KUWAIT: Women across Kuwait marked twenty years since they secured full political rights on Thursday. Speaking at an event held the same day, Minister of Social Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah recognized the milestone, highlighting the influence of Kuwaiti women across various fields. “Kuwaiti women have proven themselves as vital pillars of national development, achieving success that has placed them at the forefront of progress and contribution,” she said during a forum titled “Strategies to Support Kuwaiti Women in Line with Sustainable Development Goal 5,” held in collaboration with the UN office in Kuwait on Thursday.
Today, Kuwaiti women make up 60 percent of the public sector workforce, 48 percent in the private sector, and 28 percent of leadership roles in state institutions, Al-Huwailah noted. In traditionally male-dominated sectors, they’re also making strides—54 percent of employees at the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation are women, and 41 percent of leadership roles at the Central Bank of Kuwait are held by women.
These gains haven’t gone unnoticed. Kuwait’s global ranking on the Women, Peace, and Security Index has risen to 62nd, and the gender gap has narrowed by ten points. Kuwait also became the first Gulf country to adopt the Women’s Empowerment Principles in 2023, setting a new benchmark for the region.
Laws amendments
But progress isn’t just about numbers. Al-Huwailah pointed to recent key legislative reforms that dismantled systemic injustice, including the recent repeal of Articles 153 and 182 of the Kuwaiti Penal Code. Article 153 had effectively legalized honor killings, allowing men to receive minimal sentences for murdering female relatives under the guise of “protecting family honor.” Article 182 had let kidnappers, rapists included, walk free if they married their victims. The abolition of these laws was a turning point, aligning Kuwait’s legal framework with constitutional guarantees of justice, equality and human dignity.
Ghada Al-Taher
Ghada Al-Taher, UN Resident Coordinator and Representative of the Secretary-General, emphasized that Kuwait’s progress is being recognized internationally. During the 2025 Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the Human Rights Council commended the country for policies aimed at protecting women from violence, promoting economic independence, and expanding women’s decision-making power.
Education has become a powerful lever for transformation in Kuwait. According to UNESCO’s 2024 data, Kuwait has nearly eradicated female illiteracy, with more women enrolling in STEM fields than ever before—positions that are vital to building a knowledge-driven economy.
Women leaders
In business, Kuwaiti women are reshaping the narrative. With state-backed initiatives supporting women entrepreneurs, more women now lead successful ventures. Some have gained international recognition, including Dr Faiza Al-Kharafi, the first woman to lead a university in the Middle East, and Sara Akbar, who was instrumental in extinguishing Kuwait’s oil well fires after liberation. Both have been named among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the World, alongside others who continue to break ground in business, science, and public service.
She also highlighted ongoing efforts to empower women with disabilities, with the Public Authority for Persons with Disabilities pushing initiatives to integrate this group into the workforce and provide access to specialized support.
Despite these gains, Al-Taher acknowledged that deep-rooted challenges remain. “We can’t ignore the societal barriers that still prevent women and girls from fully realizing their potential,” she said. “Achieving full empowerment requires relentless commitment—not just from the state but from every sector.” The UN reaffirmed its pledge to support Kuwait in reviewing legislation, expanding women-focused programs, and driving initiatives that place women at the center of national development—steps crucial to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 and ensuring no woman or girl is left behind.
Erdogan gifts Amir Turkish-made EV • Leaders hold official talks • Key agreements inked
KUWAIT: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and an accompanying delegation arrived in Kuwait on Tuesday on an official visit. Heading the reception at Kuwait International Airport were HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Also present were HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and senior ministers and state officials.
HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal received a gift from Erdogan at Bayan Palace. The gift, an emblem of Erdogan’s appreciation and pride in the bilateral ties between the two nations, is a Turkish-made Togg electric vehicle. HH the Amir voiced his sincere appreciation for this generous gesture, wishing the President and the Turkish people further progress and prosperity.
HH the Amir held official talks at Bayan Palace with Erdogan, attended by HH the Crown Prince, HH the Prime Minister and senior officials from both sides. Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah said during the talks, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations between Kuwait and Turkey, discussed means of strengthening cooperation in various fields and exchanged views on key regional and international developments of mutual concern.
HH the Amir Sheikh Meshal welcomes President Erdogan before holding official talks.
In the presence of HH the Amir and Erdogan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef pose after signing an agreement between the two countries.
The meeting reflected the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two countries, affirming their mutual desire to enhance cooperation across all domains in a manner that serves their common interests and promotes regional stability. Preserving the hard-won ceasefire recently achieved in Gaza between the Zionist entity and the Palestinian group Hamas is critically important, Erdogan said Tuesday, according to a statement by the Turkish Communications Directorate. “Emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining the strenuously achieved ceasefire in Gaza, President Erdogan stated that a two-state solution is imperative for lasting peace, and highlighted the significance of the Islamic world’s common stance on this matter,” said the directorate.
The statement also said that Erdogan “stressed Turkiye’s resolve in upholding Syria’s political unity and territorial integrity, and expressed the desire to move forward together with the brotherly Arab states in building a promising future for the Syrian people.” On bilateral ties, Erdogan said the existing cooperation between Turkey and Kuwait in the fields of investment, energy, trade and the defense industry carries strategic importance. “President Erdogan stressed the potential to further enhance the deep-rooted bilateral ties,” the statement said.
“President Erdogan expressed appreciation for Kuwait’s efforts to promote regional stability as the current Chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and remarked that the free trade agreement, still under negotiation between Turkiye and the GCC, would further strengthen Turkiye’s commercial relations with the brotherly Gulf countries,” it added.
HH the Amir then held a banquet in honor of Erdogan and his accompanying delegation. Later, in the presence of HH the Amir and Erdogan, HH the Crown Prince and HH the Prime Minister, a number of agreements were signed at Bayan Palace between Kuwait and Turkey. The agreements include a maritime transport agreement and a memorandum of understanding on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates; a memorandum on cooperation in the energy sector; and a memorandum on cooperation in the field of direct investment incentives. Erdogan and his accompanying delegation then departed from Kuwait, heading to Qatar. Bidding him farewell at the airport were HH the Crown Prince, HH the Prime Minister and top state officials. – Agencies
KUWAIT: Minister of Public Works Dr Noura Al-Mashaan on Tuesday signed a contract with the Turkish company Kozo for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a wastewater treatment plant in South Al-Mutlaa City, along with its complementary works. In a press statement, the Ministry of Public Works said the project is part of the ministry’s development plan and is designed to serve the residents of Al-Mutlaa City.
The plant will produce around 400,000 cubic meters of triple-treated water daily for agricultural and other beneficial uses. The ministry added that the facility represents a pioneering step in the adoption of alternative energy technologies, reflecting Kuwait’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure development and environmental conservation. — KUNA
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