News report by Saud Al-Ajmi
DOHA, Dec 18 (KUNA) -- Qatar is celebrating its National Day Thursday, remembering Sheikh Jassem bin Mohammad bin Thani who founded the Gulf state on December 18, 1878, while Kuwait joins in this celebration as a reflection of the bonds of Gulf brotherhood and a shared destiny.
Qatar celebrates its National Day with the slogan "With you we rise, from you we await". The State of Kuwait is adorned with the flags of its State of Qatar, especially as bilateral relations are rich with bright milestones throughout different historical periods and extend beyond geographical proximity and neighborhood to be characterized by uniqueness and an intertwined destiny.
Qataris recall the legacy of the founder, Sheikh Jassem bin Mohammad bin Thani, who upon assuming the reins of power on December 18, 1878 laid the foundations of the modern State of Qatar, which under his leadership became a single cohesive entity and a unified independent country.
Qatar’s National Day represents an opportunity to highlight the achievements of the founders of the State of Qatar who endured hardships to achieve national unity, reaffirm the state’s identity and history, and embody the values and aspirations upon which the state was established. It also strengthens loyalty, solidarity, unity and pride in Qatari national identity.
Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, stated during the opening of the Shura Council last October that the national economy continued its positive performance despite a volatile global economic environment. He attributed this to balanced and prudent policies that have preserved macroeconomic stability and maintained investor confidence in Qatar’s ability to manage its resources with high efficiency.
He noted that the Third National Development Strategy aims to achieve seven main objectives over the next five years, covering 16 sectors and eight economic clusters. He said that the Qatari economy maintained a strong growth pace, recording a growth rate of 2.4 percent in 2024 and 1.9 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025.
He added that the financial sector remained resilient, supported by higher international reserves and foreign currency liquidity at the Qatar Central Bank at the end of 2024, increasing by 3.7 percent year-on-year compared to the end of 2023, while Qatar’s credit rating remained high with major global rating agencies.
Sheikh Tamim pointed out that the debt-to-GDP ratio declined from 58.4 percent in 2021 to 41.5 percent by the end of the first half of 2025, describing this as an "important achievement."
Regarding foreign policy, the Amir of Qatar affirmed in his Shura Council address that his country spares no effort in contributing effectively to addressing the challenges facing the Arab and Islamic nations, in a manner that fulfills the aspirations of their peoples for security, stability, and sustainable development, in addition to achieving international peace and security.
He noted that Qatar has undertaken significant international efforts in mediation to resolve conflicts as well as in humanitarian front, extending help to people in need in different parts of the world.
He said: "However, this effort also comes at a cost. Qatar has been subjected to two condemned and denounced violations of its sovereignty, once by Iran and the second by Israeli occupation. In the latter, the aggression targeted a residential neighborhood, aiming at members of the negotiating delegation of Hamas, resulting in the martyrdom of six individuals: one Qatari citizen and five Palestinian brothers. The entire world condemned both attacks, and Qatar emerged from them stronger and more resilient."
He explained that the global response was so strong that it shocked the attackers, pointing to the unanimous statement by the UN Security Council condemning the aggression and praising Qatar’s role in mediation.
He added that the statements of Security Council members and the Arab-Islamic Summit demonstrated Qatar’s status on the international stage and the broad global appreciation for its role.
Doha hosted the emergency Arab-Islamic Summit, held on September, to discuss ways to respond to the Israeli occupation attack on Qatari territory, with the participation of Arab and Islamic leaders. The summit was attended by the representative of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
During the summit, His Highness the Crown Prince stated: "Our summit today comes to renew our condemnation of the brutal aggression carried out by the Israeli occupation forces on September 9 against the State of Qatar and its sovereignty, and to affirm that the security of the State of Qatar is a fundamental pillar of the security of our Arab and Islamic nations and an inseparable part of it."
He added: "I express my sincere condolences to the State of Qatar, its leadership, government and people, for the victims of this brutal Israeli aggression, including the martyrdom of Bader Saad Al-Doseri."
Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya also expressed strong condemnation and denunciation of the brutal attack carried out by the Israeli occupation forces against the State of Qatar.
