Belinda Lewis

Ongoing cultural and educational exchanges between the UK and Kuwait are poised to further grow with initiatives such as specialist lectures, electronic travel authorizations for Kuwaiti nationals, and collaborations in education and Islamic architecture.

Reflecting on the 125-year journey of Kuwait and the UK, how have diplomatic and economic exchanges evolved, and what are some of the most significant milestones in this relationship?

Our diplomatic and economic ties have strengthened dramatically since 1899. It’s interesting to see how close the two countries have remained after the discovery of oil transformed Kuwait’s fortunes and following the establishment of Kuwait as an independent sovereign nation in 1961. 125 years ago, British diplomatic interests in Kuwait were represented by a diplomat from within the region, but by 1904, there was a dedicated Political Agency (which still stands on the Gulf Road in Kuwait City) and a resident Political Agent. The establishment of Kuwait’s Sovereign Wealth Fund in London in 1953—the first such fund in the world and an important step economically—was achieved with assistance from two Bank of England secondees and was a far-sighted step by the then Emir, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah. The UK supported Kuwait’s desire for independence and exchanged Letters of Friendship when Kuwait transitioned from British Protectorate to sovereign state in 1961. The UK’s role in the liberation of Kuwait in 1991 is well-known, and many Kuwaitis sought sanctuary in the UK during the invasion. Today, the British Embassy is busier than ever, working on a wide range of activities, including trade, investment, defense, security and cultural partnerships, and the British Embassy Residence remains the oldest continuously lived-in house in Kuwait.

Cultural and educational exchanges have been pivotal in strengthening UK-Kuwait relations. Can you share insights into current or upcoming initiatives to further enrich these exchanges?

We have many exciting cultural and educational ideas in store to celebrate 2024 as the 125th anniversary of official diplomatic relations—these include specialist lectures, horticultural initiatives, art, design and textile projects, drama and musical productions, and many more. One important contribution to our special anniversary year is the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), rolled out to Kuwaiti nationals in February. As a two-year multi-entry travel authorization, the ETA is making it easier than ever for Kuwaitis to visit the UK for short trips for tourism, business meetings, and short-term courses such as summer schools. This major improvement in the flexibility of travel to the UK will help to improve people-to-people links even further and continue to complement our already strong institutional relationships. British education is popular in Kuwait, with a number of excellent schools following the British curriculum to provide an easy transition to degree-level study in the UK. Some schools even provide quintessentially British extracurricular activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. I was interested to learn recently that the UK is the leading provider of Islamic architectural education outside of the Islamic world; British and Kuwaiti universities are currently collaborating on architectural and environmental research into more energy-efficient mosque designs.

What significant technological partnerships have the two nations forged, particularly in sectors like healthcare, fintech, or cybersecurity?

There are some exciting new partnerships emerging from these different areas. In healthcare, for example, the UK has been working with Kuwaiti companies on surgical robotics to reduce the risks around certain repetitive but delicate operations. Kuwait is an important investor in health-related technology and software solutions, looking at incident reporting and risk management, adverse event analyses, and ways of enhancing patient safety. In fintech, NOMO was launched in 2021 in the UK as the world’s first fully digital international Islamic bank. It is part of the Bank of London and the Middle East (BLME), a subsidiary of Boubyan Bank. Kuwait’s proficiency in fintech aligns well with the UK’s interests as frontrunners in this field and makes us strong partners in joint ventures, especially in R&D. Cybersecurity is also an area we have been working very closely with Kuwait on for many years now. We are working with the Kuwaiti government on its approach to cybersecurity, sharing best practices and our experience of developing our own national cybersecurity center.