HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, personally met with prominent Kuwaiti businessmen attending the UAE-Kuwait Economic Forum in Dubai. The forum is a centerpiece of the "UAE & Kuwait: Brothers Forever" week — a comprehensive diplomatic and trade initiative aimed at deepening the already strong bilateral relationship between two of the Gulf's most influential economies. The event, reported by the Dubai Media Office, brought together senior business leaders, government officials, and investment professionals from both nations to explore joint ventures, trade agreements, and strategic partnerships across sectors ranging from technology and real estate to finance and infrastructure.
The personal involvement of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid — who hosted the Kuwaiti delegation — underscores the strategic importance the UAE places on its relationship with Kuwait and the role of economic forums as instruments of Gulf cooperation.
"UAE & Kuwait: Brothers Forever" Initiative
Hosted by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid — a comprehensive diplomatic and economic week strengthening bilateral ties between two of the Gulf's most dynamic economies
The "Brothers Forever" Initiative: Beyond Economics
The UAE-Kuwait Economic Forum is part of a broader week-long initiative titled "UAE & Kuwait: Brothers Forever" that extends beyond business to encompass cultural exchange, diplomatic engagement, and people-to-people connections. The initiative reflects the deep historical ties between the two nations — both founding members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in 1981 — and their shared vision for a diversified, technology-driven future for the Gulf region.
The "Brothers Forever" branding signals a deliberate deepening of the bilateral relationship at a time when both nations are pursuing ambitious economic transformation agendas. Kuwait's Vision 2035 (New Kuwait) and the UAE's various strategic plans (including Dubai's D33 and Abu Dhabi's Economic Vision 2030) share common themes of economic diversification, technology adoption, and private sector empowerment — creating natural alignment for cross-border collaboration.
Key Sectors for Bilateral Cooperation
The economic forum covered a broad spectrum of sectors where UAE-Kuwait collaboration can generate mutual benefit:
Real Estate and Construction
Kuwaiti investors have been among the most active foreign buyers in Dubai's property market. The forum explored opportunities for joint real estate development, construction partnerships, and investment in Dubai's emerging residential and commercial corridors
Technology and Digital Economy
Both nations are investing heavily in fintech, AI, and digital infrastructure. The forum explored partnerships in these areas, leveraging Dubai's advanced tech ecosystem and Kuwait's growing startup scene
Financial Services and Banking
The UAE and Kuwait have sophisticated banking sectors with growing cross-border activity. Sessions covered Islamic finance, wealth management, and cross-border payment infrastructure
Logistics and Trade
Dubai's position as a global logistics hub and Kuwait's strategic location create opportunities for joint trade facilitation, warehousing, and supply chain optimization across the GCC
UAE-Kuwait Bilateral Trade: The Numbers
The UAE and Kuwait maintain a robust bilateral trade relationship, with annual non-oil trade exceeding AED 45 billion. Kuwaiti investments in the UAE — particularly in Dubai — span real estate, financial services, retail, and hospitality. Conversely, UAE-based companies have a growing presence in Kuwait across construction, telecommunications, retail, and financial services.
Kuwaiti nationals and investors are among the top foreign property buyers in Dubai, attracted by the emirate's lifestyle, investment returns, and Golden Visa residency programs. The Dubai Land Department reports significant Kuwaiti investment in areas including Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and emerging communities like Dubai South and Expo City Dubai.
"The relationship between the UAE and Kuwait is built on decades of brotherhood, mutual respect, and shared values. This economic forum translates that relationship into concrete business opportunities that benefit both nations' economies and peoples."
— UAE-Kuwait Economic Forum statement
The Diplomatic Context: GCC Strengthening
The UAE-Kuwait Economic Forum takes place against the backdrop of a strengthening GCC, where Gulf nations are increasingly coordinating on economic policy, trade harmonization, and joint development initiatives. The resolution of earlier regional diplomatic tensions has enabled a renewed focus on intra-GCC cooperation, with bilateral forums like this one serving as building blocks for deeper economic integration.
Both the UAE and Kuwait share a strategic interest in reducing dependence on hydrocarbon revenues. Kuwait's oil revenues still represent approximately 90% of government income, creating urgency for diversification. The UAE, further advanced in its diversification journey — with non-oil sectors now contributing over 70% of GDP — offers a model and partnership opportunities that Kuwait can leverage in its own transformation.
UAE-Kuwait Economic Collaboration: Areas of Opportunity
- Real estate joint ventures: Kuwaiti developers and UAE construction firms collaborating on projects in both markets
- Fintech partnerships: Cross-border digital banking, payment solutions, and Islamic finance technology
- Tourism exchange: Joint tourism promotion and hospitality investment leveraging Dubai's infrastructure
- Healthcare: Medical tourism, hospital management partnerships, and health technology collaboration
- Education: University partnerships, student exchange programs, and joint research initiatives
- Energy transition: Collaboration on solar energy, green hydrogen, and clean technology investment
- E-government: Sharing Dubai's digital government expertise with Kuwait's modernization programs
- Startup ecosystem: Cross-border investment in startups and incubation programs connecting both nations' innovation ecosystems
Significance for Dubai's Business Ecosystem
For entrepreneurs and investors operating through Dubai's free zones, the strengthening of UAE-Kuwait economic relations opens new channels for cross-border business. Kuwait represents a market of 4.3 million people with one of the highest GDP per capita rates in the world — a wealthy, increasingly digitized consumer base that is naturally accessible through Dubai-based operations.
Dubai's free zones — DIFC for financial services, DMCC for commodities and crypto, Dubai CommerCity for e-commerce, DAFZA for trade, and Dubai Internet City for technology — provide ready-made infrastructure for companies seeking to serve both the UAE and Kuwaiti markets from a single regional base. The economic forum's focus on removing barriers to cross-border trade and investment makes this strategy increasingly viable.
Sheikh Mohammed's Personal Engagement
The personal engagement of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid in hosting the Kuwaiti business delegation is significant. As the Ruler of Dubai and the driving force behind the emirate's transformation from a regional trading port to a global business hub, Sheikh Mohammed's direct involvement signals to Kuwaiti investors that Dubai is committed to being their preferred partner and investment destination in the region.
This level of engagement is characteristic of Dubai's approach to economic diplomacy — where relationships between heads of state and business leaders are cultivated personally, creating a level of trust and accessibility that formal diplomatic channels alone cannot achieve. The "Brothers Forever" initiative exemplifies this approach: deeply personal, strategically significant, and designed to produce tangible economic outcomes from the foundation of genuine bilateral friendship.
