Kuwait Airways said in a press release distributed through the Kuwait News Agency that the memorandum of understanding was signed on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai. The event, held under the Visit Kuwait tourism campaign, served as a platform to boost cooperation in aviation and travel sectors between the two sides. Captain Abdulwahab Al-Shatti, the airline’s acting CEO, stated that the agreement reflects the carrier’s commitment to expanding strategic partnerships with international carriers and providing customers with broader and more flexible travel options.
Under the new arrangement, customers of Kuwait Airways will access a wider range of destinations across the Emirates network through the Dubai hub, enabling single ticket bookings for multi-sector journeys with baggage checked through to final destinations. Emirates customers will similarly benefit from connections to eight destinations in the Kuwait Airways network, including points in Egypt, Turkey, Iraq and Azerbaijan. The statement noted that this builds upon a prior expansion that granted Kuwait Airways access to 19 international destinations on Emirates, spanning Australia, China, Japan, the United States and South Africa.
Dubai Airports reported handling 1.6 million passengers from Kuwait in 2025 alone, highlighting the robust demand for air travel between the cities that the new codeshare aims to accommodate. The partnership is anticipated to improve connectivity and offer more seamless travel experiences for passengers in both directions. Al-Shatti further explained that the deal aligns with Kuwait Airways’ strategy to enhance its global presence and meet evolving customer needs.
Emirates Deputy President Adnan Kazim noted in the joint statement that the airline looks forward to building on the partnership to support mutual growth while enhancing air travel and connectivity. He emphasized the importance of such collaborations in a competitive regional aviation landscape. The announcement underscores ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral ties in the aviation sector between Kuwait and the UAE.
Meetings between Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Dubai’s Civil Aviation Authority have previously focused on technical partnerships and experience sharing, particularly ahead of the new Kuwait International Airport terminal. According to a statement from the Public Authority for Civil Aviation, such engagements are vital for achieving strategic objectives in safety, operations and regulatory alignment. These discussions at events like the Dubai Airshow have laid the groundwork for commercial agreements such as the latest codeshare pact.
