Kuwait has been known since its establishment at the beginning of the 17th century, specifically in the year 1613, for its charitable work, humanitarian initiatives, and voluntary contributions, both within the country and beyond. Kuwait has continued these qualities to this day, playing a significant role in supporting humanitarian work for its people and residents on its soil, whether through its official institutions, civil society organizations, or the private sector.
Kuwait has also played a vital role toward the countries and peoples of the world by contributing to the development of these nations, continuously supporting them in various aspects of life and providing assistance to peoples suffering from poverty, hunger, disease, and natural disasters, as well as wars. To this end, Kuwait established several entities that fulfill this role, including the South and Arabian Gulf Authority and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. The state provided grants, loans, and donations that helped different countries worldwide complete the development of their societies.
According to statistics from 1990 to 2014, Kuwait’s assistance to countries around the world amounted to over $42 billion, including about $8.5 billion in loans, grants, and aid through governmental channels.
Kuwait's assistance to countries worldwide from 1990 to 2014 amounted to more than $42 billion
Following Kuwait’s pioneering journey in humanitarian and developmental work and its efforts to achieve peace, a report was issued by the Global Development Initiatives organization in the UK in 2014, stating that Kuwait ranked first among Gulf and global countries out of 20 nations in terms of aid relative to national income. Kuwait was recognized as the most generous country. Today, Kuwait expresses its commitment to humanitarian and voluntary work by incorporating charity and humanitarian activities into its strategic plan for Kuwait Vision 2035, with humanitarian work being one of its most prominent policies, goals, and plans.
Debt Interest Cancellation Initiative
Kuwait has consistently helped its fellow nations worldwide. One of Kuwait’s humanitarian initiatives was announced by the late Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may Allah have mercy on him, before the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 1988, with the initiative to cancel the interest on debts owed by poor countries.
A Global Center for Humanity
On September 9, 2014, the United Nations designated Kuwait as a "Global Center for Humanitarian Work" in recognition of its humanitarian, charitable, and developmental efforts, which were prominently demonstrated in donor conferences for the Syrian people, suffering due to the ongoing war. Kuwait hosted three conferences on its soil in 2013, 2014, and 2015, and participated in the fourth conference held in the UK in 2016.
The United Nations also granted the late Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may Allah have mercy on him, the title of "Leader of Humanitarian Work" in recognition of his significant efforts in organizing donor conferences and aiding distressed nations and peoples. Among these conferences were the Gaza Children's Relief Conference and the Iraq Reconstruction Support Conference.
United Nations chose Kuwait as a "Global Center for Humanitarian Work" in recognition of its charitable and developmental efforts
For many years, Kuwait, through its government and private charitable funds and institutions, has been providing aid and grants, including through the Kuwait Fund for Development, established in the early 1960s. This fund offered soft loans totaling $13 billion across approximately 1,000 loans that benefited more than 100 countries.
Kuwait has continued to offer assistance to countries, peoples, and humanitarian organizations to ensure human stability and safety. For example, in 2007, Kuwait donated $300 million to support the Palestinian cause at the Paris donor conference.
Kuwait also established a fund to support and finance small and medium-sized private sector projects in the Arab world with $2 billion during the first Arab Economic Summit on January 20, 2009, to which Kuwait contributed $500 million. Additionally, Kuwait established the Technology and Digital Economy Fund during its presidency of the 4th Arab Developmental Economic and Social Summit in Beirut in 2019, with a value of $200 million, of which Kuwait contributed $50 million. Kuwait also announced the Abdulrahman Al-Sumait Prize for African Development.
In March 2019, Kuwait donated $300 million over three years to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people, bringing Kuwait’s total contributions to the Syrian people to $1.6 billion by March 2019.
All these humanitarian achievements were realized by Kuwait, crowning its charitable efforts. Kuwait continues to draw global attention with its humanitarian deeds and charitable footprints that have reached all corners of the earth, bearing witness to Kuwait’s love for charitable work and its deep-rooted nature in the hearts of its leaders and people.
Donor Conferences
Kuwait has held several donor conferences to assist affected countries and peoples, including:
- The Donors' Conference for Eastern Sudan in Kuwait in 2010: 42 countries participated, pledging financial contributions amounting to $3.5 billion. 30 regional and international organizations, 78 civil society organizations, and 84 companies attended, and Kuwait contributed $500 million.
Kuwait held numerous international donor conferences to help affected countries and peoples
- The first Donors' Conference to support the Syrian people in Kuwait in 2013: 59 countries participated, with pledges totaling $1.6 billion. Kuwait contributed $300 million, and 13 international humanitarian organizations pledged $194 million.
