Cabinet Holds Meeting Chaired by Acting PM and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Saud Al-Sabah

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

At the outset of its meeting, the Cabinet was informed of 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), where he will 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 His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Jaraah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah; His Excellency 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’arifi; the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the friendly United States of America, Sheikha Al-Zain Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah; the Permanent Representative of the State 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 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 reaffirmed the State of Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures undertaken 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 thwarting this attempt, stressing 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 Cabinet expressed its strong condemnation and rejection of the Houthi militia’s attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Saudi cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif on Tuesday past, using ballistic missiles and drones. 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 Cabinet reaffirmed the State of Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, standing by its side and supporting all measures it undertakes to safeguard its sovereignty, maintain its security and stability, protect its interests, and ensure the safety of its people and residents. It stressed once again that the security of the Kingdom is an inseparable part of the security of the State of Kuwait and the GCC countries.

The Cabinet also expressed its strong condemnation and rejection of the targeting of the East-West pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions of the friendly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by several drones launched from Iraqi territory last Saturday, which resulted in human casualties and material damage. This constitutes a blatant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and a breach of international law and international humanitarian law, as well as 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, stressing 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 stop them and prevent their recurrence. It reaffirmed Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with the friendly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its steadfast support alongside the Kingdom, and its backing of all measures taken by the Kingdom to safeguard its sovereignty, security, stability, and interests.

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

In a separate matter, the Cabinet reviewed a visual presentation delivered by His Excellency 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 Application for Electronic Services (Sahel) for the period from January 1, 2026, to August 31, 2026. The presentation included various statistics concerning the Sahel application, as well as the digital journeys launched through the app to facilitate electronic linkage of services and expand integration among government entities, thereby enhancing performance efficiency, simplifying procedures, serving citizens and residents, and accelerating transaction processing.

On another note, the Cabinet approved a draft decree-law issuing the Arbitration Law, recognizing that arbitration is a fundamental pillar of effective justice and a key support for confidence in the business environment, given its speed in resolving disputes, specialization in adjudication, and flexibility in procedures.

The aforementioned draft decree-law 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. It strikes a precise balance between the principle of party autonomy, which is the essence of arbitration, and the constraints of public order, which underpin state sovereignty.

The aforementioned draft decree-law establishes a unified framework that reconciles the authenticity of Kuwait’s 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 streamlined procedural orders, safeguarding public funds through strict controls for arbitrating state entity contracts. It also provides arbitrators with clarity by limiting their liability and gives investors certainty by restricting grounds for appeal and ensuring swift resolution.

The Cabinet submitted the draft decree-law issuing the Arbitration Law to His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect and safeguard him.

The Cabinet reviewed a number of agenda items, reports, and minutes of ministerial committees, and approved 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.