Kuwait's doyen of diplomats on why Queen Elizabeth is one of his favourite people

They might come from distinctly different backgrounds but Queen Elizabeth II and Kuwait's ambassador to the UK share an unrivalled commitment to their jobs.

After 70 years as head of state, the queen is the longest-serving monarch in UK history, while Khaled Al Duwaisan’s 29-year tenure makes him the longest-serving ambassador to the country.

For decades, he and the queen have been fixtures on the diplomatic social scene and at various state and royal occasions, which has given Mr Al Duwaisan an intimate insight into the monarch he says is “charismatic and wonderful”.

“Her majesty is very well-informed, she is aware of what's happening in the world. So that is why most of the diplomats, not only me, love her. She is a loveable person. And she understands everything,” Mr Al Duwaisan tells The National at his residence in London.

Having been appointed the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps by Buckingham Palace in 2003, it appears that the ambassador’s high admiration for the queen is reciprocated.

“When we go to her parties, we feel like we are going to a second home. She is a relaxed person, a welcoming person and has wonderful knowledge and information,” says the veteran diplomat.

“She asks me about Kuwait, about life there and things that are happening. And the royal family here have a good relationship with the ruling family in Kuwait, which makes my job very easy.”

Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Buckingham Palace with then Emir Of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, during his state visit to Britain, in 1995. Photo: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

After nearly three decades in his primary post, the ambassador has grown a reputation for his hospitality as well as being one of the most familiar faces at royal occasions.

He remembers vividly the first time he met the sovereign, when he first presented his credentials as incoming ambassador in 1993.

“I took all of the diplomats with me ― who now have all became ambassadors themselves ― and we had a problem because we were wearing the Bisht [traditional men’s cloak] and they can't give their back to her majesty, so I was afraid that if they walked backwards they would probably slip,” he recalls.

After some thought and a lot of practice, the ambassador says he found a way for the men to move around the queen in the traditional dress without breaking protocol.

The Speaker of Britain's House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, during his first face-to-face diplomatic meeting since the pandemic began, with the longest-serving ambassador to the UK, Khaled Al Duwaisan. Photo: UK Parliament

In the pre-pandemic days, the ambassador used to see the queen “five or six times a year” at various social occasions, receptions and state visits, including two hosted by the late emir of Kuwait in 1995 and 2012.

Though he wasn’t in Kuwait at the time, his eyes shine bright with pride when he remembers the queen’s visit to the country in 1979, the first by a female head of state.

A junior diplomat in Washington at the time, Mr Al Duwaisan was not there to see the monarch being guided around the newly built Kuwait Towers, or watching a display of Bedouin dance close by and spending a day at the races, yet he nevertheless smiles widely remembering that she did all those things.

The UK's longest-serving diplomat

Mr Al Duwaisan joined Kuwait's Foreign Ministry in 1970. Before his posting to London, he served as Kuwait's ambassador to the Netherlands and Romania.

His arrival to the UK capital less than two years after the end of the First Gulf War marked a new and even stronger relationship than had already existed between Britain and Kuwait as a result of the Friendship Agreement in 1899 during the reign of Queen Victoria, “when I presented my credentials!” the ambassador has joked.

The Iraqi invasion of neighbouring Kuwait in 1990 was immediately condemned by coalition forces including America and Britain, who deployed the largest number of troops since the Second World War in defensive action.

Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah, who was then Emir of Kuwait, and Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle during a three-day state visit in November, 2012. Getty Images

Having found himself trapped in his home country during the war while on a visit there from the Netherlands, Mr Al Duwaisan was forced into hiding and remembers tuning into the BBC World Service to keep track of the international response.

“We have huge respect for Margaret Thatcher in Kuwait because she rallied international support to liberate Kuwait in 1991,” he says, recalling the pivotal role of the former UK prime minister in persuading then US President George H W Bush to take action.

Mr Al Duwaisan also credits the queen and her influence for the successful intervention on his country's behalf.

“She has a huge influence over the Middle East. She meets the [British] prime minister every week and she speaks her mind. When Iraq invaded Kuwait, she was very helpful, so was Margaret Thatcher, and they are behind the role of Americans and British and French and others alike to liberate Kuwait. So she has a lot of influence,” says the ambassador.

After the queen, the late Lady Thatcher topped his list of courtesy calls when the Kuwaiti envoy first took up his post nearly three decades ago, developing a close personal friendship with her and an enduring gratitude to both British female icons for their role in supporting Kuwait.

In 1995, Queen Elizabeth appointed him an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

That same year, the monarch welcomed then Emir of Kuwait, the late Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, on a state visit that ended with a return banquet at Claridge’s Hotel for his British Royal Hosts.

Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by Arab dignitaries, attends a folk dance display in the shadow of Kuwait's water towers. PA Images via Getty Images

Close in age and values, the queen and emir’s warm friendship made for a jovial occasion, says Mr Al Duwaisan who recalls the monarchs being deep in conversation.

“She was a good friend with our late emir, Sheikh Sabah. She hosted him for a state visit and I was with them at the same table. I saw them talk and joke with each other. I don’t know what she said to him but he was laughing a lot,” the ambassador tells The National.

“The queen is always aware of the situation when a president or king visits her. She is so well-informed about the country, about current events about history so that's why emirs and presidents feel at home with her.”

Seventeen years later, the emir was welcomed yet again by the Queen on a three-day visit to Britain in 2012. Prince Charles accompanied Sheikh Sabah to Windsor where he was met by a glittering state procession and a guard of honour.

Ambassador Al Duwaisan welcomes Prince William at the beginning of his four-day visit to Kuwait and Oman in 2019. The Duke of Cambridge followed in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles who have both visited the Gulf states.

While both ceremonial state visits were bursting with the pomp and celebration expected of Buckingham Palace, the ambassador recalls the more intimate dinner at Windsor Castle in 1998 as “one of the best meals” he had with the queen.

“When we finished eating she took us to a place where I saw a sword [stretching] from here to the beginning of the table. And she told me that the sword had been given to her father by Sheikh Ahmed Al Jaber of Kuwait at that time and King Faisal when they came together in 1912. It was unbelievable. I’ll never forget that.”

In 2003, after the US and UK invaded Iraq, toppling Saddam Hussein, Ambassador Al Duwaisan felt his mission was complete and began preparations to return home.

The queen delivers a speech during a state banquet for Emir Sheikh Sabah of Kuwait at Windsor Castle, in November 2012. Getty Images

The queen however, had other plans, appointing Mr Al Duwaisan the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, a role he has fulfilled with renowned dedication and generosity, advising more than 750 newly arrived heads of mission on diplomatic life in London and representing the body during at least a hundred state occasions.

Even when he reached the retirement age of 65, the Foreign Ministry made an exception and 29 years after taking up the post in London, he remains in the UK capital. Mr Al Duwaisan is also the Dean of Arab Ambassadors.

Perhaps inspired by the queen’s work ethic, the ambassador doesn’t look ready to hang up his many caps yet and certainly hopes the sovereign he so admires won’t be doing so anytime soon either.

“You are lucky with this queen. She is not replaceable. Whoever comes after her won't be like her,” says Mr Al Duwaisan.

“As an ambassador and Dean of Arab ambassadors I feel a lot of respect for this lady so I wish her happiness, long life and good health.”

Queen Elizabeth II with royals and world leaders through the years — in pictures

How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?

The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Profile

Company name: Jaib

Started: January 2018

Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour

Based: Jordan

Sector: FinTech

Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018

Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

The specs: 2019 Audi A8

Price From Dh390,000

Engine 3.0L V6 turbo

Gearbox Eight-speed automatic

Power 345hp @ 5,000rpm

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Know your Camel lingo

The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless

Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers

Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s

Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival

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While you're here

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360Vuz PROFILE

Date started: January 2017
Founder: Khaled Zaatarah
Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology
Size: 21 employees
Funding: $7 million
Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

Results

2pm: Serve U – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Violent Justice, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)

2.30pm: Al Shafar Investment – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: Desert Wisdom, Bernardo Pinheiro, Ahmed Al Shemaili

3pm: Commercial Bank of Dubai – Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Fawaareq, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer

4pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Rakeez, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

4.30pm: Al Redha Insurance Brokers – Handicap (TB) Dh78,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Capla Crusader, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly

SPECS

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The biog

Name: Timothy Husband

Nationality: New Zealand

Education: Degree in zoology at The University of Sydney

Favourite book: Lemurs of Madagascar by Russell A Mittermeier

Favourite music: Billy Joel

Weekends and holidays: Talking about animals or visiting his farm in Australia

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Frida%20

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Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

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Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

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Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

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Price: From Dh126,000

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The Outsider

Stephen King, Penguin

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm

Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto

Price: from Dh317,671

On sale: now

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On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.

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Kuwait's doyen of diplomats on why Queen Elizabeth is one of his favourite people

Longest-serving ambassador tells 'The National' how he forged a close friendship with the British monarch over decades in London

The UK's longest-serving diplomat

Queen Elizabeth II with royals and world leaders through the years — in pictures

How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

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