Amir’s UAE visit an important milestone
ABU DHABI: Kuwaiti diplomats in the United Arab Emirates said that the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the UAE represented an important milestone in Kuwaiti-Emirati ties and in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Speaking to KUNA, Kuwait’s Ambassador to the UAE, Jamal Al-Ghunaim, said that the visit reflected the depth of Kuwaiti-Emirati common heritage, history, and interest in strengthening and unifying the Gulf countries.
The ambassador pointed out that the leaderships of the two brotherly countries realize the importance of preserving this heritage, preserving its authenticity, and moving forward with their aspirations while at the same time cooperating for more economic and investment development. He added that the state visit witnessed a remarkable welcome by the people of the UAE, which reflected the value of Kuwaiti leadership and people in the hearts of Emirati people.
Ambassador Al-Ghunaim recalled the historical role of Kuwait and the UAE, as the idea of establishing the GCC was suggested by Kuwait’s late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and welcomed by the UAE’s first president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, resulting in the establishment of the council in Abu Dhabi on May 25, 1981. He said that the Kuwaiti-Emirati ties date back to before the establishment of the UAE, praising Kuwait’s role in sending an educational mission to the UAE, a medical mission in 1962, and establishing a TV transmission station in the UAE by the name of Kuwait TV in 1969.
He also recalled the role of the United Arab Emirates represented by the UAE’s late President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan in 1990 during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, followed by the visit of the UAE’s late president to Kuwait for further cooperation. Kuwait’s Consul General to Dubai and Northern UAE, Ali Al-Thaydi, said to KUNA that His Highness the Amir would be a dear guest to the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and to the people of the UAE.
He emphasized that this visit would strengthen the fraternal relations between the two countries, opening the door for further cooperation in all sectors. Al-Thaydi said that the relations between the two brotherly countries have witnessed significant progress, whether at the bilateral level or through the GCC, pointing out that the great support in times of hardship and prosperity has proven the depth and solidity of these ties.
Amir’s visit is ‘important’
His Highness the Amir’s visit to the UAE is another important milestone in the history of bilateral ties, said an Emirati diplomat on Monday. Speaking to KUNA, UAE Ambassador to Kuwait Dr. Matar Al-Neyadi affirmed that the visit by His Highness Sheikh Mishal — the first as the Amir of Kuwait — would help bolster ties on all different levels. He revealed that Kuwait was an important partner of the UAE, revealing that the volume of commercial exchange reached around KD 3.733 billion ($12.13 billion) in 2023.
The Ambassador said that the signing of the agreement to avoid double taxation and financial evasion at the beginning of this year was a step that would encourage mutual investments and help boost private ventures.
There are many venues to expand relations commercially, he indicated, alluding to Abu Dhabi Ports Group and Kuwait’s efforts to open a cargo maritime route that would facilitate travelers and goods transport. On tourism, Ambassador Al-Neyadi indicated that there were 382,000 visitors from Kuwait to the UAE in 2023, noting that the number of tourists from the UAE to Kuwait had increased by over 50,000 last year.