Cabinet Condemns Attack on LNG Carrier 'Al-Maydah' Owned by Qatar LNG Company During Passage Through Arabian Gulf - Sarmad

(KUNA) – The Cabinet held its meeting today, Tuesday, November 3, 2026, presided over by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister, may God protect him. Following the meeting, His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Sharida Abdullah Al-Muwasharji, issued the following statement:

The Cabinet expressed its strong condemnation and rejection of the attack targeting the LNG carrier Al-Ma’ida, owned by Qatar LNG Shipping Company (Qatargas), as it was transiting through the waters of the Arabian Gulf. It reaffirmed its firm rejection of such acts, which pose a serious threat to the security and safety of maritime navigation and global energy supplies, and stressed the necessity of respecting the rules of international law, ensuring freedom of maritime navigation, and guaranteeing the safety of ships and their crews. It warned against the potential environmental and economic risks resulting from attacks on energy tankers and the serious repercussions such incidents could have on the security and stability of the region. The Cabinet emphasized the importance of clarifying the circumstances of the incident, identifying those responsible, and holding them accountable. It reiterated Kuwait’s full solidarity with sisterly Qatar, its support for Qatar, and its backing of all measures taken by Qatar to protect its security and interests and to safeguard its facilities and assets.

On another note, His Excellency the Minister of Defense, Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al-Salim Al-Sabah, briefed the Cabinet on the content of a telephone conversation he received from His Excellency the Minister of Defense of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, last Thursday. During the call, the fraternal defense relations between the two sister countries were reviewed, along with the latest developments in the region. Both sides affirmed their solidarity in facing all challenges and threats to preserve the security and stability of both countries.

On another front, the Cabinet listened to an explanation presented by His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Jaraah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, regarding the political and diplomatic efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its diplomatic missions abroad to keep pace with the latest developments in the regional and international arenas.

In this context, His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Jaraah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, informed the Cabinet that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Hamad Sulaiman Al-Mushaan, summoned the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Kuwait, Mohammad Toutounchi, last Wednesday. A note of protest was delivered to him regarding the statement issued by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Kuwait on October 28, 2026, which contained blatant interference in Kuwait’s internal affairs and infringed upon its sovereignty and the independence of its judicial authority, in clear violation of international laws and norms. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated Kuwait’s strong rejection and condemnation of any interference in the judicial rulings issued by its national courts, stressing the necessity for the Iranian side to comply with international law, the UN Charter, particularly the principles of good neighborliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of states, as well as the provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

In the same context, the Cabinet heard a briefing from His Excellency Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jaraah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah regarding the outcomes of his official visit to the capital of the friendly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, last Wednesday, and the substance of his meetings with His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During these meetings, His Excellency reiterated Kuwait’s strong condemnation and rejection of the terrorist attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against several areas in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as their attempts to target Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah. He emphasized that these heinous attacks constitute a blatant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty, a flagrant breach of international law and international humanitarian law, a clear infringement on the sanctity and religious status of Islamic holy sites, and a provocation of Muslims’ sentiments worldwide. He stressed that the continuation and recurrence of these organized hostile acts, which involve targeting civilian objects and vital facilities, represent a serious escalation and a direct threat to the security of the Kingdom and regional stability, in addition to posing grave risks to the safety of civilians and the security of air navigation. This necessitates a firm international stance ensuring accountability and prosecution of those responsible for these attacks. His Excellency reaffirmed Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and stability, emphasizing that the security of the Kingdom is an integral part of the security of Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

His Excellency also noted that the meetings reviewed the deep-rooted historical ties and the strong fraternal relations between the two countries and their peoples, and reaffirmed the shared commitment to continuing to enhance bilateral cooperation and coordination frameworks across various fields and at all levels, in line with the directives of the wise leaderships of both countries and in response to their aspirations for greater integration and joint cooperation. The meetings also discussed the latest regional developments and their implications for regional security and stability, emphasizing the importance of continuing Kuwaiti-Saudi consultation and coordination across various dimensions and intensifying joint efforts to address current challenges amid the delicate circumstances facing the region, driven by shared destiny and common interests, and the two friendly countries’ commitment to consolidating the foundations of regional security and stability.

Furthermore, His Excellency Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jaraah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah informed the Cabinet about the content of two phone calls he received in recent days from His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the friendly State of Qatar, and Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Egyptian Expatriates of the friendly Arab Republic of Egypt. During these calls, the latest regional developments were discussed, and the importance of continuing coordination and consultation between Kuwait and these friendly countries was reaffirmed, in a manner that contributes to supporting and enhancing joint efforts to achieve security and stability in the region.

On another note, the Council of Ministers approved a draft decree-law amending certain provisions of Law No. 27 of 1995 concerning the contribution of the private sector’s activities to the development of vacant state-owned lands for residential care purposes. This aims to transfer a portion of the lands allocated by the state to the Public Authority for Housing Welfare to other state entities, as public interest dictates, and to enable the private sector’s participation in developing vacant state-owned lands.

The aforementioned draft decree-law complements Law No. 47 of 1993 concerning residential care and its amendments, as well as Law No. 118 of 2023 regarding the establishment of companies for building cities or residential areas and their economic development, as amended by Decree-Law No. 89 of 2025.

The Council of Ministers submitted the draft decree-law amending certain provisions of Law No. 27 of 1995 concerning the contribution of the private sector’s activities to the development of vacant state-owned lands for residential care purposes to His Highness the Amir of the State, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may God protect and guard him.

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