Kuwait recovers over 88 mln dinars in cooperation with Arab, Gulf States
. . . affirms commitment to expanding global asset recovery efforts
Kuwait’s Attorney-General, Counselor Dr. Omar Al-Masoud, affirmed on Wednesday that the State of Kuwait has activated international and regional mutual legal assistance frameworks for asset recovery, underscoring its determination to retrieve proceeds of crimes committed abroad.
He revealed that a dedicated office has been established within the Public Prosecution Office to handle asset recovery matters, reflecting Kuwait’s proactive approach to international cooperation in combating financial and corruption crimes, reports Al-Rai daily.
Dr. Al-Masoud delivered Kuwait’s statement during the first annual general meeting of the Middle East and North Africa Regional Asset Recovery Network (MENA-ARIN), held in Jeddah, marking the official launch of the network’s activities.
He highlighted one of Kuwait’s most notable accomplishments at the sub-regional level—its successful cooperation with Arab and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in recovering over 88.9 million Kuwaiti dinars (approximately US $290 million) from several jurisdictions.
Dr. Al-Masoud expressed optimism about broadening the scope of international cooperation to encompass all countries, emphasizing the need to facilitate and accelerate asset recovery mechanisms in ways that uphold justice while meeting each nation’s legal and procedural requirements.
He described the current meeting as a milestone in the work of the network’s General Secretariat, tasked with strengthening regional and international collaboration on asset recovery—an area of growing concern for states seeking to reclaim assets obtained through transnational crimes.
“Financial and corruption crimes of an international nature are among the most dangerous threats to societies,” Al-Masoud stated. “National efforts alone are insufficient to trace, seize, and recover illicit assets without intensive international cooperation.”
He stressed that joint global efforts are essential to confront the complexities of cross-border financial crimes and to support countries in fulfilling their right to punish offenders and restore public funds lost through illegal activities.
Dr. Al-Masoud also underscored the significance of the MENA-ARIN network as a bridge for cooperation between regional and global asset recovery agencies, facilitating the exchange of expertise, best practices, and intelligence to enhance efficiency and speed in asset recovery procedures.
He added that one of the key challenges facing the network is ensuring its effectiveness in coordinating efforts with similar bodies worldwide to actively pursue the recovery of criminal proceeds.
He called for the development of advanced tools and rapid communication channels between agencies to streamline recovery efforts, whether in cases where final confiscation rulings exist or when preemptive measures are required.
Concluding his remarks, Dr. Al-Masoud extended Kuwait’s gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha), for hosting the first meeting of the network and supporting the region’s shared commitment to integrity, transparency, and justice.
The first annual meeting of MENA-ARIN marks a new phase in regional cooperation, aiming to strengthen international partnerships, develop more efficient recovery mechanisms, and enhance collective efforts to combat corruption and promote integrity across the Middle East and North Africa.
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