The British Embassy is delighted to announce the opening of a major historical exhibition celebrating the close links between Kuwait and the United Kingdom. The exhibition is a collaborative project between the British Embassy, the British Royal Air Force Museum and the Kuwait House of National Works.
As part of Kuwait’s successful 50/20 celebrations in February 2011 the Kuwait House of National Works signed a partnership agreement with the British Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum. The goal of this agreement is to engage in collaborative work that showcases the close historical links between Kuwait and the UK. The two organisations – with the co-operation of the British Embassy in Kuwait – will stage an exhibition running from 23-27 February highlighting the part played by the RAF in supporting and protecting Kuwait over many years. The exhibition, which will be staged at the 360 Mall, will feature a 70 year-old Spitfire fighter aircraft as its central focus.
The Spitfire’s direct relationship with Kuwait can be traced back to World War 2, when donations from both the Kuwaiti and expatriate British communities paid for 10 Spitfire aircraft for the RAF’s war effort. Historical RAF photographs from 1944 (which will be on display at the exhibition) show representatives from the RAF displaying a Spitfire in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.