Kuwait: Central bank moves to shield banks amid regional conflict

6 April 2026: The Kuwaiti Central Bank has adopted proactive regulatory and liquidity measures to support local banks and safeguard financial stability amid the risk of escalation in the ongoing regional war.

The Central Bank of Kuwait has taken a series of precautionary decisions aimed at preparing the banking sector for potential disruptions arising from the continuing conflict in the region. The measures have been adopted in anticipation of worst‑case geopolitical scenarios, with a view to maintaining financial stability and ensuring uninterrupted banking services across the country.

The Central Bank has  activated macro‑prudential policy tools and issued revised regulatory instructions related to liquidity and capital adequacy requirements. These include temporary easing of liquidity standards, allowing banks greater operational flexibility while preserving strong regulatory buffers. The Central Bank has stressed that Kuwaiti banks remain financially sound, as liquidity and capital ratios already exceeded international regulatory benchmarks.

The measures are designed to enhance banks’ capacity to continue lending, support economic activity, and absorb potential shocks without undermining depositor confidence or system integrity. The moves build on the central bank’s long‑standing prudential approach and reflect its assessment that proactive intervention is preferable to reactive crisis management.

The central bank has confirmed it is closely monitoring geopolitical developments, financial markets, and economic indicators on a continuous basis. It has added additional measures could be taken if required to protect monetary stability, payment systems, and public confidence in Kuwait’s banking sector.

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Kuwait: Social Insurance Authority Revises Public Service Hours

Times Kuwait, 29 March 2026: Kuwait’s Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS) has rescheduled its official visiting hours, introducing new timings intended to regulate public access while encouraging greater reliance on digital government services.

Under the revised arrangement, PIFSS will now receive visitors from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon, while telephone enquiries will remain available via the unified hotline 114 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. The authority confirmed that the changes took effect following an internal administrative decision issued on Saturday.

PIFSS stated that all core transactions, certificates, and beneficiary services had already been made available electronically through its official website, the “Thakher” mobile application, and the government’s unified services platform “Sahel”. The revised visiting hours were therefore introduced to reduce footfall at service centres and streamline administrative processes.

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Kuwait: Authorities Warn Against Bribery and Illegal Photography

Times Kuwait, 29 March 2026: Kuwaiti authorities have issued a public legal warning against accepting money or bribes in exchange for providing information or taking unauthorised photographs, stressing that such conduct constitutes a serious criminal offence that may endanger national security.

The warning, published in multiple languages to reach the expatriate community, stated that receiving payment to share information or capture images of locations inside Kuwait without permission was strictly prohibited. Officials emphasised that these actions were not minor violations but offences that could compromise sensitive sites and state security interests.

Authorities confirmed that anyone found engaging in such activities will face immediate legal action under applicable laws. Potential consequences include criminal prosecution, severe penalties, and deportation for non‑citizens. The statement made clear that zero tolerance would be shown toward individuals who knowingly cooperate in the unlawful collection or transmission of information.

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Kuwait: Draft Law to Fast‑Track Terrorism and State‑Security Cases

Arab Times, 25 March 2026: Kuwait’s Ministry of Justice introduces a draft decree‑law creating specialised courts to expedite terrorism and state‑security cases while preserving judicial safeguards.

The Ministry has reviewed delays in high‑risk cases before proposing a new judicial structure dedicated to internal and external security offences. Under the draft, litigation will be limited to two stages: an initial hearing before a specialised criminal court at the Court of First Instance, followed by a single appeal before a specialised chamber at the Court of Appeal. Decisions issued at the appeal stage will be final and not subject to further challenge.

Only Kuwaiti judges will preside over these matters, and the specialised courts will hold exclusive authority to review and renew pretrial detention orders. The draft further requires existing courts to transfer all pending terrorism‑related and state‑security cases to the new specialised circuits for completion. Officials stated that the initiative is intended to enhance national security, streamline proceedings, and ensure that sensitive cases are handled efficiently within a focused judicial framework.

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