Cabinet holds meeting chaired by Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior

Kuwait City, September 16 (KUNA) -- The Cabinet held its meeting today, Wednesday, September 16, 2026, presided over by the Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Youssef Al-Saud Al-Sabah. Following the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Sharida Abdullah Al-Muwasharji, issued the following statement:

At the outset of its meeting, the Cabinet was briefed on the names of the official delegation accompanying His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, in his official visit to the friendly United States of America (New York). The Crown Prince is leading the Kuwait delegation participating in the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, scheduled from September 19 to 26, 2026. The delegation includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Jaraah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah; the Director General of the Direct Investment Promotion Authority, Dr. Meshal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah; the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Organizations Affairs, Ambassador Sadiq Muhammad Ma'rufi; the Kuwaiti Ambassador to the United States of America, Sheikha Al-Zein Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah; the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Tariq Muhammad Al-Bunai; and several officials from the Diwan of the Crown Prince and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On another note, the Cabinet expressed its strong condemnation and rejection of the attempt to target the holy city of Mecca with a drone launched by the Houthi militia. It emphasized that this cowardly and despicable act constitutes an infringement on the sanctity of the Qibla of Muslims, a disregard for its religious status, and an affront to the feelings of Muslims. The Cabinet reaffirmed Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and the sanctity of the Two Holy Mosques. It commended the vigilance and competence of the Saudi Royal Air Defense Forces in countering this attempt, stressing that the security of the Kingdom is an integral part of the security of Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

In the same context, the Cabinet expressed its strong condemnation and rejection of the Houthi militia’s attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in the cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday last past. These attacks, carried out using ballistic missiles and drones, resulted in injuries to several civilians and material damage to residential homes and vehicles. This constitutes a blatant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and a breach of international law and international humanitarian law. The Cabinet reaffirmed Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, standing by its side and supporting all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, security, stability, interests, and to protect its people and residents. It stressed that the security of the Kingdom is an integral part of the security of Kuwait and the GCC countries.

Furthermore, the Cabinet expressed its strong condemnation and rejection of the targeting of the East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by several drones originating from Iraqi territory on Saturday last past. This incident 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 Cabinet emphasized that these 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 its territory is not used as a launching pad for such attacks and to work towards stopping and preventing their recurrence. The Cabinet reaffirmed Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, standing by its side and supporting all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, security, stability, and interests.

On another note, the Cabinet was briefed on the political and diplomatic efforts undertaken by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Jaraah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and its diplomatic missions abroad to keep pace with the latest developments in regional and international arenas.

Additionally, the Cabinet reviewed a visual presentation by the Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Affairs and Acting Minister of Media and Culture, Omar Saud Al-Omar, regarding the Unified Government Electronic Services Application ("Sahl") for the period from January 1, 2026, to August 31, 2026. The presentation included various statistics on the Sahl application, as well as digital initiatives launched through the app to facilitate electronic linkage of services and expand integration among government entities. These efforts aim to enhance performance efficiency, simplify procedures, serve citizens and residents, and expedite transaction processing.

On another note, the Cabinet approved a draft law decree issuing the Arbitration Law, recognizing arbitration as a fundamental pillar of effective justice and a cornerstone of trust in the business environment due to its speed in resolving disputes, specialization in adjudication, and procedural flexibility. The draft law decree was prepared as a comprehensive, independent legislation for arbitration, drawing upon stable international systems and practices while preserving the specificity of the Kuwaiti legal system and its established procedural terminology. It establishes a precise balance between the autonomy of the parties’ will, which is the essence of arbitration, and the safeguards of public order, which underpin state sovereignty.

The aforementioned draft law decree establishes comprehensive rules that reconcile the authenticity of the Kuwaiti legal system with the latest developments in comparative arbitration systems. It lays the foundation for an integrated national arbitration system that saves time through fixed schedules and simplified procedural orders. It safeguards public funds through strict controls for arbitrating state entities’ contracts, assures arbitrators by limiting their liability, and assures investors by limiting grounds for appeal and ensuring swift resolution. The Cabinet submitted the draft law decree issuing the Arbitration Law to His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect him.

The Cabinet reviewed a number of agenda items, reports, and minutes of ministerial committees, approving them. It also decided to refer several items to the relevant ministerial committees for study and to submit appropriate recommendations to complete the necessary procedures for their implementation.

(End) J.Y. / A.M.H.