Kuwait ' s ownership of the United States Treasury bonds increased by $10.77 billion
Source: Al Rai Kuwait (الراي)
The story in brief
Kuwait increased its possession of US Treasury bonds at the end of last June by 18.55 percent on an annual basis, adding $10.77 billion, thus continuing to record record levels in its possession of these bonds, reaching the level of $68.82 billion, compared to $58.05 billion at the end of June 2025. The monthly report issued by the US Treasury indicated that Kuwait’s possession of Treasury bonds increased by about 3.01 percent, with a value of 2.01 billion compared to its level in May 2026 of 66.81 billion. During the first half of 2026, Kuwait’s investments in those bonds increased by 2.77 billion, or by 4.19 percent, as it amounted to 66.05 billion at the end of 2025. According to the report, long-term bonds continued to occupy the lion’s share of Kuwait’s investments in US Treasury bonds at a value of 66.66 billion, while the value of short-term bonds amounted to about 2.16 billion. Saudi Arabia continued to lead the list of the largest Arab investors in US Treasury bonds, with a holding of 142.5 billion, ranking seventeenth globally, while the UAE ranked second in the Arab world and nineteenth in the world, with a holding of 114.8 billion. At the global level, Japan maintained the lead as the largest holder of US Treasury bonds, with a value of 1.12 trillion, followed by the United Kingdom with a holding of 939.9 billion, followed by China with 633.4 billion. In general, the total investments of foreign countries in US Treasury bonds at the end of June 2026 amounted to about 9.30 trillion, an increase of 2.31 percent compared to 9.09 trillion at the end of June 2025, while it decreased by 0.75 percent. Monthly. The monthly data issued by the US Treasury Department is limited to countries’ investments in US Treasury bills and bonds, and does not include other government or private investments within the United States.
Detailed summary
Kuwait increased its possession of US Treasury bonds at the end of last June by 18.55 percent on an annual basis, adding $10.77 billion, thus continuing to record record levels in its possession of these bonds, reaching the level of $68.82 billion, compared to $58.05 billion at the end of June 2025. The monthly report issued by the US Treasury indicated that Kuwait’s possession of Treasury bonds increased by about 3.01 percent, with a value of 2.01 billion compared to its level in May 2026 of 66.81 billion. During the first half of 2026, Kuwait’s investments in those bonds increased by 2.77 billion, or by 4.19 percent, as it amounted to 66.05 billion at the end of 2025. According to the report, long-term bonds continued to occupy the lion’s share of Kuwait’s investments in US Treasury bonds at a value of 66.66 billion, while the value of short-term bonds amounted to about 2.16 billion. Saudi Arabia continued to lead the list of the largest Arab investors in US Treasury bonds, with a holding of 142.5 billion, ranking seventeenth globally, while the UAE ranked second in the Arab world and nineteenth in the world, with a holding of 114.8 billion. At the global level, Japan maintained the lead as the largest holder of US Treasury bonds, with a value of 1.12 trillion, followed by the United Kingdom with a holding of 939.9 billion, followed by China with 633.4 billion. In general, the total investments of foreign countries in US Treasury bonds at the end of June 2026 amounted to about 9.30 trillion, an increase of 2.31 percent compared to 9.09 trillion at the end of June 2025, while it decreased by 0.75 percent.
Monthly. The monthly data issued by the US Treasury Department is limited to countries’ investments in US Treasury bills and bonds, and does not include other government or private investments within the United States.
Background & context
This story sits within Kuwait's broader reform agenda and efforts to grow Capital Markets as a pillar of non-oil GDP. The region benefits from supportive energy prices, expansionary government budgets, and rising interest from sovereign wealth funds and foreign investors.
Key numbers & facts
- Kuwait increased its possession of US Treasury bonds at the end of last June by 18.55 percent on an annual basis, adding $10.77 billion, thus continuing to record record levels in its possession of these bonds, reaching the level of $68.82 billion, compared to $58.05 billion at the end of June 2025.
- The monthly report issued by the US Treasury indicated that Kuwait’s possession of Treasury bonds increased by about 3.01 percent, with a value of 2.01 billion compared to its level in May 2026 of 66.81 billion.
- During the first half of 2026, Kuwait’s investments in those bonds increased by 2.77 billion, or by 4.19 percent, as it amounted to 66.05 billion at the end of 2025.
- According to the report, long-term bonds continued to occupy the lion’s share of Kuwait’s investments in US Treasury bonds at a value of 66.66 billion, while the value of short-term bonds amounted to about 2.16 billion.
- Saudi Arabia continued to lead the list of the largest Arab investors in US Treasury bonds, with a holding of 142.5 billion, ranking seventeenth globally, while the UAE ranked second in the Arab world and nineteenth in the world, with a holding of 114.8 billion.
Key points
- Kuwait increased its possession of US Treasury bonds at the end of last June by 18.55 percent on an annual basis, adding $10.77 billion, thus continuing to record record levels in its possession of these bonds, reaching the level of $68.82 billion, compared to $58.05 billion at the end of June 2025.
- The monthly report issued by the US Treasury indicated that Kuwait’s possession of Treasury bonds increased by about 3.01 percent, with a value of 2.01 billion compared to its level in May 2026 of 66.81 billion.
- During the first half of 2026, Kuwait’s investments in those bonds increased by 2.77 billion, or by 4.19 percent, as it amounted to 66.05 billion at the end of 2025.
- According to the report, long-term bonds continued to occupy the lion’s share of Kuwait’s investments in US Treasury bonds at a value of 66.66 billion, while the value of short-term bonds amounted to about 2.16 billion.
Why this matters
This matters because activity in Capital Markets, Banking shapes capital flows, hiring and investor sentiment across Kuwait.
Economic & market impact
Potential impact: - Listed GCC equities and indices may see direct trading reaction. - Banks may see shifts in mortgage, project finance and corporate lending pipelines.
GCC angle
For the rest of the GCC, this is a signal on the pace of activity in Capital Markets, Banking. Capital flows and regulatory decisions in one Gulf state typically travel across borders given the similar economic structures and the coordination inside the GCC framework.
Risks & uncertainty
There is uncertainty around the read-through: projections can be moved by swings in oil prices, by US monetary policy tightening that most GCC central banks track via dollar pegs, and by regional geopolitical events. Headline numbers may also be revised when subsequent official data is published.
What happens next?
Watch for upcoming disclosures from listed names in Capital Markets, Banking, official macro releases for Kuwait, and any commentary from regulators or sovereign wealth funds. Tharwa will refresh this briefing as new public information becomes available.
Sources used
This is an original Tharwa briefing based on the available source material. Read the full article from the publisher.
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