Kuwait

Biography: The longest serving full time ambassador in London, Ambassador to Kuwait and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, His Excellency Mr. Khaled Al Duwaisan has lived a life of extremes.

During the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, he was trapped in his country, in hiding and living under a false identity. VIPs such as himself were being moved to Iraq for a very uncertain future. Despite being stopped and interrogated, Mr. Al Duwaisan remained undiscovered as he was moved from house to house and the Kuwaitis took down all the street signs and house numbers to confuse the Iraqi forces. It was a very disturbing period (8 months) with no law and he did not know if he would see his family again, who were still in the Netherlands where he was posted at the time.

These days, legendary for his hospitality, His Excellency welcomes new ambassadors when they arrive in town in his role as Dean. He has been representing his country in London since 1993. In 1995 he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (G.C.V.O.) by Her Majesty The Queen.

In his embassy office the Ambassador is surrounded by his most precious items, including a commemoration sculpture of two hands breaking the chains of imprisonment, given to him by the people of Kuwait as a thank you for helping to negotiate the release of Kuwaiti prisoners of war in Iraq.