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Kuwait, Saudi to deepen strategic ties

Kuwait, Saudi to deepen strategic ties

Arab Times3 days ago
NEOM, Saudi Arabia, Aug 5: Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud and His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah held talks on Monday in the Saudi city of Neom on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in a variety of domains. The talks were held during the Saudi Crown Prince's reception of the Kuwaiti Premier and his accompanying delegation on the occasion of their visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. At the onset of the meeting, His Highness the Prime Minister conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and their best wishes for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people. His Highness the Prime Minister and Saudi Crown Prince delved into the different aspects of the solid and close cooperation between the two sisterly countries and means for enhancing integration at all levels under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and their brothers in the Kingdom, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. They emphasised the importance of continuing close coordination and consultation to achieve the aspirations of the peoples of the two nations for further progress and prosperity. They affirmed keenness to advance bilateral historical and fraternal relations to broader horizons, deepening the strategic partnership and consolidating joint bilateral action
Regional
They discussed the latest regional and international developments of common concern, particularly the two countries' efforts to promote security and peace in the region and the world. From the Saudi side, the meeting was also attended by Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the State of Kuwait Prince Sultan bin Saad bin Khaled Al Saud; Minister of State and Member of the Saudi Cabinet Prince Turki bin Mohammad bin Fahad Al Saud and Assistant Minister of Finance Hindi Al-Suhaimi; and Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments at the Public Investment Fund Yazeed A. Al-Humied. From the Kuwaiti side, the meeting was also attended by the Director General of the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and the Managing Director of the Kuwait Investment Authority Saud Salem Abdulaziz Al-Sabah. His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and his accompanying delegation departed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after an official one-day visit on Monday.
Departure
His Highness was seen off by Saudi Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Prince Turki bin Mohammad bin Fahad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; Saudi Ambassador to Kuwait Prince Sultan bin Saad bin Khalid Al Saud; Acting Charge d'Affaires at the Embassy of the State of Kuwait to the Kingdom Hamad Ibrahim Al-Salloum; and Kuwait's Consul General in Jeddah and Permanent Representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Yousef Abdullah Al-Tunaib. In a statement prior to his departure, His Highness the Prime Minister expressed his deep thanks and appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its leadership, government, and people, for the warm welcome and generous hospitality he received during his visit, wishing the Kingdom further stability and prosperity.
Meanwhile, earlier, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and his accompanying delegation arrived on Monday in the city of Neom for an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Upon arrival, His Highness was received by the Saudi Minister of State and Cabinet Member; Prince Turki bin Mohammad bin Fahad bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Saudi Ambassador to Kuwait Prince Sultan bin Saad bin Khaled Al-Saud, Acting Charge d'Affaires at Kuwait's Embassy in Riyadh Hamad Ibrahim Al-Salloum, and Kuwait's Consul General in Jeddah and Permanent Representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Yousef Abdullah Al-Tunaib. In a statement upon arrival, His Highness the Prime Minister expressed great pride in visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, highlighting the deep-rooted historical ties and bilateral relations between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that the visit represents a valuable opportunity to further strengthen the close relations and continue bilateral consultations on various issues serving the interests of both countries and their peoples. His Highness also praised the policies adopted by the Saudi leadership and government, as well as the Kingdom's prominent regional and international stances. (KUNA)
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Exhibition promotes Czechia's scenic destinations, cuisine
Exhibition promotes Czechia's scenic destinations, cuisine

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Exhibition promotes Czechia's scenic destinations, cuisine

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Kuwait's fishermen sound alarm over shrinking catch, high costs
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Kuwait's fishermen sound alarm over shrinking catch, high costs

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Kuwait expels 127 Bangladeshi workers following wage protest
Kuwait expels 127 Bangladeshi workers following wage protest

