Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah made the remarks while patronizing the graduation ceremony for the seventh batch of the Partners for Their Employment program on June 29. The minister highlighted Kuwait’s commitment to empower, rehabilitate and integrate people with disabilities into the labor market in line with Kuwait Vision 2035 and the Sustainable Development Goals. She noted that the program, launched in 2018, has become a national model through the combined work of the Public Authority for Disability Affairs, the Human Development Society for Social Development and the United Nations Office in Kuwait. The latest group of 100 participants has increased the total number of beneficiaries to 481 across five training programs delivered in partnership with 27 national entities, according to Al-Huwailah.
The six earlier batches achieved a 97.6 percent job retention rate that the minister said surpassed similar programs in the United States and the United Kingdom. Al-Huwailah added that the initiative’s methodology has since been adopted outside Kuwait, reflecting the country’s leading role in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities. She commended the contributions of the Public Authority for Disability Affairs, the Human Development Society, the United Nations Office and supporting bodies including the Public Authority for Minors Affairs along with public and private sector institutions.
Aalia Al-Khaled, deputy chairperson of the board of directors of the Human Development Society for Social Development, reported a 97 percent job stability rate with a 2.4 percent turnover. She pointed out that the program has produced financial savings of about KD1.3 million for the state because graduates shifted from monthly allowances to self-reliance through salaries. Al-Khaled emphasized that the effort has delivered both employment opportunities and measurable economic benefits while exceeding many international benchmarks.
Ghada Al-Taher, United Nations resident coordinator in Kuwait, described the program as a national model that the world body fully appreciates and that has been incorporated into Kuwait’s national reports for the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council. Al-Taher referenced additional cooperation with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development on joint initiatives with United Nations organizations. A $5 million joint program covering the period through 2026 seeks to develop these experiences further and transfer them regionally and internationally, she stated.
The Public Authority for Disability Affairs was created under Law No. 8 of 2010 as an independent body to approve policies for the care of persons with disabilities and monitor their implementation. A UNDP assessment published in January 2025 places the number of people living with some form of disability in Kuwait at more than 66,000. The authority works to provide equal opportunities in education, employment and social welfare in coordination with local and international partners.
Earlier editions of the Partners for Their Employment program have included career fairs hosted by private companies and universities to connect participants with potential employers. The initiative aligns with broader national strategies to integrate persons with disabilities across all sectors. Al-Huwailah has reiterated these priorities at international gatherings, including the Global Disability Summit, where she outlined Kuwait’s public-civil society partnership model.
