KUWAIT: The United Kingdom’s commitment to its longstanding friendship with Kuwait was reaffirmed this week during an official visit by the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development affairs the Rt Hon David Lammy MP, who was honored to meet with senior Kuwaiti leadership for the 2025 UK-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue.

The UK Foreign Secretary was received by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al – Hamad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya. Discussions reflected the strength of the historic relationship between Kuwait and the United Kingdom that spans over 250 years and touched on a wide range of shared interests including regional affairs, defense cooperation, trade and investment and international development partnerships.

As part of the visit, two MoUs were signed between the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, on providing joint emergency humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations affected by conflicts in Somalia and Sudan. Both parties will provide a total contribution of five million dollars to support ICRC’s humanitarian work in Somalia and a total of 10 million dollars to support UNICEF’s work in sustaining vital primary healthcare, nutrition and child protection services in Sudan.

These agreements represent an important step in continuing to build the UK-Kuwait international development partnership following the success of the first joint project in September 2024, which provided aid to Gaza and Yemen. The visit also included a meeting with Minister of Finance & Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, Noura Al-Fassam, where discussions focused on bilateral trade now totaling £6.1 billion per year & investment, advancements on UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement negotiations and UK’s interest in Kuwait’s Vision 2035.

During the visit, the Foreign Secretary visited the Commercial Bank of Kuwait to meet with Chairman Sheikh Ahmad Duaij Jaber Al-Sabah and one of several British Kuwaiti joint venture businesses contributing to Kuwait’s economic development – Kuwait British Renewables. The meeting underlined the UK’s ongoing commitment to supporting private sector collaboration, knowledge exchange and innovation between the two countries. A special meeting was also held with young Kuwaiti diplomats and professionals at Saud Al Nasser Al Sabah Kuwait Diplomatic Institute hosted by Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The Foreign Secretary commended their passion, talent and global outlook, and welcomed their role in shaping the future of Kuwait-UK relations.

The UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development affairs, Rt Hon David Lammy MP, commented on the bilateral relationship stating: “Kuwait and the United Kingdom have an enduring, close, deep friendship bounded by people-to-people and strong cultural links, a strong defense and security partnership, we’ve been trading for over 250 years and our first bilateral relations go back to 1899 of course supplemented by the relationship between our two royal families. I am in Kuwait to conduct a strategic dialogue, an important strategic dialogue that sets up the next era of our relations. There’s more we can do on trade, and business, and investment, there’s more that we can do on security and defense at this challenging time for global security and peace particularly here in the Middle East.” Reflecting on the visit, British Ambassador Belinda Lewis, stated: “This visit marks another chapter in over 125 years of close friendship between Kuwait and the United Kingdom. It comes at a time of deepening cooperation across numerous sectors including trade, humanitarian development and cultural exchange. The British Embassy in Kuwait looks forward to building on the momentum of this important visit and continuing to work in partnership with Kuwaiti institutions for the benefit of both our peoples.”

Head of ICRC GCC Regional Delegation, Mamadou Sow stated: “This joint commitment by the Kuwait Fund and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office sends a strong signal of solidarity with the people of Somalia. With their support, we’re able to deliver essential health and water services in areas where needs are urgent and often invisible. It’s a testament to the power of principled humanitarian action and to the leadership of Kuwait and the UK in placing humanity at the heart of international cooperation.”

UNICEF Gulf Area Office Representative, Eltayeb Adam noted: “This generous joint contribution from the UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office and the Kuwait Fund comes at a critical time for children in Sudan. It is more than financial support; it is a lifeline. This partnership shows what’s possible when long-standing partners unite with a shared purpose: to protect children’s rights, restore essential services, and bring hope to those affected by crisis. UNICEF deeply values this growing humanitarian collaboration, which is helping build a more resilient future for Sudan’s most vulnerable children.”

