Yaqoub Al-Rifai
Kuwaiti finance minister appointed in a February 2026 cabinet reshuffle, who has since represented Kuwait at international financial forums and restructured his ministry's senior leadership.
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- Country
- Kuwait
- Role
- Minister of Finance, State of Kuwait, since February 2026
Overview
Yaqoub Al-Rifai was appointed Kuwait’s Minister of Finance on February 2, 2026, as part of a cabinet reshuffle ordered by Emir Sheikh Meshal that affected eight ministerial positions, including the appointment of Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah as Foreign Minister. The National noted that Kuwait’s cabinet has undergone several reshuffles and parliamentary dissolutions in recent years amid political disputes (The National).
Ministerial activities
In June 2026, Al-Rifai led Kuwait’s delegation to the 47th Ministerial Council meeting of the OPEC Fund for International Development in Vienna, congratulating the Fund on its 50th anniversary and affirming that Kuwait, as a founding member, “takes pride in its continued contribution.” He held separate discussions with OPEC Fund President Dr Abdulhamid Al-Khalifa on capacity-building cooperation and met with Kuwaiti professionals working at the Fund (Times Kuwait). The following month, he issued ministerial decrees appointing four new directors general at the Finance Ministry — covering financial and tax affairs, economic affairs, public services and procurement, and state property — describing the move as part of an effort to “complete its leadership structure” and strengthen national talent in senior roles (Times Kuwait).
What this profile does not claim
This profile relies on one major international newspaper and one independent Kuwaiti newspaper; it does not independently verify his career before February 2026, nor does it cover ministerial activity beyond July 2026.
Timeline
- 2026-02-02
- Is appointed Minister of Finance in a cabinet reshuffle ordered by Emir Sheikh Meshal that affected eight ministerial positions, alongside the appointment of Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah as Foreign Minister and other changes.
- 2026-06-24
- Leads Kuwait's delegation to the 47th Ministerial Council meeting of the OPEC Fund for International Development in Vienna, congratulating the Fund on its 50th anniversary and affirming Kuwait's pride in its role as a founding member.
- 2026-07-05
- Issues ministerial decrees appointing four new directors general at the Finance Ministry, framed as strengthening national talent in senior leadership roles.
Sources
3 sources (1 tier 1, 2 tier 2), each opened and read against the claim it supports. Every source is independent of the subject; no first-party material is cited. See the source policy.
The National and Times Kuwait were both fetched and read in full; The National is a major independent Gulf-region newspaper covering his February 2026 appointment and the cabinet reshuffle, while Times Kuwait is an independent Kuwaiti outlet covering his subsequent ministerial activities in June and July 2026 — distinct events several months apart.
- Kuwait appoints new foreign and finance ministers in cabinet reshuffle Supports: His February 2026 appointment as Finance Minister and the broader cabinet reshuffle context.
- Minister Al-Rifai champions Kuwait's development vision at OPEC Fund council meeting Supports: His participation and statements at the OPEC Fund's 47th Ministerial Council meeting in Vienna.
- Finance Ministry names four new directors-general in leadership shake-up Supports: His July 2026 ministerial decrees appointing new directors general at the Finance Ministry.
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