Kuwait: Visit visas extended and three‑month absence permit granted to residents abroad

5 March 2026: Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has announced an automatic one‑month extension for all visit visas, along with a three‑month absence permit for residents currently abroad.

The Ministry has confirmed all visit entry visas expiring or nearing expiry from 28 February 2026 will be automatically extended for one month through the electronic system, with all fees and fines waived during the period. Residents outside Kuwait who have exceeded the permitted absence duration will receive an automatic three‑month absence permit, which will also be issued electronically and will be exempt from fees. Authorities have also stated these measures may be extended depending on developments.

For more news and content, try Lexis Middle East. Click on lexis.ae/demo to begin your free trial of Lexis® Middle East platform.

You can also explore the legal landscape by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

Kuwait: Government sets maximum prices for all food commodities

Arab Times, 2 March 2026: Kuwait has issued a ministerial decree fixing maximum selling prices for all food commodities based on rates in effect before 28 February 2026.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry had announced a decree establishing that prevailing retail prices for all food items prior to 28 February 2026 constitute the maximum permissible rates. Any increase above these levels requires ministerial approval. The measure will take effect one month from issuance and will be published in the Official Gazette. Violations will be subject to penalties under Kuwait Decree-Law No. 10/1979 on Supervision on trade In Goods and Defining Certain Prices, with relevant authorities instructed to enforce the pricing controls and monitor local markets to prevent unjustified price hikes.

For more news and content, try Lexis Middle East. Click on lexis.ae/demo to begin your free trial of Lexis® Middle East platform.

You can also explore the legal landscape by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

Kuwait: National Service Law Amended by New Decree

Kuwait has issued a new decree amending the national military service framework, updating eligibility rules, exemptions and procedural requirements.

Kuwait Decree‑Law No. 9/2026 introduced amendments to Kuwait Law No. 20/2015 on Military National Service. The Armed Forces said the update aims to resolve legislative and procedural gaps that had caused delays in processing cases and handling situations not covered under the original law. Under the amendments, national service will apply to all Kuwaiti males turning 18, starting with those born on 1 January 2012, while those born before that date are exempt. Any procedures taken in violation of this cutoff will be cancelled.

The amendments also ensure that employed conscripts retain their salaries, allowances and bonuses throughout their service, with the service period counted toward total employment years. Additional provisions include exempting an only son, extending the registration deadline from 60 to 180 days, and granting firefighters employed by Kuwait Oil Company the same exemptions as those given to the Kuwait Fire Force. The National Military Service Authority is now authorised to assign conscripts to the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Interior, the National Guard and the Kuwait Fire Force.

For more news and content, try Lexis Middle East. Click on lexis.ae/demo to begin your free trial of Lexis® Middle East platform.

You can also explore the legal landscape by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

Kuwait: New Freelance Residency Scheme

Arab Times, 16 February 2026: Kuwait has announced a new freelance residency category, set to launch within two months, with fees ranging between KD 750 and KD 1,000.

Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior announced a broad package of labour‑market reforms, including the introduction of a new freelancer residency permit designed to curb visa trading and offer a regulated framework for independent workers. The permit will carry government fees ranging between KD 750 and KD 1,000, and is expected to be implemented within the next two months.

Strict penalties would be imposed for labour‑law violations, especially where workers are found operating outside their authorised sponsorship. Employers were warned that violations could trigger criminal action, and authorities have been directed to streamline procedures and expand communication channels to support compliant companies.

Last year, 39,000 illegal workers were deported following intensified inspections targeting unlawful employment and residency breaches. Parallel measures were also announced, including inspections of nurseries, delivery‑app companies, and health institutes operating in violation of labour rules, as well as upcoming regulations for subcontracting arrangements involving foreign entities.

For more news and content, try Lexis Middle East. Click on lexis.ae/demo to begin your free trial of Lexis® Middle East platform.

