Approval of a Comprehensive Arbitration Law... Speed and Flexibility
During its meeting held today, chaired by Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, the Cabinet was briefed at the outset on the composition of the official delegation accompanying H.H. the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, represented by H.H. the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, during his official visit to the friendly United States of America (New York). The visit aims to lead the State of Kuwait’s delegation to the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, scheduled from September 19 to 26, 2026. The delegation includes Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jaraah Al-Jaber, Director General of the Direct Investment Promotion Authority Dr. Meshal Al-Jaber, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Organizations Affairs Ambassador Sadiq Maaref, Kuwait’s Ambassador to the United States of America Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Ambassador Tariq Al-Banna, and several officials from the Diwan of the Crown Prince and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For its part, the Cabinet expressed its strong condemnation and deep outrage over the attempt to target Mecca by a drone launched by the Houthi militia. It affirmed that this cowardly and despicable act constitutes a violation of the sanctity of the Qibla of Muslims, a disregard for its religious significance, and an affront to the feelings of Muslims. The Cabinet reiterated Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty and security, protect the Two Holy Mosques, and preserve their sanctity. It commended the vigilance and competence of the Saudi Royal Air Defense Forces in countering this attempt, emphasizing that the security of the Kingdom is an integral part of the security of the State of Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
In the same context, the Council expressed its strong condemnation and deep outrage over the Houthi militia’s attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Saudi cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif using ballistic missiles and drones last Tuesday. These attacks resulted in injuries to several civilians and material damage to residential homes and vehicles, representing a blatant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and a breach of international law and international humanitarian law. The Council reaffirmed Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with Saudi Arabia, standing by its side and supporting all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, maintain its security and stability, protect its interests, and ensure the safety of its people and residents. It stressed that the security of the Kingdom is an inseparable part of the security of the State of Kuwait and the GCC countries.
Furthermore, the Cabinet expressed its strong condemnation and deep outrage over the targeting of the East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by several drones originating from Iraqi territory last Saturday. This attack resulted in human casualties and material damage, constituting a blatant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty, a breach of international law and international humanitarian law, and a threat to energy supply security. The Council emphasized that such attacks represent a serious escalation that could undermine the security and stability of the region. It stressed the importance of the Iraqi government taking necessary measures to ensure that its territory is not used as a launching pad for such attacks, and to work towards stopping and preventing their recurrence. It reiterated Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, standing by its side and supporting all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, maintain its security and stability, and protect its interests.
For its part, the Cabinet was briefed on the political and diplomatic efforts undertaken by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jara Al-Jaber, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kuwait’s diplomatic missions abroad to keep pace with the latest developments on the regional and international fronts.
In another development, the Cabinet reviewed a visual presentation delivered by the Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Affairs and Acting Minister of Media and Culture, Omar Al-Omar, regarding the Unified Government Application for Electronic Services (Sahel) during the period from January 1, 2026, to August 31, 2026. The presentation included various statistics on the Sahel application, as well as details on the digital journeys launched through the app to facilitate electronic linkage of services and expand integration among government entities, thereby enhancing performance efficiency, streamlining procedures, serving citizens and residents, and accelerating the processing of transactions.
Furthermore, the Cabinet approved a draft decree-law issuing the Arbitration Law, recognizing arbitration as a fundamental pillar of effective justice and a key support for confidence in the business environment due to its speed in resolving disputes, specialization in adjudication, and flexibility in procedures. The draft was prepared as a comprehensive, standalone arbitration legislation that draws upon the most stable international systems and practices, while simultaneously preserving the distinctiveness of Kuwait’s legal system and its established procedural terminology, and striking a careful balance between the principle of party autonomy, which underpins arbitration, and the safeguards of public order, which uphold state sovereignty.
The Cabinet also reviewed a number of agenda items, reports, and minutes of ministerial committees, approving them accordingly. It also decided to refer several items to the relevant ministerial committees for further study and to submit appropriate recommendations to complete the necessary procedures for their finalization.
