Kuwaiti Cabinet Holds a Meeting
Kuwait City, July 28 (KUNA) -- The Cabinet held its meeting today, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, presided over by His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister, may God protect him. Following the meeting, His Excellency Sheikh Sharida Abdullah Al-Muwasharji, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, issued the following statement:
"The Cabinet was briefed at the outset of its meeting on the content of a telephone call received by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect him and keep him safe, from his brother, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, last week. During the call, His Highness expressed his concern for Kuwait, its leadership, and its noble people following the blatant and continuous Iranian attacks on Kuwaiti territory. His Highness expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s strong condemnation and disapproval of this blatant aggression, reaffirming the Kingdom’s full solidarity with Kuwait.
"His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect him and keep him safe, expressed Kuwait’s steadfast support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its full backing of all measures taken to safeguard its security and stability. He also expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to his brother, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, wishing him good health and well-being, and wishing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its brotherly people security, safety, progress, and prosperity under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
"The Cabinet was also briefed on the content of a call received by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect him and keep him safe, from His Excellency Andy Burnham, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, last Sunday. His Highness congratulated him on being appointed by His Majesty King Charles III, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to form a government. The call also reviewed the historical relations between the two friendly countries and peoples, as well as several issues of mutual interest and the latest developments on the regional and international scenes, particularly regarding the current circumstances in the region, exchanging views on them. His Excellency reaffirmed his country’s support for Kuwait and its brotherly people, and its backing of all measures aimed at preserving Kuwait’s sovereignty, security, and stability. His Highness the Amir expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency Andy Burnham, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, wishing him good health and well-being to continue the path of development and prosperity, and wishing the brotherly British people further progress and growth.
"The Cabinet was also briefed on the content of a telephone call received by His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect him and keep him safe, from his brother, His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, today, Tuesday. The call reviewed the close and distinguished fraternal relations linking the two countries and their brotherly peoples. Several issues of mutual interest were discussed, and the latest developments on the regional and international scenes were reviewed, particularly regarding the current circumstances in the region. His Excellency reaffirmed the Arab Republic of Egypt’s support for Kuwait and its backing of all measures taken to safeguard its security and sovereignty, praying to God Almighty to protect Kuwait and its brotherly people from all harm and evil. His Highness expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency, wishing him good health and complete well-being, and wishing the brotherly Egyptian people further progress and growth.
"On another note, the Cabinet was briefed on the details of the contract for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the North Kabd Water Desalination Plant and its complementary works between Kuwait and the People’s Republic of China, which was signed last Sunday under the patronage and presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister, may God protect him. This contract represents the second cooperation agreement between Kuwait and the People’s Republic of China. The contract was signed on behalf of Kuwait by Her Excellency Dr. Noura Al-Moaiqee, Minister of Public Works, in the presence of H.E. Yang Xin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Kuwait. This contract is a continuation of Kuwait’s desire to implement strategic projects that enhance the quality of infrastructure, promote environmental sustainability, and improve the efficiency of the wastewater treatment system, keeping pace with urban growth and supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals and Kuwait’s future vision.
"On another note, His Excellency Dr. Tariq Hamad Al-Jalahma, Minister of State for Youth and Sports, briefed the Cabinet on the patronage and presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister, may God protect him, at the ceremony honoring national team athletes and players for the (2023/2024) and (2024/2025) sports seasons. Distinguished players from various Kuwaiti sports bodies, committees, federations, and clubs were honored. His Highness emphasized that the achievements of national team athletes and players are a source of pride and reflect the spirit of determination and resolve possessed by Kuwaiti youth, who make outstanding efforts to represent their country and raise its flag at various international sporting events.
"On another note, the Cabinet expressed its strongest condemnation and disapproval of the heinous aggression launched by Iran and its proxies against the country, which targeted the Abdali border crossing last Thursday through a number of hostile drone attacks. This constitutes a blatant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty, a direct threat to its security and stability, and a serious breach of the rules of international law, the UN Charter, and Security Council Resolution 2817. The Cabinet stressed that persisting in these blatant and repeated attacks constitutes a serious escalation and a direct threat to regional security and stability, reflecting a systematic hostile approach that cannot be justified or accepted. It reaffirmed Kuwait’s full and inherent right to self-defense, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, and to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty, protect its territory and resources, and preserve its security and stability.
