussions revisited the long history of educational and cultural cooperation, which began before the UAE’s Union, when Kuwait supported schooling and cultural initiatives that served communities in the UAE, and H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed that these early contributions remain highly valued by the UAE leadership and people.
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan also highlighted that current ties draw strength from foundations laid by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah, and continue to deepen under President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
At the session, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan thanked Kuwait’s leadership and people for the warm reception, hospitality and sincere cooperation shown during the visit, and expressed wishes for ongoing security, prosperity and development for Kuwait while reaffirming the commitment to build on the outcomes of the sixth committee meeting.
With inputs from WAM
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