Kuwait City: Today marks significant milestones in Kuwait’s history, showcasing the nation’s development in oil, media, and international relations. In 1961, Kuwait Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah signed a concession agreement with Kuwait Shell, granting the company rights to manage offshore oil operations for 45 years, signaling a pivotal moment in Kuwait’s oil industry.
According to Kuwait News Agency, 1980 saw the Kuwait News Agency begin broadcasting English-language news for 12 hours daily, enhancing the nation’s media presence. Fast forward to 1991, when the UN Security Council’s ultimatum for Iraq to peacefully withdraw from Kuwait per Resolution 678 came to an end. In the same year, Kuwait’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, firmly rejected negotiations with Iraq after its withdrawal.
In 1997, the establishment of the Public Authority for Industry marked a focus on promoting domestic production and diversifying Kuwait’s income resources. The international significance of Kuwait was further highlighted in 2004 when US President George Bush designated Kuwait as a major non-NATO strategic ally.
The year 2006 was marked by the passing of Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the nation’s 13th ruler, who had served since 1977. Following this, Crown Prince Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah was named Amir, becoming the 14th ruler under the Kuwaiti Constitution.
In 2014, during the second international conference for donations for Syria, Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah announced a significant aid package of USD 500 million for Syria. That same year, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon recognized Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah as a “Humanitarian Leader,” and Kuwait as a “Center for Humanitarian Action.”
In 2015, the National Assembly passed a bill allowing male parents who had sold their estates after settling debts with the Credit Bank of Kuwait to secure proper housing. In 2019, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) signed a KD six million loan agreement with Belize, aimed at funding a major road project.