Kuwait’s Defense Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah attended on Wednesday the launch of production of the first batch of small-arms ammunition at the Naif Small Arms Ammunition Factory, the first of its kind in Kuwait, the Ministry of Defense said. The ceremony was organized by the Logistics and Supply Authority.
Sheikh Abdullah stressed the importance of continuing to develop national military industries and their production capacity to the highest standards of quality and safety. He praised the work on strategic military projects and said investing in national talent would strengthen defense readiness and support the sustainable growth of Kuwait’s military industries.
Assistant Chief of General Staff for the Logistics and Supply Authority Major General Engineer Salah Al-Azmi said the factory was one of the most important strategic projects aimed at localizing defense industries. He said it aims to build a national industrial base able to meet military and security needs and strengthen self-sufficiency.
The ceremony was attended by Chief of General Staff Lt General Khaled Al-Shuraian, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Meshaal Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Undersecretary of the National Guard Lt General Hamad Al-Borjas, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Security Affairs at the Ministry of Interior Major General Hamad Al-Munaifi, Acting Chief of the Kuwait Fire Force Brig Mohammad Al-Qahtani and senior army officers.
His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah opened the factory on February 16, 2026, launching its production line. The factory is the Ministry of Defense’s first venture into ammunition manufacturing, and its production processes follow North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) requirements for small-arms ammunition.
In another development, a military medical delegation from Tanzania visited Jaber Al-Ahmad Armed Forces Hospital on Tuesday to learn about its facilities and healthcare services.
In a press statement, the General Staff of the Kuwait Army said Head of Medical Services Major General Dr. Waleed Mandani Malallah received the Head of Tanzanian Medical Services, Major General Dr. Omari Mwami, and his accompanying delegation. The visit aims to facilitate the exchange of expertise in military medical services, the statement added.
The delegation toured the hospital’s medical facilities, where it was briefed on its operations, workflow and the healthcare services it provides. (Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense; General Staff of Kuwait’s Army; KUNA; Photo © Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense)
