KISR was established under Kuwaiti law to carry out applied scientific research in three fields: petroleum, desert agriculture, and marine biology. The objectives of the institute are to carry out applied scientific research that helps the advancement of national industry and undertake studies relating to the preservation of the environment, resources of natural wealth and their discovery, sources of water and energy, methods of agricultural exploitation, and the promotion of water wealth. KISR undertakes research and scientific and technological consultations for both governmental and private institutions in Kuwait, the Gulf region, and the world.

API has the following goals: (1) to undertake research and consulting activities in the areas of human development, planning and decision-making models, environmental economics, and the role of Arab economics in the international division of labor; (2) to provide short-term programs related to the four areas mentioned above; and (3) to establish a modern center for information and research that is capable of meeting the training and research requirements in the Arab world. The current research programs of API focus on problems of macroeconomic modeling aimed at evaluating macroeconomic policies in the Arab countries.