Fatma Zehra Solmaz
23 February 2026•Update: 23 February 2026
ISTANBUL
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates reiterated their backing for Kuwait’s sovereignty over its maritime territories following Iraq’s submission of new maritime coordinates and an updated map to the United Nations.
"The State of Qatar announces its full solidarity with the sisterly State of Kuwait, affirming that it is following the coordinates lists and map submitted by the sisterly Republic of Iraq to the United Nations, which infringe upon the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait over its maritime areas and its fixed and stable maritime elevations in relation to the Republic of Iraq, such as Fasht Al-Qaid and Fasht Al-Aij," Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday on the US social media company X’s platform.
In a similar vein, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its full support for Kuwait’s legitimate rights and voiced concern over Iraq’s submission, calling for the matter to be handled in line with international law and established agreements.
"The Ministry called for this matter to be addressed with a spirit of responsibility and seriousness, in accordance with the principles of international law and the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 (UNCLOS), as well as in line with existing bilateral understandings, agreements and memoranda of understanding," the statement said.
The UAE also stressed that Iraq should take into account the “fraternal and historic ties that bind the two countries and their peoples.”
Kuwait summoned Iraq’s chargé d’affaires Saturday to protest Baghdad’s submission of maritime coordinates and a map to the UN, calling it a violation of its sovereignty.
The Foreign Ministry said the filing included claims over maritime areas and fixed features, including Fasht Al-Qaid and Fasht Al-Aij, which it stressed are not subject to dispute and fall under Kuwait’s full sovereignty.
