Arbitration Law: A Legislative Leap in Regulating Dispute Resolution
- Cabinet: Houthi militia’s attempt to target Mecca a despicable and cowardly act
The Cabinet held its meeting yesterday, presided over by the Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef. Following the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Shari’a Al-Muwasharji, stated that the Council was briefed at the outset of the session on the names of the official delegation accompanying the representative of His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad, and the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled, during their official visit to the friendly United States of America (New York). The visit was aimed at heading the delegation of the State of Kuwait participating in the high-level week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, scheduled from September 19 to 26, 2026. The delegation includes Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jaraah Al-Jaber, Director General of the Direct Investment Promotion Authority, Dr. Meshal Jaber Al-Ahmad, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Organizations, Ambassador Sadiq Muhammad Ma’arifi, Kuwait’s Ambassador to the United States, Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Ambassador Tariq Muhammad Al-Banna, 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 Houthi militia’s attempt to target Mecca with a drone. It affirmed 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 reiterated the State of Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty and security, protect the Two Holy Mosques, and preserve their sanctity. It commended the vigilance and competence of the Saudi Royal Air Defense Forces in thwarting this attempt, emphasizing 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 using ballistic missiles and drones last Tuesday. 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 Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, standing by its side and supporting all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, maintain its security, stability, and interests, and protect its people and residents. It stressed that the security of the Kingdom is an inseparable part of the security of the State 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 last Saturday. 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 stop and prevent their recurrence. It reiterated Kuwait’s absolute solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its support for all measures taken to safeguard sovereignty, security, stability, and interests.
On another front, the Cabinet was briefed on the political and diplomatic efforts undertaken by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jaraah Al-Jaber, 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 and Acting Minister of Media and Culture, Omar Al-Omar, regarding the Unified Government Application for Electronic Services (“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 journeys launched through the app to facilitate electronic service integration and expand interoperability among government entities. This aims 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 decree was prepared as a comprehensive, independent arbitration legislation that draws upon established international systems and best practices while preserving the specificity of the Kuwaiti legal system and its stable procedural terminology. It strikes a precise balance between the autonomy of the parties’ will, which is the essence of arbitration, and the constraints of public order, which underpin state sovereignty.
The aforementioned draft decree establishes a comprehensive framework bridging 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, safeguarding public funds through strict controls for arbitrating state entity contracts. It also provides arbitrators with limited liability and investors with restricted grounds for appeal, ensuring swift resolution. The Cabinet referred the draft Law Decree issuing the Arbitration Law to His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad.
The Cabinet reviewed several agenda items, reports, and minutes of ministerial committees, approving them. It also decided to refer certain items to the relevant ministerial committees for study and to submit appropriate recommendations to complete the necessary procedures for their implementation.
