Saudi Arabia, Kuwait finalize project to streamline customs procedures

The announcement is a significant step toward enhancing trade and facilitating the movement of goods between the two nations, which aims to streamline customs procedures and promote smoother cross-border trade.
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Updated 04 June 2024
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Saudi Arabia, Kuwait finalize project to streamline customs procedures

RIYADH: Trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait is set to increase further with the completion of their land customs technical connectivity project.

The completion of the project was revealed on Monday during the second meeting of the two countries’ coordination council.

The announcement is a significant step toward enhancing trade and facilitating the movement of goods between the two nations, which aims to streamline customs procedures and promote smoother cross-border trade.

The two sides also praised the cooperation that resulted in the flow of capital and bilateral trade, which contributes to enabling mutual investments between the two neighboring countries and the continuous development they are witnessing in all sectors, including energy, industry, rail connectivity and communications, as well as IT, infrastructure and real estate development, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Moreover, the two parties emphasized the importance of strengthening existing cooperation and coordinating efforts in combating terrorism and extremism as well as their financing. They also underscored the significance of exchanging experiences in that field for the security of the two countries.

In addition, they affirmed Saudi Arabia and Kuwait's endeavor to develop a common vision for closer and sustainable mutual cultural, media, tourism, and social development collaborations.

Also, they underlined the need to boost cooperation in cultural programs, strengthen their media regulations, program and news exchange, and joint television and radio production.

Furthermore, the collaboration in educational development was commended, aligning with the consensus to enhance the partnership between universities in both countries. This includes providing scholarships and streamlining the admission process for students at their respective academic institutions.

Besides, the two sides expressed their enthusiasm to strengthen their relations and expand cooperation in health, tourism, and sports sectors between the two countries.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Kuwaiti counterpart Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, who cochaired the meeting at the headquarters of Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed their satisfaction with what was reached in the meetings of the subcommittees, which resulted in the adoption of 50 initiatives that will enhance cooperation between the two countries in all fields and push their relations to broader horizons.


Maersk to resume Suez Canal sailings for MECL service

Updated 15 January 2026
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Maersk to resume Suez Canal sailings for MECL service

  • Shipping companies are weighing a return to the critical Asia-Europe trade corridor more than two years after they started rerouting vessels around Africa following Yemeni Houthi rebels’ attacks

OSLO: Shipping group Maersk will resume sailings via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal for its ​MECL service, connecting the Middle East and India with the US east coast, the Danish company said on Thursday.
“Maersk has decided to implement a structural return to the trans-Suez route for all MECL service sailings,” the company said in a statement, ‌adding that this ‌was part of a ‌stepwise approach ⁠for ​its ‌fleet.
Shipping companies are weighing a return to the critical Asia-Europe trade corridor more than two years after they started rerouting vessels around Africa following Yemeni Houthi rebels’ attacks on ships in the Red Sea in what they said ⁠was a show of solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.
Maersk ‌on Monday said one ‍of its vessels ‍had tested the route as a ceasefire in ‍Gaza raised hopes for normal shipping traffic.
The change for the MECL service comes into effect with a sailing departing Oman’s port of Salalah on January ​26.
The Suez Canal is the fastest route linking Europe and Asia and, until ⁠the Houthi attacks, had accounted for about 10 percent of global seaborne trade, according to Clarksons Research.
The ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, in place since October last year, has renewed hope of normalizing Red Sea traffic.
The ceasefire has ended major combat in Gaza over the past three months, but both sides have accused the other of regular violations. More than 440 ‌Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been killed since the truce took effect.