- The second Donors' Conference to support the Syrian people in Kuwait in 2014: 69 countries and 24 humanitarian organizations participated, with countries pledging $6 billion, Kuwait contributing $500 million, and international organizations pledging $183 million.
- The Donors' Conference for Gaza Reconstruction in Cairo in 2014: 50 countries participated, pledging $5.7 billion to help Gaza after the Israeli aggression. Kuwait contributed $200 million for the reconstruction of Gaza's residential, industrial, and developmental sectors.
- The third Donors' Conference to support the Syrian people in Kuwait in 2015: 79 countries and 40 humanitarian organizations participated, with pledges totaling $8.4 billion. Kuwait contributed $500 million.
- The fourth Donors' Conference to support the Syrian people in the UK in 2016: 70 countries participated, pledging about $9 billion. The host country, the UK, invited the Emir of Kuwait to serve as the honorary president of the conference, and Kuwait contributed $300 million.
- The Donors' Conference to support education in Somalia in Kuwait in 2017.
- The International Conference on the Suffering of Palestinian Children under Israeli Violations of the Rights of the Child in Kuwait in 2017.
- The Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq in Kuwait in 2018: 76 countries participated, pledging $30 billion. Kuwait contributed $1 billion, and Kuwait provided many other forms of assistance to countries and peoples, earning global admiration for these contributions.
Kuwait pledged $5 billion at the World Humanitarian Summit in Turkey in May 2016 over the following five years to address humanitarian crises. This reaffirms Kuwait's commitment to continuing its humanitarian work to develop nations and peoples under the leadership of the Al-Sabah rulers, who support and encourage good deeds, as well as the Kuwaiti people, charitable institutions, and the private sector, which support the course of charitable work.
United Nations Membership and International Events
Kuwait has gained the trust of the international community and the United Nations and has hosted many international and UN events on its soil, including:
- Kuwait's nomination by UN members for a new term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for two years, with 188 votes from 193 countries. Kuwait assumed the Security Council's rotating presidency in February 2018, returning 40 years after its previous non-permanent membership in 1978 and 1979. Kuwait joined the United Nations officially in 1963.
"Global Development Initiatives": Kuwait ranks first in the Gulf and globally in providing aid in relation to national income
- Kuwait hosted the International Conference on Integrity for Peace in January 2019.
- The World Bank honored the late Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, at the World Bank headquarters for his role in supporting social and economic development and fostering peace regionally and internationally.
COVID-19 Crisis Contributions
In 2020, Kuwait rushed to confront the COVID-19 pandemic (COVID-19) and managed the crisis successfully. Kuwaiti charitable organizations launched a donation campaign that raised KD 9.169 million (about $30 million) in one day. Assistance was provided to those affected within Kuwait, benefiting many families and affected workers, and logistical support was offered to various ministries, governmental institutions, and private organizations.
Kuwait provided several forms of assistance to several countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, including Palestine, China, and Iran. It donated $60 million to the World Health Organization, and Kuwaiti charities provided aid to countries affected by COVID-19.
First Donation to Beirut Port Incident
Kuwait was the first to make generous donations to Lebanon following the major explosion at Beirut Port on August 4, 2020, which caused significant losses in lives, property, and infrastructure. The Kuwait Red Crescent Society sent the first aid via an air bridge with the assistance of the Kuwaiti army’s air force.
Nawaf of Generosity and Giving
Due to the conviction of all Kuwaiti rulers in the importance of charitable and humanitarian work, it has become customary for the ruler of Kuwait to assume the honorary presidency of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society. When His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may Allah rest his soul, assumed power on September 29, 2020, he became the honorary president of the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society.
His Highness the Amir has taken it upon himself to continue Kuwait's humanitarian and charitable journey, ensuring that Kuwait's generous and giving hands remain extended without hesitation. His Highness has directed relief campaigns to all countries in need of assistance, without discrimination, reaffirming once again that charitable work is a defining trait of Kuwait and its people, both its leaders and citizens alike.
Extinguishing Forest Fires in Countries
Kuwait’s contribution to extinguishing forest fires in friendly and brotherly countries. When forest fires broke out in the Republic of Turkey and Greece in August 2021, Kuwait prepared Kuwaiti firefighting teams along with their equipment. Each team, designated for both countries separately, consisted of 45 firefighters, with a total of 90 firefighters from Kuwait. They displayed remarkable bravery in extinguishing the fires and returned after their heroic and honorable efforts in combating the blazes. Kuwait also sent aid to contribute to extinguishing fires in both Algeria and Tunisia, which erupted in August 2021.
Amir of Kuwait continues the journey of benevolence
His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may Allah protect and preserve him, continues the path of goodness, generosity, and supporting humanitarian work both inside and outside Kuwait.
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