Al-Mutairi responds to criticism of the Arab League, emphasizing its role in strengthening Arab ties
KUWAIT: The Arab League has proven its ability over eight decades of political and geopolitical shifts to lead joint Arab action and effectively represent the true concerns of Arab peoples, said Kuwait’s permanent representative to the Arab League Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi on Saturday. In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), marking the 80th anniversary of the Arab League’s establishment on March 22, Al-Mutairi described the “esteemed organization” as a cornerstone of multilateral Arab action, with a prominent international presence through cooperation with both regional and global organizations. Despite criticisms that the League doesn’t play as prominent a role as other organizations, Al-Mutairi stressed that the Arab League continues to play an active role in strengthening ties among Arab countries. He pointed out that the League has initiated many positive efforts in support of Arab positions, citing the essential role of its missions in key capitals in amplifying the voices of Arab nations.
He added that one of the earliest steps in Kuwait’s foreign policy after independence was joining the Arab League. This was done in recognition of the importance of aligning with a bloc that represents Arab identity and unites the region’s peoples. Al-Mutairi explained that Kuwait’s decision to join the League immediately after gaining independence in 1961 helped expand the country’s international presence, granting it membership in various regional and international organizations. This, in turn, played a significant role in presenting Kuwait’s true image and its strong capacity to contribute to the Arab League’s collective efforts. The ambassador further emphasized that the Arab League takes pride in Kuwait’s active role within its framework, particularly through initiatives that bolster joint Arab work. He highlighted Kuwait’s ongoing support for the League’s efforts to strengthen regional cooperation.
Al-Mutairi noted that Kuwait views the Arab League as the primary umbrella for Arab peoples and a key institution in preserving the region’s historical legacy. He described the creation of the League following the wars that affected the region as a means to foster greater coordination and cooperation among newly independent Arab nations, allowing them to shoulder the responsibility of defending the issues of the Arab peoples.
Arab League Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi
Need for cooperation
Over the past eight decades, Al-Mutairi emphasized, the Arab League has managed to overcome numerous challenges that could have hindered its role as a leading regional organization. It has remained significant both regionally and internationally, advocating for the region’s issues on global platforms. Discussing the challenges currently facing the Arab League, Al-Mutairi stated that the obstacles are not unique to the League but affect all international organizations. He stressed that the changes unfolding globally call for greater dynamism and enhanced cooperation between regional groups to navigate geopolitical shifts.
The ambassador particularly highlighted the League’s role in coordinating Arab efforts in response to regional challenges, with the Palestinian cause remaining a top priority. He noted that since October 7, 2023, the Arab League has been instrumental in convening numerous meetings at ambassadorial, ministerial, and summit levels to address the crisis. The most recent of these meetings was an extraordinary Arab summit hosted by Egypt in early March, which produced important resolutions in support of the Palestinian cause and the rights of the Palestinian people. These efforts culminated in the development of the so-called Arab plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
Ambassador Al-Mutairi concluded by asserting that Arab countries now fully recognize the immense responsibility they bear in uniting their stance amid the major changes facing the region. He emphasized the urgent need for effective cooperation and solidarity among Arab nations to navigate these challenges. The Arab League, established on March 22, 1945, just months before the creation of the United Nations, remains the oldest international organization. Its founding charter was signed by seven Arab countries: Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, with Cairo designated as its permanent headquarters. — KUNA
KUWAIT: The International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO), in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs, organized a specialized workshop on Tuesday titled “Introduction to Compliance Management: Practical Applications” as part of its ongoing “Tamkeen” initiative. The workshop aimed to strengthen the principles of governance and institutional compliance within Kuwait’s charitable sector.
Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), IICO Deputy Director General and Head of the Tamkeen initiative Abdulrahman Al-Mutawa said the workshop reflects the organization’s commitment to promoting a culture of integrity, transparency and sustainability. He noted that IICO was the first charitable institution in Kuwait to establish an independent compliance and governance department in 2022 — demonstrating a proactive approach to institutional development.
Al-Mutawa highlighted that the organization has successfully met all criteria of the institutional evaluation set by the Ministry of Social Affairs, including those related to organizational structure, risk management, governance and internal controls. He added that IICO continues to develop systems and policies aimed at achieving excellence in institutional performance.