The State of Kuwait further expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the attacks that targeted Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, in a blatant violation of Qatari sovereignty and airspace, international law, and the UN Charter, constituting a dangerous escalation that threatens peace, security and stability in the region.
Last November, Doha hosted the "Second World Summit for Social Development - Doha 2025 - at the Qatar National Convention Center. More than 8,000 participants attended, including representatives of member states at the level of heads of state and governments, ministers, the United Nations, civil society, academics, the private sector and youth, to renew commitment to social justice and translate this commitment into tangible actions that place people at the heart of sustainable development.
This summit is considered the first official meeting of the UN General Assembly to be held outside New York or Geneva, in accordance with the Assembly’s rules of procedure, reflecting Qatar’s status as an effective strategic partner of the United Nations. It was attended by the representative of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
In the sports arena, Qatar hosted the FIFA Under-17 World Cup last month with the participation, for the first time, of 48 teams. It also hosts the FIFA Arab football Cup, in addition to hosting the Formula One World Championship, the world’s largest and most famous motorsport competition, held in Doha at the Lusail International Circuit.
Regarding Qatar National Vision 2030, the comprehensive development vision - Qatar National Vision 2030 - was adopted, based on the principle that comprehensive development is the primary goal for achieving progress and prosperity for citizens.
Qatar National Vision 2030 aims to transform Qatar into an advanced country capable of achieving sustainable development and ensuring a dignified standard of living for its people generation after generation.
The vision outlines key future characteristics and identifies five main challenges: modernization while preserving traditions; balancing needs of current generation with those of future generations; managing targeted growth versus uncontrolled expansion; directing the development path and the size and quality of the targeted expatriate workforce; and achieving economic and social development while protecting and developing the environment.
As for Kuwait-Qatar relations, the two countries share a unique relationship marked by common features based on unity of destiny and purpose, and a shared pursuit of integration and connectivity across all vital fields that fulfill the aspirations of their peoples.
In 2021, Qatar inaugurated the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Road axis in Doha in appreciation of the late Amir of Kuwait’s positions and efforts to preserve the security and stability of the region.
Qatar-Kuwait relations continue to witness significant growth and development, with cooperation encompassing political, economic, commercial, investment, military, security, educational, tourism and cultural fields.
A joint supreme committee was established in 2002 to create a framework of partnership covering all aspects of cooperation and to explore broader horizons for fraternity between the two countries.
Last February, the Joint Supreme Cooperation Committee held its sixth session at the Qatari Amiri Diwan, reviewing ways to enhance integration across various sectors, as well as exchanging views on issues of mutual interest. Memoranda of understanding and the minutes of the sixth session were signed on the sidelines of the meeting.
Trade exchange between the two countries grew by 88 percent over the past three years, reaching QAR 7.79 billion (about USD two billion) in 2023, compared to QAR 4.12 billion (about USD one billion) in 2020.
In February 2024, the Chairman of Qatar Chamber Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassem, stated that the shipping line between Hamad Port and Kuwait’s Shuwaikh Port significantly contributes to increasing trade volume and provides an ideal service for transporting goods, especially foodstuffs, to and from Qatar on a regular basis.
Regarding mutual investments, many Qatari companies operate in Kuwait across diverse economic sectors, and numerous Kuwaiti companies are active in the Qatari market.
The "Made in Qatar" exhibition was held in Kuwait in 2020 with the participation of more than 220 Qatari industrial companies, contributing to closer ties between Qatari and Kuwaiti business leaders, the formation of alliances and understandings, and an increase in bilateral trade volume.
In January 2020, Kuwait signed a long-term agreement with Qatar to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) for 15 years, from 2022 until the end of 2036. Under the agreement, Qatar provides three million tons of LNG to the LNG complex at Kuwait’s Al-Zour Port starting in 2022.
In August 2024, Qatar Energy signed an agreement with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation to supply up to three million tons of LNG annually to Kuwait for a period of 15 years.
On September 10, His Highness the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, representing His Highness the Amir, paid a fraternal visit to the sisterly State of Qatar. He was received at the airport by the Deputy Amir, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani.
In February 2024, His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad paid a state visit to Doha, while His Highness the Crown Prince participated, as the representative of His Highness the Amir, in the third Asian Cooperation Dialogue Summit held in October 2024 in Doha. (end)
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