Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah arrived in Washington on Wednesday ahead of a meeting with US president Donald Trump in a wide-ranging visit that will tackle economic and security aspects of their countries’ relationship.
While regional issues, such as the Qatar dispute and Iranian interference, will be addressed during their meeting on Thursday, it is the bilateral relations that will get the lion’s share of the talks. Deepening both security and economic ties between Kuwait City and Washington are seen as a priority for the visit.
The Emir, whose last working visit to Washington was in 2013, is leading a large delegation, which includes Kuwait’s foreign minister Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Hamad Al Sabah, interior minister Sheikh Khalid Al Jarrah Al Sabah, finance minister Anas Khaled Al Saleh, and National Guard deputy chairman Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah.
A White House official told The National the three-day visit coincides with the second annual US-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue, which will convene Cabinet-level meetings on education, trade, investment, homeland security, and military co-operation. The official said those meetings will take place on Thursday and Friday in the different departments.
Kuwait’s ambassador to the US Salem Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the visit is “historic in its time and objectives”.
“It marks a new beginning in our bilateral relations, and we will be looking for the next 25 years to advance our ties,” he said.
Marcelle Wahba, president of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, noted that the Emir of Kuwait was the first head of state from the GCC countries to visit Washington since Mr Trump took office.
"He is well-known and highly respected by senior US government officials and on Capitol Hill," Ms Wahba, former US ambassador to the UAE, told The National. "The bilateral relationship is very important for both Kuwait and the US … that includes close partnering on security, military and counter-terrorism initiatives."
The US approved in November a $10.1 billion (Dh37.1bn) foreign military sale of 40F/A-18 aircraft to Kuwait.
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce will host on Wednesday the first US-Kuwait Economic Forum, with the participation of secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross.
“The discussion will focus on how the governments and private sectors can work together to grow the bilateral trade and investment relationship,” a statement said.
Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund investments in the US exceeded $300 billion, according to a recent report by KUNA.
Regionally, Kuwaiti and US officials will discuss Iran's activity and ways to push back against Tehran's interference in other countries. In July, Kuwait ordered Iran to reduce its diplomatic presence in the country and expelled 15 — including the Iranian ambassador — of the embassy's 19 diplomats. The Kuwaiti authorities shut down the Iranian cultural and military missions for alleged links to a "spy and terror" cell in the country.
While the Qatar stalemate will be at the centre stage of regional issues at the White House on Thursday, a breakthrough is not expected.
“The US will want to hear the Emir’s views on what more can be done to de-escalate tensions, but I do not expect any breakthrough announcements on Qatar during his visit,” said Ms Wahba.
Kuwait has been leading regional mediation efforts on the issue since the dispute started in June. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have cut all diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar over accusations it was supporting terrorist groups. Doha denies the allegations.
The Emir reportedly called the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Bahrain prior to his trip to the US, as Mr Trump has called for a “diplomatic resolution”.
"At this point we are only trying to break the stalemate and start talks" a senior US official, who is involved in the Qatar mediation efforts, told The National.
Ms Wahba said: “The US appreciates the Emir’s personal effort and commitment to de-escalating tensions in the region.”
The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeap%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ziad%20Toqan%20and%20Jamil%20Khammu%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
THE SPECS
Engine: six-litre W12 twin-turbo
Transmission: eight-speed dual clutch auto
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh940,160 (plus VAT)
On sale: Q1 2020
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David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Other key dates
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Finals draw: December 2
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Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
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%3Cp%3ECreated%20by%3A%20Greg%20Coolidge%2C%20Shawn%20Simmons%2C%20Kirk%20Ward%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Mel%20Gibson%2C%20Colin%20Woodell%2C%20Mishel%20Prada%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