Participant are seen during the workshop. – KUNA photos
He clarified that the workshop is part of a strategic roadmap to protect organizational reputation, minimize risks and enhance administrative efficiency in the charitable field. He also revealed plans to launch a new training program soon, which will certify “compliance specialists” working in charitable societies in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs, providing them with the expertise needed to excel in the field.
For her part, Acting Director of the Department of Charitable Societies and Endowments at the Ministry of Social Affairs Iman Al-Enezi said the workshop is part of a broader strategic initiative to embed a culture of compliance and governance in charitable institutions. She noted that the Tamkeen initiative, launched in 2018, aims to qualify professionals working in the sector and adapt to ongoing administrative and technical developments.
Al-Enezi pointed out that since its inception, the initiative has conducted 46 training programs benefiting over 1,500 participants from various charitable organizations. She commended the efforts of IICO and the Tamkeen initiative, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance institutional performance in Kuwait’s charitable and humanitarian sectors. The workshop was attended by senior officials from charitable associations and foundations, as well as representatives from the public sector, underscoring the joint efforts to prepare administrative cadres in line with international best practices. — KUNA
KUWAIT: As summer travel picks up, many expatriates have reported that Kuwait’s digital driving license is not accepted abroad, making international car rentals challenging. But this is now changing. After a suspension that began on Dec 10, 2023, the issuance of physical driving licenses for expats resumed in mid-April 2025, following ministerial decision no. 560/2025 issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah. The amendment allows expatriates to reissue physical licenses for a KD 10 printing fee, effective immediately upon its publication in the official gazette Kuwait Al Youm.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to the process (the exact steps may vary slightly by location):
1. Visit the traffic department (muroor):
Head to the traffic department of the governorate that originally issued your license — this might differ from your current governorate of residence. Keep in mind that working hours and queues can vary for citizens, expats and companies.
2. Request the application form:
Go to the typing section and request a form to issue a physical driving license. This service usually costs KD 1. You will need to attach:
• A copy of your Civil ID
• A copy of your current digital license (from the Kuwait Mobile ID app)
• Your previous physical license (if available)
3. Form submission and payment:
• Submit the filled form at one of the designated counters for verification and stamping.
• Then, proceed to pay the KD 10 reissuance fee.
• Note: If you no longer have your previous physical license, an additional KD 10 fee may apply.
4. Final submission and collection:
Submit the signed and stamped form at the designated printing counter, then wait for your name to be called. Your physical license will be printed and issued shortly, depending on the number of applicants.
KUWAIT: A high-level government committee entrusted to regulate charity and humanitarian activities in Kuwait approved on Wednesday a draft law for humanitarian work in the country with the aim to boost transparency and accountability. The charitable work committee, headed by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, has been working for the past several months to increase official oversight over a number of charity organizations in Kuwait that have carried out a large number of charity projects inside and outside Kuwait.
The approval came after the ministry of social affairs ordered charity organizations in Kuwait, a majority of which are run by Islamic societies, to halt their work for several weeks in a bid to regulate them. The ministry and the committee both issued stricter reforms to boost transparency of the charity organizations and the government’s oversight of their work.
The draft law aims to strengthen the principles of governance, reinforce transparency and accountability and enhance the efficiency of implementing charitable initiatives and projects, a statement said. Once officially approved, the new draft legislation is expected to mark a significant step in organizing humanitarian work practices, improve policies and regulations and bolster local and domestic trust in the organizations operating in the charity sector.
For the past several decades, Kuwait has played a leading role among the oil-rich Gulf states in charitable work, with a large number of charity projects all over the world, especially in the Middle East and Africa.
Separately, the interior ministry announced on Wednesday residency detectives busted a network selling visas to expats for money, the second such bust this week. The ministry said a complaint by a Pakistani who paid KD 650 for a residence permit to another Pakistani led to busting the network.
Investigations revealed that the accused, who admitted to receiving the money, is a partner in 11 companies with 162 workers on their records. A number of workers registered on these companies admitted to paying sums ranging between KD 500 and KD 900 to obtain residency permits. Investigations also revealed that some of them paid additional sums ranging between KD 60 and KD 70 to falsify salary data on work permits to obtain family residency permits.
A Kuwaiti was also summoned as an authorized signatory for the 11 companies, admitting to receiving monthly sums ranging between KD 500 and KD 600. The ministry said the 12 suspects were referred to the public prosecution, confirming that investigations, arrests and inspections of the headquarters of the concerned companies are underway.