KUWAIT: The Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan held “Uzbekistan – The Pearl of the Silk Road”, on Tuesday. The Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Kuwait Ayubkhon Yunusov highlighted the rich and diverse tourism potential of his country, inviting Kuwaiti and Gulf travelers to explore its cultural and natural treasures. During the event, the ambassador announced the signing of an executive tourism cooperation program for the period 2025–2027, reflecting a mutual commitment to further developing this vital sector. He stated “We are pleased to share that starting from June 2025; Kuwaiti citizens will be allowed visa-free entry to Uzbekistan for up to 30 days. This is a significant step towards facilitating travel and tourism between our two countries.”

The Ambassador emphasized the progress made in bilateral relations, saying “Uzbekistan and Kuwait have enjoyed 31 years of fruitful cooperation and friendship. Our ties have witnessed remarkable development thanks to the mutual understanding and close dialogue between our leaderships.” Concluding his remarks, the Ambassador extended an open invitation “We warmly invite you to visit Uzbekistan, to experience its historical wonders, breathtaking nature, and the renowned hospitality of our people. You are always welcome.”

On the sidelines of the event, Umid Shadiev, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, who paid a visit with a delegation from Uzbekistan, stated that his visit to Kuwait aimed to deepen ties with local tourism entities and explore new avenues for collaboration. “The Kuwait Tourism Authority plays a pivotal role within the Middle East tourism framework. We are here with a delegation of around ten Uzbek tourism companies to build partnerships and promote our destination,” he said.

Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Kuwait Ayubkhon Yunusov

The Audience

Osamah Al-Mekhyal

Umid Shadiev, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan

Shadiev revealed that a national strategic tourism development plan for 2025–2026 has been issued and is now being translated into action plans tailored to Gulf markets, adding “In the coming weeks, we will launch a package of new tourism initiatives, including investment incentives and partnerships with key players in the region’s tourism industry.” Highlighting Uzbekistan’s tourism appeal, Shadiev noted “Uzbekistan is home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, offering a unique blend of mountain adventures, rich history and cultural depth.

Kuwaitis are natural explorers, and we welcome them to experience something truly special.” He also extended a call to Kuwaiti investors “The Uzbek government offers direct financial support of up to $5,000 per hotel room constructed, meaning a 100-room hotel can receive up to $500,000 in incentives. We see great potential for Kuwaiti investment in our tourism infrastructure.” Despite growing interest from the Gulf, he acknowledged that only about 500 Kuwaiti tourists had visited Uzbekistan so far, stressing the importance of this promotional event in building sustainable partnerships.

Commenting on bilateral ties, he added “The historic visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Kuwait last February marked a turning point in our relations. It resulted in the signing of several agreements in tourism, investment, and cultural exchange including an MoU between the Uzbek Tourism Committee and Kuwait’s National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters.” For his part, Assistant Undersecretary for the Tourism Sector of the Ministry of Information and Culture of the State of Kuwait, Osamah Al-Mekhyal, emphasized that hosting the event reflects the strong and growing ties between the two countries.

He stated, “This gathering underscores our shared desire to open new horizons of cooperation in tourism, which will serve the mutual interests of our peoples and enhance cultural and economic exchange.” Al-Mekhyal described Uzbekistan as a promising tourism destination, rich in history, culture, and natural beauty, with a unique oriental cuisine, adding “This event is a valuable opportunity to explore the country’s vibrant tourism diversity and foster new partnerships for future collaboration.”

VIENNA: Kuwait reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring global energy security on Wednesday while calling for increased investments in future energy projects and the adoption of solutions that reduce emissions and support the transition to a more efficient energy system. This came in a speech delivered by Oil Minister and Chairman of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) Tareq Al-Roumi at the 9th International Seminar of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna.

Leading Kuwait’s delegation to the seminar, Al-Roumi said the event comes at a critical time marked by mounting challenges in the energy sector, particularly amid shifting regional and global dynamics. He noted that OPEC continues to work toward market stability by balancing supply and demand and strengthening partnerships with non-OPEC producers through the OPEC+ alliance, contributing to the sustainability of energy supplies.

