KUWAIT CITY — 10 NOVEMBER 2026
The essential framework for diplomacy in cases of disaster is rooted in international diplomacy rather than being based on purely spontaneous “human relations.” Following the deadly train accident in the Al-Ayyat region of Giza, Egypt, Kuwait did not send any first responders or physical assistance at the scenes of the accident. Instead, Kuwait’s participation was purely a traditional diplomatic show of support.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait has made an official statement that Kuwait is sincerely expressing its sympathies to Egypt on the matter of the awful train catastrophe in Al-Ayyat region on November 9, 2026. The Kuwaiti authorities have conveyed their condolences to the government and the people of Egypt especially to the families of the deceased.
According to reports, two trains collided on Sunday, November 8, 2026, in a distance of fifty-two kilometers south of Cairo. As confirmed by the Egyptian authorities, the catastrophe took the lives of seven people and caused numerous injuries (125 in total).
The extent of the disaster called for the mobilization of 72 ambulances, and hospitals in the area started treating the injured. The Egyptian government also started to investigate the reasons for the tragedy, with president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi ordering a prompt investigation to bring the offenders guilty of negligence to justice.
Yet, Kuwait’s response is significant because it is more than just a diplomatic display of sympathy. The relations between Kuwait and Egypt are historically deep-going, and they existed long before the diplomatic relations were established in formal terms in 1961. The Egyptian State Information Service points out that the connection dates back to the middle of the 19th century when Kuwait students were sent to Egypt to gain an education in some educational institution such as Al-Azhar University.
After that the relations between the two countries have developed throughout decades of cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, and educational fields. The importance of the cooperation was affirmed during the official visit of the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to Kuwait on April 14-15, 2025.
Thus, Kuwait’s recent message reiterates the time-honored tradition of Arab solidarity. The international concept of friendship does not only refer to cooperation during good times, but also entails showing support to the other nation when it is hit by disaster.
When Egypt is mourning the victims of the Al-Ayyat calamity, Kuwait’s message of compassion remains unequivocal: true international friendship is best proved through humanity and solidarity.
