
Kuwaiti Cabinet commends efforts in healthcare and technology advancement
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 6: The Kuwaiti Council of Ministers convened its weekly session on Tuesday morning at Bayan Palace, under the chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
Following the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sherida Al-Mu'asherji issued a statement outlining key points discussed.
The Cabinet was briefed on messages received by the Amiri Diwan, addressed to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, from leaders of sisterly and friendly countries. These communications focused on enhancing bilateral relations and activating joint cooperation between Kuwait and these countries across various fields.
The Council was informed of the issuance of Decree No. (149) of 2025, which accepted the resignation of Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment Noura Sulaiman Al-Fassam. Subsequently, Decree No. (150) of 2025 appointed Dr. Subaih Abdulaziz Al-Mukhaizeem as Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy, in addition to his roles as Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment.
In this regard, the Council expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to former Minister Al-Fassam for her dedicated efforts throughout her tenure, wishing her good health and continued success.
The Cabinet also reviewed a visual presentation by Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi and senior Ministry officials outlining future plans. These include transforming the Ahmadi Health Zone into an integrated medical city, expanding Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, and improving its operational efficiency. The presentation highlighted ongoing efforts to secure medical and technical staff in coordination with relevant authorities and proposed solutions to address administrative and technical challenges.
Minister Al-Awadhi reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to implementing its strategic plan in partnership with concerned bodies to ensure the delivery of advanced, sustainable health services.
The Council commended the efforts of Minister Al-Awadhi and his team for their continued dedication to enhancing medical services across Kuwait's hospitals, health centers, and clinics, reflecting the country's advanced position in the healthcare sector.
Additionally, the Council reviewed a presentation by Minister of State for Communications Affairs Omar Saud Al-Omar and officials from the Central Agency for Information Technology regarding Kuwait's international standing in the communications and information technology sectors.
The presentation noted Kuwait's achievement of first place globally in the 2024 Information and Communication Technology Development Index (IDI), published by the International Telecommunication Union, for the second consecutive year. This milestone reflects the country's advancements in digital infrastructure, adoption of modern technologies, and leadership in fostering innovation to stimulate economic growth.
The Cabinet praised Minister Al-Omar and government agencies for their efforts in implementing the Kuwait Digital Strategy, aimed at achieving a sustainable and advanced digital future, and recognized the country's accomplishments in global ICT indicators.
The Council also discussed recommendations from the Ministerial Committee for Legal Affairs concerning several draft laws, agreements, and memoranda of understanding between Kuwait and various sisterly and friendly nations. These measures seek to enhance Kuwait's international standing and strengthen bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.
The Cabinet approved these recommendations and decided to submit them to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for final approval.
Several other agenda items were reviewed and approved, while some were referred to the relevant ministerial committees for further study and report preparation to ensure proper implementation.
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Arab Times
24 minutes ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait's fishermen sound alarm over shrinking catch, high costs
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 7: Fish resources are one of the country's renewable natural resources, serving as a staple food for a large segment of the Kuwaiti population and playing a vital role in strengthening national food security. As a result, the relevant authorities are keen about developing this vital sector and sustainably increasing its production. Despite the optimism among officials and fishermen about this year's shrimp catch, which appears more abundant than in previous years, Kuwait continues to face major challenges in both production and investment. These have led to a decline in the availability of shrimp and local fish, particularly popular species such as mead and zubaidi. In this context, the daily met with several officials and specialists in the marine fishing sector, who confirmed that government efforts continue to control the market and provide seafood products at reasonable prices. According to the specialists, some of the regulations imposed by the authorities responsible for managing fishing have caused catch quantities to decline threefold, led to the disappearance of important species from the market, most notably mead, and resulted in price increases for others, especially zubaidi. Experts called for reconsidering the designated fishing distance, suggesting it be reduced to between 6 and 7 miles instead of 12, while maintaining strict environmental controls to protect coral reefs and ensure the sustainability of marine life. They also called for opening limited areas within the bay for commercial fishing on a seasonal and controlled basis, aiming to balance environmental protection with food availability. Meanwhile, the Shift A Supervisor at the Sharq Fish Market, affiliated with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Hamoud Al-Hamdi explained that fishermen face major obstacles that directly affect the availability and prices of fish in the market. These challenges are evident from the daily work and constant interaction with fishermen and consumers. He said, 'We live in a restricted fishing reality, imposed by long-distance requirements and high