Al-Roumi emphasized the importance of market stability in achieving energy security and supporting global economic growth, stressing that oil will remain a key part of the global energy mix for decades to come. He also reiterated the need to boost investment in future energy projects and adopt solutions that cut emissions and facilitate a shift toward a more efficient energy ecosystem.

Sheikh Nawaf Saud Al-Sabah, Deputy Chairman and CEO of KPC, affirmed the corporation’s commitment to providing stable and reliable supplies of crude oil and environmentally friendly products. He highlighted KPC’s adaptability to market shifts through a flexible and innovative approach that reflects its achievements in exploration, development, production and expansion in the petrochemical industry.

Chinese and Japanese buyers are requesting more oil in a further indication of strong demand, Shaikh Nawaf told the seminar. KPC is also participating in the accompanying exhibition of the 9th OPEC International Seminar through a dedicated pavilion showcasing highlights of its 2040 strategy, digital transformation initiatives, emission reduction efforts, success stories in international partnerships and global expansion — bolstering Kuwait’s presence in the global energy landscape.

Kuwaiti Oil Minister Tareq Al-Roumi

KPC CEO Sheikh Nawaf Saud Al-Sabah

Output increases from oil producer group OPEC+ are not leading to higher inventories, showing that markets are thirsty for more oil, ministers and executives from OPEC nations and bosses of Western oil majors said on Wednesday. OPEC+, which pumps about half of the world’s oil, has been curtailing production for several years to support the market. But it has reversed course this year to regain market share.

OPEC+, comprising OPEC and allies such as Russia, began to unwind cuts of 2.17 million barrels per day in April with a production boost of 138,000 bpd. Hikes of 411,000 bpd followed each month in May, June and July. On Saturday, the group approved a 548,000-bpd jump for August and will likely approve a large hike for September when it meets again in August, sources told Reuters.

“You can see that even with the increases for several months we haven’t seen a major buildup in inventories, which means the market needed those barrels,” United Arab Emirates’ Energy Minister Suhail Al-Mazrouei told reporters. Global oil demand will increase by about 1.2-1.3 million bpd for the rest of this year, despite challenges from US tariffs and trade tensions, Amin Nasser, the CEO of Saudi oil giant Aramco told the seminar. Nasser cited rising US gasoline demand and China’s petrochemical sector as growth drivers.

OPEC has ramped up production partly because it wants to regain market share from rivals such as the United States, sources have told Reuters. BP CEO Murray Auchincloss said he saw non-OPEC production stagnating next year after hitting new highs in recent months. The physical oil market looks tight and China is boosting stockpiles, Auchincloss said.

Shell CEO Wael Sawan said he was more concerned about oil field depletion rates of 4-5 percent a year, meaning more investments were needed. TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne said he thought the market was rather well supplied given that demand growth has halved in China in recent years.

With planned output rises, OPEC+ will likely complete the return to the market of the 2.17 million bpd of voluntary cuts in September. It is also allowing the UAE to complete a 300,000 bpd separate output increase. OPEC+ still has separate cuts of 3.65 million bpd in place, consisting of 1.65 million bpd in voluntary cuts by eight members and 2 million bpd across all members. Those cuts expire at the end of 2026.

Iranian Oil Minister and current OPEC President Mohsen Paknejad underscored the importance of scientific and pragmatic approaches to energy issues, urging the global community to set aside ideological divides in favor of realistic and inclusive dialogue. “Energy is the cornerstone of the global economy and an essential part of our daily lives,” Paknejad said in a video address. “Last year witnessed an unprecedented rise in energy demand across all sources, including oil and gas.”

Paknejad reaffirmed oil’s prominent role in the global energy mix, noting it continues to supply nearly 30 percent of global energy needs. He stressed OPEC’s crucial role in maintaining market balance and preventing price volatility that affects not only producing nations but the entire international economy.

On the energy transition, he acknowledged significant progress in renewable energy and electric vehicle deployment but cautioned that decarbonization efforts must be grounded in science and practical policy rather than slogans. Calling for the inclusion of all technologies, sectors and stakeholders, he said: “This is the only path to success — and precisely why OPEC remains a vital organization for the world.” – Agencies