"On another note, His Excellency Sheikh Jaraah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, briefed the Cabinet on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by Deputy Foreign Affairs Ambassador Hamad Sulaiman Al-Moaiqee, summoning the Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait, Mohammad Toutounji, last Tuesday. A protest note was delivered regarding Iran’s targeting of the Kuwaiti tanker 'Kivan' while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which resulted in injuries to several crew members. The Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized that this blatant aggression occurs amid the escalation of the heinous aggression launched by Iran against Kuwait since February 28, including inflammatory and provocative statements issued by the Iranian side. This constitutes a blatant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and interests, and a threat to the security and freedom of international navigation, as well as a breach of international law, the UN Charter, and Security Council Resolution 2817 of 2026. He reiterated Kuwait’s demand for an immediate halt to Iran’s illegal attacks, stressing Kuwait’s right to take necessary measures, and holding Iran fully responsible for this aggression and its continuous attacks on Kuwait.
"On another note, the Cabinet expressed its strong condemnation and disapproval of the repeated attacks by the Houthi militia on ships in the Red Sea, the latest of which was an attack on a vessel belonging to a Saudi company. This constitutes a blatant violation of international law and a direct threat to the security and freedom of maritime navigation and the safety of international trade. The Cabinet stressed the necessity of adhering to international law rules that guarantee freedom of navigation and safe passage in international waterways. It reaffirmed Kuwait’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its support for it, and its backing of all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and interests. It stressed Kuwait’s rejection of any practices that could destabilize the region’s security and stability.
"The Cabinet also expressed its strong condemnation and disapproval of the attacks that attempted to target petroleum facilities in the Eastern and Riyadh regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using drones launched by militias affiliated with Iran in Iraq. This constitutes a blatant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of international law, the UN Charter, and Security Council Resolution 2817. It reaffirmed Kuwait’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its security and sovereignty, emphasizing that the security of the Kingdom is an integral part of the security of Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
"On another note, the Cabinet expressed its strong condemnation and disapproval of the repeated drone attacks that targeted the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan today, Tuesday, in a blatant violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity and a direct threat to its security and stability. It reaffirmed Kuwait’s full solidarity with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, its support for it, and its backing of all measures taken to protect its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its people.
"On another note, the Cabinet listened to a briefing by His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al-Salim Al-Sabah, Minister of Defense, on the latest developments in the region and current military developments in light of the heinous Iranian attacks suffered by Kuwait in recent days. He emphasized the readiness of the Armed Forces and their continued performance of their duties with efficiency and competence, taking all necessary measures and precautions to safeguard Kuwait’s sovereignty and territory, preserve its security and stability, and protect citizens and residents.
"On another note, the Cabinet listened to a briefing by His Excellency Sheikh Jaraah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the political and diplomatic efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its diplomatic missions abroad to keep pace with the latest developments on the regional and international scenes. In this context, His Excellency briefed the Cabinet on the content of the joint statement issued by the GCC countries and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan last Thursday, in which they expressed their unified position condemning the heinous aggression launched by Iran and its proxies against their territories. They stressed that these continuous attacks violate the UN Charter, international law, international humanitarian law, Security Council Resolution 2817, and the explicit commitments made by Iran under the memorandum of understanding. They affirmed their inherent right to self-defense, individually or collectively, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, and to take all necessary legal measures to protect their sovereignty, territories, citizens, and commercial vessels.
