Shared values, cultural closeness, cements Spanish-Kuwaiti ties

Ambassador of Spain H.E. Manuel Hernández Gamallo

By Reaven D’Souza
Executive Managing Editor

In a recent interview with The Times Kuwait, Ambassador of Spain H.E. Manuel Hernández Gamallo spoke at length on Spanish-Kuwaiti relations, and the potential for immense growth in various fields going forward.

He began by emphasizing that the ties between Spain and Kuwait are “deep-rooted and solid, based on shared values, cultural closeness, and strong people-to-people ties. He added that the next phase in bilateral relations will witness added momentum in cooperation across various fields, including in political, economic and cultural spheres.

How would you describe the current state of diplomatic relations between Spain and Kuwait?

Kuwait and Spain have maintained diplomatic relations since 1961, shortly after Kuwait’s independence. The relations were reinforced by mutual respect, friendship and brotherly relation between their royal houses. Those ties, based on shared values, cultural affinities and contacts on the people to people level, have grown steadily over the past many decades, particularly in economic and commercial spheres.

What are the current priorities for the Spanish Embassy in Kuwait?

We intend to organize a new round of political consultations in the coming months, this time in Madrid, which will follow the political consultations held in Kuwait in July 2024. At a political level, we are working to agree on the modalities for an important high-level visit in the near future.

We are also working on the follow-up to the Economic Joint Committee that was held in Kuwait last May, and attended by delegations chaired by the Spanish Vice-minister of Trade and the Kuwaiti State Secretary of Finance. On that occasion, a meeting, followed by a networking event, took place in the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce, which was very well attended by Kuwaiti and Spanish economic operators from different fields, including from civil infrastructure, water management, railway systems, health, smart farming, renewables, defense, naval capabilities, communications, radar detection and others. We are continuously working in order to increase the number of Spanish companies contributing to Kuwait´s progress and prosperity.

What are the biggest opportunities for Spanish-Kuwait cooperation?

At the bilateral and economic level, opportunities span multiple domains, especially in the context of global shifts toward sustainability, cooperation in renewables and environmental policies, Spain’s green initiatives can play a role in some of the policies outlined in Kuwait’s Vision 2035. For instance, Spain can share expertise in solar and wind technologies, aiding Kuwait’s diversification from hydrocarbons. Current and future areas of cooperation include civil infrastructure, transportation, logistics, food security and water management.

Spain can contribute to Kuwait’s food security strategy, drawing on advanced technologies and long-standing expertise in smart farming, efficient irrigation systems, water management and desalination technologies, greenhouse innovation, biotechnology, and advanced logistics. Spain can also offer integrated solutions that combine renewable energy with food production, from solar-powered irrigation to smart farming practices that raise efficiency while protecting the environment.

I would also like to point out that food is an essential part of Spanish cultural identity. Our country is the fourth agri-food power in Europe and tenth in the world. Due to the quality and extensive range of items, the Spanish agri-food industry is highly regarded internationally. Spain boasts nearly 30,000 agri-food companies and covers the entire value chain. I believe these capabilities align directly with Kuwait’s priorities of ensuring a reliable and sustainable food supply despite challenging climatic conditions.

Another of our main ambitions is the cooperation in healthcare and human empowerment, a growing area with a vast array of possibilities for more cultural and educational exchanges. Medical tourism is also on the increase, with more and more Kuwaitis seeking treatment in Spain. In the field of infrastructure and construction, Spanish engineering firms have a proven track record in Kuwait, having been involved in Kuwait’s infrastructure improvement, such as highways and airport expansions.

There is also much potential for cooperation in the academic, cultural and sport fields, where Spain has much to offer. Spain has 91 universities—50 public and 41 private—distributed across the national territory. Spain excels in fields such as medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, biochemistry and renewable energies, all of which are fields of interest for Kuwaiti students. The Spanish university system is a highly internationalized one, with 96 bachelor degrees and 389 master degrees taught in English. In 2025, Kuwait granted the ‘excellent’ level to a list of specialties taught in the universities of Madrid, Navarra and Barcelona. Kuwait has also recognized the academic degrees delivered by forty-five Spanish universities.

According to our information, in 2023 there were 89 students registered in the Spanish University system, although many of them are in the framework of mobility programs. One of our goals is to promote the Spanish universities in the context of the Kuwaiti government’s scholarship system, so that more and more Kuwaiti students can receive higher education in Spain.

Are there any upcoming joint initiatives or agreements between the two countries?

Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) are currently in the pipeline, including on industrial exports development, on industrial cooperation, on the standardization cooperation and on Tourism cooperation. We are also working on several MoUs on educational issues: for instance the MoU between the Spanish High Council of Scientific Investigations (CSIC) and the University of Kuwait and a MOU for cooperation in sports.

What areas of cooperation are seeing the most growth?

