Kuwaiti Lawmakers Stress Preserving National Wealth, Sovereignty over Durra Field

Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Kuwaiti National Assembly (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Kuwaiti National Assembly (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Kuwaiti Lawmakers Stress Preserving National Wealth, Sovereignty over Durra Field

Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Kuwaiti National Assembly (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Kuwaiti National Assembly (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The issue surrounding Kuwait’s “Durra” offshore gas field received significant attention and reaction on Tuesday. Iran had stirred concerns by stating that it has “full preparedness to commence drilling” in this field, which Tehran refers to as “Arash.”

Kuwait firmly asserts that the Durra gas field is a “Kuwaiti-Saudi natural wealth,” and no other party has any rights to it until the maritime boundaries are definitively settled.

This was reiterated by Oil Minister Saad Al Barrak, who emphasized that his country rejects outright the Iranian claims and actions intended to take place in the Arab Gulf regarding Durra.

Barrak said his country “categorically and totally” rejected Iranian procedures and claims on the Durra offshore gas field in the neutral zone connecting Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Only Kuwait and Saudi Arabia own “exclusive rights” to the field, the minister said in a statement.

Kuwaiti lawmakers on Tuesday also rejected statements by Iran that it intends to start exploration at the gas field, reiterating that it is located in Kuwait’s territorial waters. They demanded the National Assembly’s foreign relations committee to review the issue.

The motion signed by six legislators said the Iranian statements were tainted with “greed and the desire to capture Kuwaiti resources” by ignoring Kuwait’s sovereignty and its historical, legal, and international rights in its natural wealth.

The lawmakers demanded the foreign relations committee to review measures taken by the ministries of foreign affairs, defense, interior and oil and any other government body to safeguard Kuwait’s national interests and its rights in the Durra field.

Osama Al-Shaheen, a Kuwaiti lawmaker, also separately demanded the committee to debate the issue immediately.

He said Iran has made some “rejected” claims and announcements on the Durra field, which is exclusive Kuwaiti territory with economic rights for both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.



Syrian President Begins Gulf Tour Following Easing of International Sanctions

A handout photo made available by the UAE's Presidential Court shows President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Emirate of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) and Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa (L) shake hands during their meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 07 July 2025. EPA/THE UAE PRESIDENTIAL COURT /HANDOUT
A handout photo made available by the UAE's Presidential Court shows President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Emirate of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) and Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa (L) shake hands during their meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 07 July 2025. EPA/THE UAE PRESIDENTIAL COURT /HANDOUT
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Syrian President Begins Gulf Tour Following Easing of International Sanctions

A handout photo made available by the UAE's Presidential Court shows President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Emirate of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) and Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa (L) shake hands during their meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 07 July 2025. EPA/THE UAE PRESIDENTIAL COURT /HANDOUT
A handout photo made available by the UAE's Presidential Court shows President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Emirate of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) and Syrian President Ahmed Al Sharaa (L) shake hands during their meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 07 July 2025. EPA/THE UAE PRESIDENTIAL COURT /HANDOUT

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has begun a tour of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, marking his second visit to the region and his first since most international sanctions on Syria were lifted.

The trip, which began in the United Arab Emirates, underscores Damascus’s push to reintegrate economically and diplomatically into the Arab world after more than a decade of isolation.

According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the tour aims to bolster economic cooperation and attract Gulf investments to support Syria’s national reconstruction and development plans.

Al-Sharaa arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday, where he was received by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two leaders held official talks focusing on post-war recovery, economic partnership, and infrastructure development.

Speaking during the meeting, al-Sharaa said Syria has “turned the page on war and division” and is now focused on building “strategic partnerships” with its Gulf neighbors. He praised the UAE’s role in supporting regional stability and expressed interest in learning from the Emirati model in sustainable development, digital transformation, and clean energy.

For his part, Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE’s full support for Syria’s efforts to restore stability and rebuild its war-torn economy. He stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral ties, especially in key sectors such as infrastructure, investment, and technology.