Canada-Kuwait relations
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Bilateral relations
Canada and Kuwait have enjoyed strong and enduring bilateral ties since diplomatic relations were established in 1965. Kuwait maintains an embassy in Ottawa and Canada is represented by its embassy in Kuwait City. The relationship is grounded in shared priorities, including peace and security, international development, trade and investment, and robust people-to-people ties.
High‑level political engagement has further strengthened bilateral cooperation.
In May 2023, Canada and Kuwait strengthened their partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Consultations establishing a formal high-level mechanism to advance and institutionalize cooperation. Prior to that, in December 2022, Canada and Kuwait signed an MOU on development cooperation.
The strength of this friendship was clearly demonstrated during the 1990-1991 Gulf War. Canadian Armed Forces personnel served alongside Kuwaiti and coalition forces in the Gulf War and its aftermath. Canadian firefighters and oil well control specialists worked tirelessly with Kuwaiti counterparts to extinguish widespread oil well fires, contributing significantly to recovery efforts.
Kuwait has since formally recognized Canada’s contributions. In 2006, Kuwait awarded a Liberation of Kuwait Medal to Canadian soldiers who served in the first Gulf War. More recently, in February 2020, the Embassy of Kuwait in Canada honoured 30 Canadian veterans who took part in the conflict.
People to people ties remain a cornerstone of the relationship. An estimated 7,000 Canadians live and work in Kuwait contributing to sectors such as the oil industry, academic institutions, government, health, financial services and engineering.
Educational links are also strong. In 2024, approximately 430 Kuwaiti students were pursuing their studies in Canada, primarily in the field of medicine. In 2015, Algonquin College became the first Canadian college to establish a presence in Kuwait.
Canada-Kuwait Defence cooperation
Canada and Kuwait maintain a long-standing partnership on defence and security. Since 2011, Kuwait has supported Canadian Armed Forces operations through hosting Canadian support facilities, underscoring the depth of bilateral cooperation and mutual trust.
Trade relations
Bilateral trade between Canada and Kuwait continues to expand. In 2025, Canadian merchandise exports to Kuwait reached $186 million, while merchandise imports from Kuwait stood at $9.8 million. Canada’s top merchandise exports to Kuwait comprised machinery, scientific instruments, cereals, and electronics.
Kuwait is a important investor in Canada. Through the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA)—one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds with over $1.3 trillion in assets- Kuwait maintains significant investments across key sectors. In 2025, Kuwaiti Foreign Direct Investment Stock (FDI) in Canada was valued at $1.9 billion, spanning energy, petrochemicals, information and communications technology, and infrastructure.
On October 30, 2024, the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health. The MoU focuses on providing expertise, technology, products, and services to enhance Kuwait's healthcare ecosystem and support its development goals.
Looking ahead, Kuwait’s Vision 2035 strategy presents substantial opportunities for Canadian businesses. With over $100 billion in planned investments and strategic partnerships, priority sectors, include health care and life sciences, information and communications technology, oil and gas, defence, cybersecurity, aerospace, infrastructure, innovation, education, transport, tourism and the North Zone development.
Canada and Kuwait have several bilateral agreements:
- Air Transport Agreement (ATA) that entered into force in 2019
- Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) that entered into force in 2014
- Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) that entered into force in 2003
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Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Kuwait work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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