UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, exchanged Eid Al Adha greetings during a phone call, reaffirming the close relationship between the two Gulf states at a time of intensifying regional diplomacy.During the call, the two leaders conveyed best wishes for health, happiness, stability and prosperity to the peoples of the UAE and Kuwait. They also prayed that the occasion would bring wider security and prosperity to nations across the world, reflecting the diplomatic tone that has long marked exchanges between Abu Dhabi and Kuwait City during major Islamic occasions.
The phone conversation came as Eid Al Adha was being observed across the Gulf, following the confirmation that the festival would begin on Wednesday, May 27, with Arafat Day falling on Tuesday, May 26. The timing placed the call within a wider round of leadership-level greetings among Gulf rulers and heads of state, a tradition that carries both ceremonial and political weight in the region.
Beyond the festive greetings, the exchange underscored the depth of UAE-Kuwait ties, which have gained added visibility through high-level visits, ministerial meetings and economic forums over the past two years. The two countries have maintained close coordination within the Gulf Cooperation Council, while also working to strengthen bilateral channels in trade, investment, culture, youth affairs, health, education and government cooperation.
Relations between the two states were given a fresh institutional push in January when the sixth session of the UAE-Kuwait Joint Higher Committee was held in Kuwait. The meeting was co-chaired by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Abdullah Ali Al Yahya, Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Five memorandums of understanding and executive programmes were signed, covering areas linked to social development, public finance, youth, culture and administrative cooperation.
That meeting coincided with a UAE-wide celebration of ties with Kuwait under the theme “UAE and Kuwait: Brothers Forever”, reflecting the historical bond between the two leaderships and peoples. Officials from both sides have repeatedly framed the relationship as one rooted in shared Gulf identity, family links, aligned security concerns and a common interest in regional stability.
Economic ties have also expanded. Non-oil trade between the UAE and Kuwait reached about AED54.5 billion in 2025, equivalent to roughly $14.8 billion, marking growth of more than 9 per cent from the previous year. Mutual investments have also passed the $10 billion mark, with UAE capital accounting for a substantial share of flows into Kuwait. The figures place Kuwait among the UAE’s important Gulf economic partners and highlight the growing role of non-oil commerce in relations between the two countries.
Business links have been supported by forums focused on investment, logistics, digital transformation and private-sector cooperation. UAE companies have shown interest in Kuwait’s infrastructure and services sectors, while Kuwaiti investors continue to view the UAE as a regional base for finance, real estate, tourism, aviation and technology. The partnership mirrors a broader Gulf trend in which states are diversifying their economies while deepening intra-regional capital flows.
The call also carried strategic significance against a regional backdrop shaped by the Gaza war, maritime security concerns, energy-market uncertainty and wider efforts to sustain Gulf coordination. Both the UAE and Kuwait have supported diplomatic initiatives aimed at de-escalation, humanitarian relief and a political path to peace, while maintaining their own distinct foreign policy approaches.
Kuwait, under Sheikh Mishal’s leadership, has emphasised domestic reform, fiscal discipline and continuity in foreign policy. The UAE, under Sheikh Mohamed, has pursued an active diplomatic agenda combining economic outreach, security partnerships and humanitarian engagement. Regular leader-level communication allows both sides to keep channels open on regional files that affect Gulf security and energy stability.
Eid Al Adha, one of the most important observances in the Islamic calendar, commemorates sacrifice, faith and solidarity. Across the Gulf, the occasion is also a period of public holidays, family gatherings, charitable giving and official exchanges among leaders. For the UAE and Kuwait, the latest call reinforced a relationship that blends tradition with practical cooperation, placing festive diplomacy within a wider framework of political alignment and economic partnership.
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