Kuwait-Switzerland celebrate 60 years of strong diplomatic, economic ties
. . . over time the relations have culminated in $15 billion investment partnerships
The official visit of Swiss Federal Council President Guy Parmelin to Kuwait today highlights the depth of bilateral relations and enduring partnerships between the two friendly nations, spanning nearly 60 years. The visit is expected to further strengthen cooperation and open wider avenues across multiple sectors.
The Kuwait-Switzerland relationship stands as a model of successful diplomacy, reflecting mutual commitment to sustaining cooperation and coordinating on regional and global issues of shared interest.
The diplomatic ties began on June 16, 1966, with the opening of a Swiss consulate in Kuwait City. In the same year, His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was appointed Kuwait’s first Consul General to Switzerland in Geneva, establishing the first Kuwaiti diplomatic mission in Bern.
The Swiss government also accredited its Ambassador to Lebanon as envoy to Kuwait and, a year later, opened an honorary Swiss consulate in Kuwait, appointing the late Murad Youssef Behbehani as honorary consul.
Kuwait was the second Gulf country to establish diplomatic relations with Switzerland. Switzerland opened its embassy in Kuwait in 1975, while Kuwait inaugurated its embassy in Bern in 2006.
Most recently, on October 25, 2025, a new Swiss embassy building in the Al-Qadsiya area was inaugurated, attended by HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya, and Swiss Ambassador Tiziano Palmili.
Kuwait recalls with gratitude Switzerland’s principled stance during the Iraqi invasion, including its humanitarian initiatives for Kuwaiti students, support for the Kuwaiti people, and active role in resolving the issue of Kuwaiti prisoners and missing persons through the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Bilateral relations have continued to develop, marked by high-level visits and political consultations. Notably, HH Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah met with former Swiss President Viola Amher during the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2024.
Cooperation Agreements
Kuwait and Switzerland have signed agreements and memorandums in multiple fields, including:
- 1998: Agreement to encourage and protect bilateral investments.
- 1999: Double taxation avoidance agreement.
- 2019: Protocol updating the double taxation agreement to align with international standards.
- 2016: Visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and special passports; Memorandum of Understanding on international development cooperation; Agreement on political and security consultations.
- May 25, 2025: MOU between the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
Economic Relations
Economic ties remain robust. The Kuwait sovereign wealth fund’s investments in Switzerland exceed $15 billion, reflecting confidence in Switzerland’s stable legal and economic environment.
Switzerland is a key trading partner, with bilateral trade totaling $783 million in 2021. Kuwait offers foreign investors incentives, including 100% ownership rights and ten-year tax exemptions.
Private sector trade dates back to the 1930s, strengthened in 2023 with the launch of the Swiss-Kuwaiti Business Platform, reinforcing collaboration between the two nations’ economic sectors.
— KUNA
