Kuwait Emir to pay state visit on Tuesday
Muscat – The Emir of Kuwait will pay a state visit to the Sultanate of Oman on Tuesday.
A statement issued by Diwan of Royal Court read as follows:
‘In embodiment of the advanced ties between the Sultanate of Oman and the State of Kuwait, and in affirmation of the cooperation between them in various spheres, Sheikh Mishal al Ahmad al Jaber al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, will pay a two-day state visit to Oman starting from Tuesday.
‘The visit will explore a range of fields and topics of mutual interest in a manner that contributes in achieving aspirations of the two countries towards a more prosperous future.
‘The Emir of Kuwait will attend the opening of Duqm Refinery and Petrochemical Industries on Wednesday alongside His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
‘The opening of the refinery follows the advanced relations particularly those pertaining to fruitful economic cooperation between the two countries.’
Oman, Kuwait eye new horizons of bilateral ties
Relations between Oman and Kuwait have transcended conventional dynamics across various spheres. These ties, celebrated for their robustness on both official and national fronts, are anchored in the rich historical and social legacies binding the two nations, alongside shared political positions.
The forthcoming discussions at Al Alam Palace on Tuesday, between His Majesty Sultan Haitham and Sheikh Mishal are poised to usher in a new era aimed at reinforcing the bonds of the two countries and their peoples.
The state visit of Sheikh Mishal marks his second international delegation since assuming leadership of Kuwait in December 2023, symbolising the leadership's commitment to nurturing the enduring relations founded on mutual principles and values. This visit is anticipated to catalyse advancements that promise to bring about development and welfare for both nations.
The diplomatic ties between Oman and Kuwait are distinguished by a shared approach towards resolving crises and disputes and a unified stance on regional and international matters through peaceful means. This approach respects state sovereignty and adheres to international laws and conventions, further supported by the Gulf Cooperation Council's efforts for regional and global stability and peace.
The Omani-kuwaiti Joint Committee has been instrumental in broadening cooperation across economic, educational, environmental and various other developmental sectors, represented by numerous agreements and memorandums of understanding.
Dr Saleh bin Amer al Kharousi, Oman’s Ambassador to Kuwait, said the emir's visit reaffirmed the profound ties and cooperation between the two countries and their peoples. He highlighted the ancient maritime links and the enduring social connections that continue to flourish, underscoring the shared foreign policy and diplomatic fronts on most regional and international issues.
The ambassador also shed light on the multifaceted cooperation within the GCC framework, where citizens enjoy equal rights in education, healthcare and other domains. The bilateral relations are further enriched by high-level coordination in economic, cultural, scientific and sports sectors, notably through initiatives like the Duqm Refinery project and ventures in the real estate, industry and mining.
With nine sessions of the Omani-kuwaiti Joint Committee yielding numerous collaborative projects, the economic, cultural and scientific exchanges between Oman and Kuwait have seen remarkable growth. Kharousi provided compelling statistics, highlighting a significant uptick in economic relations, with Kuwaiti direct investment in Oman reaching Ro922.3mn by the end of September 2023, and a 300 % growth in trade exchange in 2023, reaching Ro790mn.
There has been significant uptick in economic relations with Kuwaiti direct investment in Oman reaching Ro922.3mn by the end of September 2023 and trade exchange growing 300 % to Ro790mn in 2023
DR SALEH BIN AMER AL KHAROUSI