"On another note, His Excellency Tariq Al-Roumi, Minister of Oil, briefed the Cabinet on the details of the 'Shahin' project by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), aimed at generating financial returns from existing assets through a lease-and-leaseback model for crude oil pipelines valued at $16 billion. This aligns with KPC’s strategy up to 2040, supports economic diversification goals, and encourages direct investment. The project aims to provide significant liquidity estimated at $7.85 billion to support the five-year financial plan. It is a key pillar of the financing and capital expenditure plan to raise crude oil production capacity to 4 million barrels per day by 2035, while maintaining ownership and full operational control by Kuwait Oil Company. The project involves an alliance of major global infrastructure investors and investment institutions, led by investment funds managed by Blackstone, Brookfield, and KKR. It represents the largest foreign direct investment in Kuwait’s history and a milestone in the country’s economic development journey. It also embodies the commitment announced by His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, may God protect him, during the Kuwait Oil Exhibition in February 2026, aimed at attracting elite global investors to participate in developing Kuwait’s strategic infrastructure.
"On another note, the Cabinet listened to a briefing by His Excellency Dr. Yaqoub Al-Sayed Al-Sayed Hashem Al-Rifai, Minister of Finance, regarding preparations for the first report on the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan. In this regard, the Cabinet reviewed a presentation by Dr. Hamad Al-Mukarram, Chairman of the Kuwait Financial Intelligence Unit and the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, and his deputy, Yousuf Al-Omar, on national efforts to strengthen the system for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and the financing of weapons proliferation, and to reinforce compliance with relevant international standards. The presentation highlighted key legislative, regulatory, and supervisory measures implemented, progress made in implementing action plan pillars, and efforts to enhance coordination among relevant national authorities and ensure the completion of technical requirements within specified timelines.
"From his side, the Cabinet emphasized the importance of continuing to work in a team spirit, intensifying coordination and cooperation among all relevant authorities, to ensure comprehensive and accurate fulfillment of the first report requirements, reflecting the state’s commitment to implementing the action plan and achieving targeted results in accordance with best practices and international standards.
"On another note, His Excellency Dr. Yaqoub Al-Sayed Al-Sayed Hashem Al-Rifai, Minister of Finance, and His Excellency Abdulaziz Al-Marzouq, Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs, briefed the Cabinet on the issuance of international sovereign bonds denominated in US dollars totaling $6 billion through three tranches in international capital markets, achieving one of the most prominent sovereign financing operations in global markets this year. The Cabinet commended this issuance, which reflects the continuous confidence Kuwait enjoys among international investors and underscores the strength of its credit rating and financial stability.
"On another note, the Cabinet approved a draft law decree issuing a law regulating charitable and humanitarian work. The project aims to unify and regulate charitable and humanitarian work in Kuwait within a modern legal framework that enhances governance and transparency, regulates the roles of concerned entities, and institutionalizes work in the charitable and humanitarian sector. The Cabinet tasked the Ministry of Social Affairs, in coordination with the Fatwa and Legislation Department, to prepare the explanatory memorandum for the aforementioned draft law decree, with a view to submitting it to His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect him and keep him safe.
"On another note, the Cabinet reviewed recommendations contained in the minutes of the Ministerial Committee for Public Services regarding grazing sites in Kuwait. The Cabinet decided to adhere to its decision No. (414) taken in Meeting No. (14/2026) held on April 7, 2026, which tasked the Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries Resources, in coordination with the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, Kuwait Municipality, Public Authority for Environmental Affairs, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries, and other relevant entities, to undertake the following: First, organize the licensing process for livestock grazing and determine suitable grazing sites. Second, remove all existing encroachments on state property and take immediate deterrent legal action against violators. Third, complete the automated linking and mechanization of all relevant data and services among the aforementioned entities to ensure strict supervision and prevent encroachments on state property.
"On another note, the Cabinet mourned the late Dr. Sulaiman Al-Saadoun Al-Badr Al-Qanaei, former Minister of Education, who passed away after a national career filled with dedication and loyalty to the service of the country and education. He made notable national and educational contributions. The Cabinet praised the deceased’s virtues and recalled his great services to the country, praying to God Almighty to envelop him in His vast mercy, grant him Paradise, and inspire his family and loved ones with patience and solace.
"The Cabinet reviewed a number of topics on the agenda, as well as reports and minutes of ministerial committees, and approved them. It also decided to refer several of them to the relevant ministerial committees for study and to submit appropriate recommendations to complete the procedures for their implementation." (End) M.S.A. / T.A.B.
