Cabinet: Approval of a draft decree-law to issue the Arbitration Law

The Council of Ministers approved a draft decree-law to enact an Arbitration Law, given that arbitration is a fundamental pillar of efficient justice and a key support for confidence in the business environment, owing to its speed in resolving disputes, specialized adjudication, and procedural flexibility. This was announced during the Council’s meeting held on Wednesday, chaired by the Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saad Al-Sabah.

The Council clarified that the aforementioned draft decree-law was prepared to serve as a comprehensive, standalone arbitration legislation that draws upon the best established international systems and practices, while preserving the distinctiveness of Kuwait’s legal system and its established procedural terminology. It strikes a precise balance between the parties’ autonomy of will, which is the essence of arbitration, and the constraints of public policy, which underpin state sovereignty.

It noted that the draft decree-law establishes general rules that reconcile the originality of Kuwait’s legal system with the latest developments in comparative arbitration regimes. It lays the foundation for an integrated national arbitration system that shortens timelines through defined deadlines and simplified procedural orders, safeguards public funds through rigorous controls on the arbitration of government contracts, reassures arbitrators by limiting their liability, and reassures investors by restricting appeals and ensuring swift resolution.

The Council of Ministers referred the draft decree-law on the enactment of the Arbitration Law to His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

In another development, the Council of Ministers expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the attempt to target Makkah Al-Mukarramah using a drone launched by the Houthi militia. It affirmed that this cowardly and despicable act constitutes a violation of the sanctity of the Muslims’ Qibla, a disregard for its religious status, and an affront to the feelings of Muslims. The Council reaffirmed Kuwait’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and the protection of the Two Holy Mosques and their sanctity. It commended the vigilance and competence of the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces in intercepting this attempt, and emphasized that the security of the Kingdom is an integral part of the security of the State of Kuwait and the security of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

In the same context, the Council of Ministers expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Houthi militia’s attacks on civilian facilities and civilians in the cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using ballistic missiles and drones on Tuesday last week, which 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 Council reaffirmed Kuwait’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its standing alongside it, and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, maintain its security and stability, protect its interests, and safeguard its people and residents. It emphasized that the security of the Kingdom is an integral part of the security of the State of Kuwait and the security of the GCC states.

The Council of Ministers also expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the targeting of the East-West Pipeline in the Riyadh and Makkah Al-Mukarramah regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by several drones originating from Iraqi territory on Saturday last week, which resulted in casualties and material damage. This constitutes 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 affirmed that such attacks constitute a dangerous escalation that undermines regional security and stability. It stressed the importance of the Iraqi government taking the necessary measures to ensure that its territory is not used as a launchpad for such attacks, and to work towards stopping them and preventing their recurrence. It reaffirmed Kuwait’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its standing alongside it, and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, maintain its security and stability, and protect its interests.

In another development, the Council of Ministers was informed of the political and diplomatic efforts undertaken by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Jeraf Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and its diplomatic missions abroad to keep pace with the latest developments in the regional and international arenas.

The Council of Ministers reviewed the visual presentation provided by the Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology and Acting Minister of Information and Culture, Omar Saad Al-Omair, regarding the Unified Government Electronic Services Application (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 within the app to facilitate electronic service integration and expand interoperability among government entities, thereby enhancing performance efficiency, simplifying procedures, serving citizens and residents, and accelerating the completion of transactions.

The Council was informed of the names of the official delegation accompanying His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, as the representative of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, during his official visit to the friendly United States of America (New York) to head the State of Kuwait’s 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 Jeraf Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah; the Director General of the Direct Investment Promotion Authority, Sheikh Dr. Meshal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah; the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Organizations Affairs, Ambassador Sadiq Mohammed Maarefi; the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the friendly United States of America, Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah; the Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Tariq Mohammed Al-Bunai; and a number of officials from the Crown Prince’s Diwan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Council of Ministers reviewed several items on the agenda, reports, and minutes of ministerial committees, and decided to approve them. It also decided to refer some of these items to the relevant ministerial committees for study and to submit appropriate recommendations to complete the necessary procedures for their implementation.