Kuwait-India ties enter new strategic phase, says Ambassador Meshaal Al-Shamali
- Kuwait and India target bigger investment and trade ties in new strategic phase
- Around 1 million Indians in Kuwait set to benefit in new era of investment and strategic cooperation
- Relations open new opportunities in investment, healthcare, technology and energy and food security as Kuwait eyes stronger ties with India
Kuwait and India are moving into a new phase of strategic partnership, with both countries preparing to expand cooperation in defense, renewable energy, technology, infrastructure, healthcare, food security and investment, says Kuwait’s Ambassador to India H.E. Meshaal Al-Shamali.
The relationship reached a major milestone with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kuwait in December 2024, the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Kuwait in 43 years. The visit elevated bilateral ties to a strategic partnership and resulted in agreements covering defense, culture and sports.
Defense and technology cooperation
Defense cooperation is expected to expand beyond traditional military ties. A bilateral memorandum provides for military training, exercises, technical expertise, defense research and development, logistics and counter-terrorism cooperation.
The two countries’ Joint Defense Committee, which met in New Delhi last August, agreed to strengthen military training and exchange expertise in defense industries and military medicine. Al-Shamali said India’s capabilities in defense manufacturing, radar, surveillance and reconnaissance systems could create opportunities for deeper cooperation with Kuwait.
More Indian investment and talent
Kuwait is seeking to attract more Indian companies, investment and skilled professionals, particularly in infrastructure, manufacturing, tourism, healthcare and renewable energy. Al-Shamali said Indian companies are being encouraged to participate directly in the Kuwaiti market and in major government projects, while Kuwait also hopes to increase its investments in India.
India remains one of Kuwait’s key trading partners, while Kuwait is an important energy supplier to India, providing about 5% of India’s energy needs through oil and gas.
Around one million Indians in Kuwait
For Kuwait’s large Indian community, the ambassador highlighted its central role in the country’s economy and services. Around 1 million Indians live in Kuwait, making them the largest expatriate community.
They account for about 21% of Kuwait’s total population and 30% of its workforce, with Indians working across healthcare, medicine, nursing, engineering, construction and education. Indian medical and nursing professionals are particularly significant, accounting for approximately one-third of the medical and nursing workforce in Kuwaiti healthcare facilities, according to Al-Shamali.
Kuwait and India also have a 2021 agreement governing domestic workers, including provisions aimed at protecting workers’ rights and defining the responsibilities of employers and workers. Al-Shamali said there are no restrictions on the number of workers who can be recruited from India, provided Kuwaiti regulations are followed.
Tourism and easier business links
More than 11,000 tourist visas were issued to Kuwaiti citizens for travel to India from the beginning of 2024 through the first half of 2025, including more than 7,700 in 2024 and around 4,100 during the first seven months of 2025, along with nearly 656 e-visas.
Al-Shamali said Indian tourism from Kuwait was affected in 2026 by regional tensions. A major economic development is the start of GCC-India free trade negotiations in 2026. The ambassador said the agreement could broaden trade and investment opportunities and further strengthen economic ties between India and the Gulf states, Al-Qabas daily reports.
65 years of Kuwait-India relations
The year 2026 marks 65 years of diplomatic relations, established in 1961. The two countries’ commercial, social and maritime connections, however, stretch back more than six centuries.
The Kuwaiti envoy also announced that the eighth round of Kuwait-India political consultations will be held in Kuwait in the coming days, providing another platform to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues.
Overall, the message from Kuwait’s ambassador is clear: the strategic partnership launched in 2024 is moving toward practical cooperation, with the Indian community, Indian investment, energy, healthcare, defense and emerging industries all positioned to play important roles in the next stage of Kuwait-India relations.