You can also explore the legal landscape by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

Kuwait: Central Bank Cuts Daily Cash Cap at Exchange Firms

Arab Times, 2 February 2026: Kuwait’s central bank has tightened controls on cash transactions by sharply reducing the amount exchange companies may accept from customers each day.

The Central Bank of Kuwait lowered the maximum daily cash amount that exchange firms may accept from a customer to KD 1,000, down from the previous ceiling of KD 3,000. The restriction applies to all customer dealings, including foreign remittances and the buying or selling of currencies, and took effect as part of strengthened supervisory measures.

Under the directive, exchange companies are prohibited from accepting cash payments exceeding the new limit, or its equivalent in foreign currency, from any customer in a single day. The regulator clarified that the decision does not impose a cap on the overall value of transfers or currency transactions. Any amount above the KD 1,000 cash threshold must instead be settled through bank account deductions or other non‑cash payment methods approved by the central bank.

For more news and content, try Lexis Middle East. Click on lexis.ae/demo to begin your free trial of Lexis® Middle East platform.

You can also explore the legal landscape by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

Kuwait: Cabinet Approved Amendments to Civil‑Service Law

Significant amendments to Kuwait Law No. 28/2016 amending Certain Provisions of Kuwait Decree-Law No. 15/1979 on the Civil Service gave been approved to strengthen administrative efficiency, improve public‑sector performance, and modernise workforce management.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, the Civil Service Council have endorsed a package of amendments aimed at raising efficiency within Kuwait’s administrative system and aligning state management with modern governance standards. The amendments have been designed to enhance the optimal use of human resources while improving the quality and consistency of public services.

The reforms have focused on reinforcing productivity, linking job‑related incentives to actual performance, and strengthening the principles of job justice and equality across the civil‑service structure. The changes also introduce stronger mechanisms for oversight, accountability, and unified recruitment policies, ensuring that organisational inconsistencies will be addressed more systematically.

The amendments have promoted the use of automated assessment systems and information‑driven decision‑making tools, enabling government agencies to evaluate employee performance through modern, data‑supported methods.

For more news and content, try Lexis Middle East. Click on lexis.ae/demo to begin your free trial of Lexis® Middle East platform.

You can also explore the legal landscape by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

Kuwait: Health Sector to Implement Unified Employee ID System

Arab Times, 19 January 2026: Kuwait’s Ministry of Health moved to unify employee identification across all public and private healthcare facilities after issuing a ministerial decision standardising official work IDs, seals, correspondence and digital applications.

A regulatory framework governing the design and use of official ID cards for medical, paramedical, pharmaceutical and administrative staff has been approved. The standardised IDs must follow unified specifications for basic data, photographs, fonts and links to electronic access systems, including sensitive facility areas.

The decision also harmonised official correspondence—paper and electronic—and mandated a uniform logo for all communications and digital platforms. Administrative leaders and healthcare‑facility managers has been tasked with oversight and with reporting violations immediately.

A six‑month transitional period, extendable to ten months, has been set to allow institutions to implement the new requirements gradually.

For more news and content, try Lexis Middle East. Click on lexis.ae/demo to begin your free trial of Lexis® Middle East platform.

You can also explore the legal landscape by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

Kuwait: New Residency Law Aims to Modernise Labour Market

Arab Times, 12 January 2026: Kuwait has introduced a new residency law designed to streamline work permits and enhance labour market flexibility as part of its economic modernisation agenda.

Kuwaiti government announced reforms under a new residency law that will simplify procedures for foreign workers and employers. The law seeks to reduce bureaucratic delays, improve transparency in employment contracts, and align residency rules with international best practices.

Officials stated that the changes aim to attract skilled talent, support private sector growth, and curb illegal employment practices. The Ministry of Interior confirmed that implementing regulations will follow, detailing compliance requirements for businesses and workers.

For more news and content, try Lexis Middle East. Click on lexis.ae/demo to begin your free trial of Lexis® Middle East platform.

You can also explore the legal landscape by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.