While in 2024 the bilateral trade between Spain and Kuwait reflected a balanced dynamic, in the first half of 2025 Spanish imports from Kuwait have increased substantially, surpassing 650 million Euros in just six months—a 280 percent increase compared to the same period of the previous year. This remarkable growth demonstrates Spain’s strong commitment to deepening its economic ties with Kuwait and its recognition of Kuwait as a strategic partner in the region.

On the export side, Spain recorded 135 million Euros in the first half of 2025, reflecting continued demand for Spanish goods. Our exports to Kuwait are quite diverse, ranging from industrial machinery and mechanical equipment to high-quality ceramics, perfumes and luxury goods. This mix shows the depth of Spain’s manufacturing base. It is important to note that those figures do not fully capture the volume of investment flows or stocks between our two countries.

Kuwaiti citizens are currently leading the GCC investment in real estate in Spain. Historically, Kuwaiti investors have played a key role in the development of iconic Spanish hotels and commercial properties, in cities such as Madrid, Marbella, and Barcelona.

What advice would you give to Kuwaiti investors interested in Spain?

Spain welcomes Kuwaiti entrepreneurs and investors to explore opportunities in our country, which stands as a modern, dynamic, and competitive economy within the European Union. Spain offers a strategic geographical location, serving as a gateway not only to Europe but also to Latin America and North Africa.

Spain is a global leader in renewable energy, infrastructure, railways, tourism, and agri-food industries, sectors where partnerships with Kuwaiti companies can generate substantial value. Spain offers state of the art infrastructure, advanced technological capabilities, tax incentives and a business environment that actively promotes foreign investment.

Furthermore, Spain offers stability, transparency and significant growth potential. Whether you are interested in green energy, digital transformation, or healthcare, Spain can match your ambitions. The Embassy of Spain remains fully committed to supporting Kuwaiti investors and facilitating stronger ties with Spanish companies. Our commercial and trade section is providing contacts, disseminating information and organizing agendas for the Spanish entrepreneurs who wish to explore Kuwait´s business opportunities.

Are there any cultural Exchange programs or upcoming Spanish cultural events in Kuwait?

Spain and Kuwait enjoy a rich history of cultural exchange, and our embassy is eager to expand this relationship by promoting cultural events, with a special attention to those cultural manifestations that point towards a close cultural legacy. For instance, in the last year, our embassy has supported concerts of Spanish music in the AlQurain Festival, also in the Yarmouk Theater, under the auspices of Dar al Athar al Islamiya. We are currently collaborating with the National Council of Culture, Arts and Letters in the organization of a concert with an important Spanish chamber orchestra. Another line of work is what we call the ‘Scientific diplomacy’, a program our embassy launched in Kuwait in 2023. In this framework, we have organized several events and exhibitions in collaboration with Kuwait´s institutions.

What initiatives exist to promote the Spanish language in Kuwait?

In order to satisfy the increasing demand and to provide the Kuwaiti students with an official certificate, an examination facility has been set as the official DELE examination center in the French Institute in Kuwait, so that the Kuwaiti students can obtain this diploma from Institute Cervantes.

Our Attaché of Education has been in contact with the Kuwaiti Education authorities and Kuwaiti universities, to explore the opportunities for the Spanish language to have a presence in Kuwait´s educational system. Our Embassy participated last winter for the first time in the ‘Kuwait International Higher Education Exhibition’.

We are disseminating information on studying Spanish language in Kuwait, and we regularly participate in local initiatives such as the ‘European Day of Languages’. We also maintain our links with Kuwait´s Hispanists.

What makes Spain a unique travel destination for Kuwaiti tourists?

According to figures collected in July, Spain received 55, 5 million tourists during the six first months of 2025, breaking all previous records. In 2024, 93.759 tourists traveled to Spain, consolidating our country between the second and the third place in the market.

The people -to- people relations are a big asset in our bilateral relations. Spain has long been a favorite destination for Kuwaiti travelers. We received 48.500 tourists from Kuwait in 2024. According to our prediction, the figure could be slightly superior this year. We congratulate ourselves for the approval two years ago of more open Schengen visa regulations for Kuwaitis and other citizens of the Gulf.

There is also an excellent piece of news: the direct flight connection between Kuwait and Madrid will be operating again in October, adding to the already existing direct route between Kuwait and Barcelona and to the seasonal connection between Kuwait and Málaga. I warmly congratulate Kuwait Airways for that.

“Spain is a land of opportunities, whether for investment, education, or tourism. We invite our friends in Kuwait to explore the other side of our country, beyond its beaches and resorts, and to discover its cultural and natural treasures, so as to continue strengthening our friendship and cooperation.”

Can you tell us a bit about the National Day of Spain?

The Spanish National Day on 12 October, marks the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492, a date that changed the course of World history. There is a double commemoration here: the year 1492 also culminated in the formation of Spain as a unified state, based on the plurality and diversity of the different Spanish lands,and reflecting the cultural heritage and language that Spain shares with 600 million people around the world.