costs, which negatively impact the market and consumers.' In a press statement, Al-Hamdi explained that the number of daily baskets of fish and shrimp used to reach about 700, but today it has decreased to between 200 and 300 baskets on normal days, and only 400 to 500 baskets during the shrimp season, despite the first days of the season witnessing the injection of good quantities amounting to about 20,500 tons of fish and 17,988 tons of local shrimp. The requirement of the Environment Public Authority (EPA) to stay 12 nautical miles away from the nearest land, including Kuwaiti islands such as Failaka and Kubbar, is one of the most significant challenges. This rule forces fishermen to sail for about an hour and a half before they can start fishing, which increases fuel and operating costs. Also, fish often gather close to land, and moving farther away reduces their abundance. Fishermen primarily avoid coral reefs because they damage fishing nets and hinder the trawling process. Reducing the distance to 6 or 7 miles would result in larger catches and lower prices, while still maintaining environmental oversight. Al-Hamdi clarified that the aim of raising these demands is not to interfere with the powers of the relevant authorities, but to present a practical perspective from the field, seeking to balance protecting the marine environment, sustaining fish stocks, and enabling fishermen to operate effectively to serve consumers and achieve food security. He said the year-round closure of Kuwait Bay to fishermen has led to a significant shortage of maid and zubaidi fish, indicating that areas like Subiya used to supply abundant quantities of zubaidi, while mead is primarily found within the bay. Al-Hamdi revealed that the price of a basket of mead used to be no more than KD 6, but due to the severe shortage, it has sometimes soared to KD 120. He stressed that the 'upper' fishing method does not harm coral reefs and poses no environmental risk. Al-Hamdi proposed opening specific areas within the bay for seasonal fishing, lasting between one to three months, under the supervision of the relevant authorities, adding that these areas could then be closed after the season ends to ensure sustainability and prevent overfishing. Furthermore, Chair of the Kuwait Fishermen's Union Abdullah Al-Sarheed agreed with the proposal of Fish Market Supervisor Hamoud Al-Hamdi, stressing the need to reconsider the permitted fishing area and reduce the imposed distance outside the islands from 12 miles to only 6 to 8 nautical miles. He explained that this long distance not only constitutes an economic burden but also exposes fishermen to serious security risks. Several fishing boats were robbed by pirates and robbers in economic waters during the current fishing season, with more than ten incidents recorded, resulting in significant financial losses for boat owners. Reducing the permitted fishing distance will contribute to enhancing security at sea and opening areas to fishermen, which will ease the burden on Coast Guard personnel who continue their efforts to protect fishermen around the clock. Al-Sarheed praised the cooperation of the Ministry of Defense and the General Directorate of Coast Guard in this area. He also called for opening Kuwait Bay for fishing on a seasonal and regulated basis, under the supervision of the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) and EPA. Al-Sarheed stressed that not fishing within the bay for long periods leads to fish death or migration due to the lack of marine soil movement and oxygen renewal. Regarding the protection of coral reefs, Al-Sarheed affirmed that fishermen are fully committed to preserving the marine environment, and that the union implements periodic awareness programs to ensure adherence to best environmental practices. Also, Vice President of the Kuwait Fishermen's Union Jaber Al-Ali described the current fishing season as different in terms of the abundance of catch and the diversity of seafood products. He pointed to an improvement in the quantities of fish and shrimp on offer, which has been reflected in the relative stability of prices. Al-Ali called for opening fishing in Kuwait Bay during specific seasons and under the supervision of regulatory authorities, and for allowing the fishing of mead fish, which often migrates or dies if not caught in time. He considered the failure to benefit from this fish to be a loss for the Kuwaiti consumer. He also supported the proposal to reduce the permitted fishing distance in economic waters to just 6 nautical miles, stressing that this would make fishing trips safer and help reduce incidents of robbery and piracy. Al-Ali affirmed that the Kuwait Fishermen Union is fully prepared to cooperate with the relevant authorities to address the challenges facing the sector, in a way that ensures the sustainability of fish resources, protects fishermen, and preserves this traditional profession that represents the heritage of our forefathers. In addition, all who spoke to the daily agreed that some of EPA's requirements pose direct challenges to fishermen, most notably: - The requirement to stay 12 nautical miles away from the nearest land for shrimp fishing - The ban on commercial fishing within the waters of Kuwait Bay


Arab Times
an hour ago
- 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. In an exclusive interview, the Bangladesh Ambassador to Kuwait, His Excellency Major General Syed Tareq Hussain, offered fresh insight into the troubling episode. 127 Bangladeshi workers were deported from Kuwait after staging a protest over five months of unpaid wages. The group had gathered outside Fintas police station to file a formal complaint against their employer, a move that prompted swift action from Kuwaiti authorities. In addition, 50 Indian and 30 Nepali expatriates were also detained during the protest, though it remains unclear whether they have been deported. The deportees were not even allowed to return to their accommodations to collect their personal belongings before being escorted to the airport and forcibly repatriated to their home countries. Three Bangladeshi nationals are still being held in custody due to unresolved financial disputes. The controversy centers on a Kuwaiti- based company that has a history of delaying employee wages. 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.

Kuwait Times
3 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait finalizes logistics for Gaza aid shipments
Charities submit requests to Kuwait Flour Mills; KRCS volunteers to accompany flights KUWAIT: The Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) is standing by for official clearance to begin airlifting critical humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip. The airlift is part of a nationwide relief campaign aimed at supporting Palestinians facing catastrophic conditions under the Zionist entity 's ongoing assault and blockade. 'We're now awaiting confirmation from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of when the airlifts will begin,' said Fawaz Al-Mazrouei, Director General of KRCS, in an interview with KTV news channel. Launched under the directives of Kuwait's top leadership, the aid campaign has mobilized government bodies, civil society groups, and the public in what officials describe as a coordinated national response to the Zionist entity's genocidal war on Gaza. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Social Affairs announced the conclusion of the donation drive, confirming that it raised KD 6,546,078 (approximately $21.4 million) in total. That includes KD 2.5 million through an online fundraiser, KD 1.5 million from Insan Charity Society, KD 1.3 million from Direct Aid Society, KD 500,000 from the Awqaf Secretariat General, and other contributions from local organizations. All funds collected will be fully allocated to the purchase of relief materials through the Kuwait Flour Mills Company. The decision, said Al-Mazrouei, was settled upon following several meetings. 'All charitable organizations are in direct contact with the Kuwait Flour Mills Company, submitting their requests based on each organization's capacity,' said Al-Mazrouei. 'Based on that, we at the Red Crescent — acting as the liaison — coordinate with all the charities and organize the entire program. And, God willing, that process is now underway.' Once flight schedules are confirmed, KRCS will finalize preparations for the aid shipments and oversee the distribution of materials, in line with the requests submitted by each charity through the Flour Mills. Supervising aid delivery Al-Mazrouei added that preparations are underway to assign volunteers to accompany each relief flight. 'According to the dates of each flight, volunteers are assigned to accompany the plane,' he said. 'They will transport all the requested items to the airport, where they are loaded from vehicles onto the aircraft for departure.' Each plane will include a team of volunteers to supervise the handover of aid, he said. 'They will supervise delivery upon arrival and ensure handover to the Egyptian Red Crescent and the storage facilities, confirming that all items have been received,' Al-Mazrouei explained. 'The Egyptian Red Crescent will then deliver the goods into Gaza, God willing, under the supervision of all parties involved.' Assistant Foreign Minister for Development and International Cooperation Hamad Suleiman Al-Mashaan had told the press last month that part of the aid supplies will be delivered to Gaza through Jordan. But no information on delivery to Jordan was provided by Al-Mazrouei. 'All efforts today are focused on one goal — supporting and aiding the Palestinian people,' he said, noting that the Red Crescent was tasked with leading the campaign based on its experience in delivering aid internationally. Al-Mazrouei praised the Defense Ministry for its role in preparing the air bridge, highlighting the enthusiasm of air force crews involved in the mission. 'They are always among the first to respond,' he said. 'When we meet with each flight crew, they're genuinely happy to be delivering aid to any country. This is truly humanitarian work, and everyone is seeking the reward from Allah.' 'Relief on the way' The campaign's urgency comes as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, the Zionist entity's nearly two-year war on Gaza has killed at least 61,158 Palestinians, including 193 who have died from hunger, among them 96 children. The ministry also reported that 87 Palestinians were killed and 570 wounded while attempting to access humanitarian aid. Since late May, 1,655 people have died and more than 11,800 have been injured while trying to obtain food or supplies. The Zionist entity has maintained a blockade on Gaza for 18 years and has closed all border crossings since March 2. As of August, the enclave's 2.4 million residents have received only 843 aid trucks since July 27, far fewer than the 6,000 trucks needed over 10 days to meet basic needs, according to Gaza's Government Media Office. Kuwait's campaign is one of many aiming to help Gazans. 'To the people of Gaza: Relief is on the way, God willing. The people of Kuwait stand with you and will not fall short, God willing,' said Al-Mazrouei This campaign marks the first authorized charitable fundraising drive since a nationwide suspension was imposed in April 2025. The suspension followed authorities' discovery of several unauthorized campaigns operating through unofficial websites and social media. The Ministry of Social Affairs said the freeze was necessary to protect donor funds and restore accountability. The suspension was lifted in late June, paving the way for a coordinated and transparent campaign to support Gaza. The Kuwaiti people have responded with overwhelming generosity. 'The Kuwaiti people are naturally generous and quick to help,' Al-Mazrouei said. 'Even residents in Kuwait are joining these efforts. Everyone is contributing, racing to give whatever they can.'