Arab Times

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  • Arab Times

Kuwait expels 127 Bangladeshi workers following wage protest

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 7: In a disturbing incident that has sparked outrage among the Bangladesh community, as reported by Bangladesh's NTV on July 31st that 130 Bangladeshi workers were deported from Kuwait after they approached a local police station to protest five months of unpaid wages. Instead of receiving help, the workers were reportedly detained and deported on July 30th – a swift and harsh response to what began as a plea for justice. In the aftermath, Al-Seyassah/Arab Times met with the envoy of Bangladesh and the embassy's labor wing chief to investigate the chain of events that led to the deportation of 127 Bangladeshi nationals, highlighting yet another grim chapter of migrant workers. Al-Seyassah/Arab Times has since launched an in-depth investigation into the matter. 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A similar situation occurred in November 2024, when the same company failed to pay salaries, prompting workers to reach out to the Bangladeshi Embassy. At that time, intervention by the embassy resulted in all dues being cleared. However, from March to July this year, workers again went unpaid. The company assured the workers that they would be paid but from one month it went to 5 months unpaid, hence this time the workers chose not to approach their respective embassies or the Public Authority for Manpower, opting instead to head straight to the local police station – a decision that proved costly. In Kuwait, the law strictly prohibits expatriates from participating in mass protests. Instead, they are advised to report grievances to their respective embassies and, in cases of labor disputes, file complaints with the Public Authority for Manpower. On July 27th, around 8:30 p.m., Mr. Mohammed Abdul Hussein, the labor wing in-charge at the Bangladeshi Embassy – well known for his regular visits to worker accommodations — was alerted to the unfolding crisis and began closely tracking the situation. The embassy, responsible for safeguarding the interests of more than 300,000 Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait, responded swiftly to the incident. A formal petition was filed with the Kuwaiti authorities, and the company owner was contacted. He agreed to pay one month's salary immediately and promised to settle the remaining dues over three installments. However, the workers, already frustrated and disillusioned, rejected the offer. The Bangladeshi Embassy urgently appealed to the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Director General of the Public Authority for Manpower, requesting a halt to the deportations. The embassy stressed that the workers were unaware of Kuwaiti legal procedures and that their deportation without compensation would be a grave injustice. Despite assurances that salary payments would be processed on July 28th and 29th, the situation escalated rapidly. On the night of July 30th, the embassy received a call from one of the workers en route to the airport, confirming they were being forcibly deported without even allowing them to collect their belongings from their residence. In response, officials from the labor wing of the Bangladeshi Embassy rushed to the airport to offer moral and legal support. Workers were urged to make a Power of Attorney as soon as they reached Bangladesh, authorizing the embassy or a trusted representative in Kuwait to pursue their outstanding wages and collect their belongings on their behalf. Repeated attempts to contact the company during the deportations were met with silence. Ambassador Hussain has since taken the matter up with senior Kuwaiti officials, including the Ministry of Interior and the Director General of the Public Authority for Manpower, as well as the company's management. (Meeting is scheduled this week) The Ambassador stated that the embassy bears the responsibility of ensuring that deported nationals and their families receive any unpaid wages, recover their personal belongings, and verify whether those deported have been blacklisted or banned from reentering Gulf countries. The embassy is also in touch with those who are deported. The Bangladeshi Embassy in Kuwait holds monthly public meetings where expatriates can voice their grievances. Workers may also contact the mission directly via email – available on their official website: https:// The Ambassador personally addresses many of these cases, particularly those involving unpaid wages or passports withheld by companies. In several past instances, the embassy has successfully resolved numerous disputes by warning errant sponsors that failure to comply with labor laws could lead to their companies being blacklisted from future manpower agreements with Bangladesh. Furthermore, newly arrived workers are briefed on Kuwaiti labor regulations through information booklets and orientation sessions organized by the embassy. As the situation continues to develop, attention now turns to whether the affected workers will receive their long-overdue wages and if the deported Bangladeshi nationals will be allowed to return to Kuwait for employment in the future, in the spirit of continued cooperation and mutual respect between the two nations.

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