Kuwait was notably the first member of the Gulf Cooperation Council to maintain diplomatic ties with the Vatican State. The traditional cordial relations between the Holy See and the Government of Kuwait were established far back in October 1968. However, it was only in the year 2000 that the Apostolic Nunciature was established in Kuwait.

On 13th December 1999, Reverend Monsignor Giuseppe De Andrea was appointed "Chargé d'Affaires with Letters" of the Apostolic Nunciatures in Kuwait, Yemen and Bahrain, and of the Apostolic Delegation of the Arabian Peninsula, by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. On 18th January 2000, Msgr. De Andrea arrived in Kuwait to assume his duties.

On 28th June 2001, His Holiness Pope John Paul II appointed Rev. Monsignor Giuseppe De Andrea as Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Yemen and Bahrain, and Apostolic Delegate for the Arabian Peninsula, raising him at the same time to the episcopacy.

Archbishop Giuseppe De Andrea was the first resident Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait.