125 years of Kuwaiti-British relations celebrated at Dumfries House

His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, visited Scotland this week to meet His Majesty King Charles III and formally close out the United Kingdom and the State of Kuwait’s joint celebrations to mark 125 years since the signing of the Anglo Kuwaiti Agreement of 1899, which established official diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries.

His Highness’ visit included a tour of the historic Dumfries House estate, our charity headquarters, where 10,000 students learn traditional crafts and rural skills every year. The visit included an official audience with His Majesty the King; and an exchange of gifts – a Kilt and a Bisht – manufactured using a special “Partnership 125” tartan that combines traditional weaving materials, patterns, colours and techniques from both the UK and Kuwait, merging the two countries’ cultures.

The tartan exchange formally closed out year-long celebrations to mark a century and a quarter of official UK-Kuwait diplomatic relations, throughout which the two countries’ respective governments have organised numerous events, visits and initiatives reflecting on their unique shared history and seeking to enhance future cooperation.