The visit of Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait, to the UAE is a significant step in enhancing the brotherly relations between the two countries, which have reached the level of a solid and sustainable strategic partnership across various dimensions. This visit comes at a time when Emirati-Kuwaiti relations continue to ascend in all fields. The leaders of both nations, along with their government representatives, are keen on exchanging visits to propel bilateral relations toward expansive horizons of fruitful cooperation.
The two countries share a rich history of brotherly relations and extensive social and economic ties that date back many years. Kuwait was among the first countries to establish official diplomatic relations with the UAE following the formation of the state union in 1971, with the UAE embassy in Kuwait opening in 1972 and the Kuwaiti embassy in Abu Dhabi opening the same year. In recent years, several steps have demonstrated the commitment of the two brotherly nations to develop bilateral relations and enhance coordination across various fields, including the formation of a joint higher committee aimed at fostering and developing bilateral relations.
The relations between the UAE and Kuwait are characterized by robustness and resilience, having witnessed notable 발전 over the past decades. Cooperation between the UAE and Kuwait encompasses several prominent areas, including political cooperation, economic and trade collaboration, military and security cooperation, as well as cultural and educational ties, resulting in dozens of agreements and joint memoranda of understanding between the two countries.
**Political Cooperation**
Both countries share a common vision for peace and stability in the region and play an active role in encouraging diplomatic dialogue. Both the UAE and Kuwait advocate for diplomatic solutions to regional disputes, maintaining a position that aligns with international laws and preventing any further escalation in the region. The UAE and Kuwait also actively support peaceful resolutions to ongoing conflicts in the region, in collaboration with regional and international communities. The high level of mutual coordination between the UAE and Kuwait regarding all bilateral, Arab, and international issues reflects the evolution of political relations between the two countries in a way that serves the interests of both sides and reinforces the unity and cohesion of the Gulf and Arab house in general.
**Economic and Trade Cooperation**
The economic relations between the UAE and Kuwait highlight a solid partnership, as both countries believe in the importance of joint economic and trade cooperation and the necessity to enhance it through increased trade exchange and strengthened economic ties in various sectors, including industrial, trade, and investment aspects, on both private and public levels. The non-oil trade exchange between the UAE and Kuwait increased from $10.477 billion in 2021 to $12.006 billion in 2022, reflecting a 15% rise compared to 2021. The value of significant mutual investments between the two countries reached approximately $9.656 billion from 2018 to 2022, while the number of Kuwaiti companies investing in the UAE totaled 54 between 2003 and 2022. In contrast, the number of Emirati companies investing in Kuwait during the same period reached 133.
In the tourism sector, the number of Kuwaiti tourists staying in the UAE's hotels in 2023 rose to 400,000 compared to 250,000 in 2022, while the number of Emirati visitors to Kuwait reached 50,620 in 2023.
**Cultural and Educational Cooperation**
The UAE and Kuwait have signed numerous bilateral agreements in culture, education, and training, aimed at exchanging experiences and developing joint cooperation for the benefit of both countries. The number of Kuwaiti students studying at UAE universities reached 1,240, and Kuwait recently issued decisions that encouraged students to study in the UAE, which will contribute to enhancing educational cooperation.
**Military and Security Cooperation**
The collaboration between the two countries continues in the fields of security and joint military exercises, contributing to regional security. Last November, the UAE-made frigate "Baynounah" was received at the Shuwaikh Port.
**Kuwait at "COP28"**
Kuwait actively participated in the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change "COP28," held in Expo City, Dubai, from November 30 to December 12, 2023, proposing several initiatives to develop low-carbon projects that support global environmental sustainability. The Kuwait Fund for Development presented several projects in renewable energy, water, and sustainable agriculture and organized lectures addressing climate change. The Kuwaiti representation played a significant role at "COP28," supporting environmental initiatives to achieve the conference’s objectives and aspirations, as Kuwait joined the UAE-launched Global Climate Action Agenda.
