Kuwait: Introduces New Regulations for Freelance Business Activities

Al Anba, 15 September 2025: Kuwait’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has implemented comprehensive new regulations for freelance businesses through Kuwait Ministerial Decision No. 168/2025, establishing specific guidelines for 120 approved business activities.

Key regulations include: Licensing Requirements: Must be registered as a single-person company, Minimum age requirement of 21 years, Kuwaiti nationality mandatory, Clean criminal record required and a Four-year licence validity period.

Administrative Requirements: Registered postal address or email required, Property owner’s consent for home-based businesses, Mandatory fee payment, Environmental and public safety compliance, Electronic payment systems mandatory for all transactions and a Disclosure of commercial registration number on all official accounts.

Financial Provisions: Reduced capital requirements to 50% of similar traditional businesses and Multiple related activities permitted under single licence.

Approved Activities Include: Professional consultancy services, Tourism and travel services, Photography services, Sports and recreation facilities, Interior design services, Real estate services, Cultural and educational services, Agricultural and livestock brokerage and Industrial facility management.

The ministry will provide periodic reports to the Public Authority for Manpower regarding compliance with the new regulations. All business transactions must be conducted through electronic payment methods only.

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Kuwait: Cabinet Approves New Law on Child Registration

Kuwait Times, 9 September 2025: The Kuwaiti government has approved significant legislative changes affecting children’s rights.

The Cabinet endorsed amendments to the Children’s Rights Law, introducing mandatory requirements for registering newborns under their father’s nationality portfolio. The revised legislation includes penalties for non-compliance.

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Kuwait: Minister of Justice Announces New Law Regulating the Legal Profession

Arab Times Kuwait, 25 August 2025: Kuwait’s Minister of Justice announced that a new law governing the legal profession is set to drive a significant transformation, enhancing lawyer protection and elevating professional standards.

Speaking at an open meeting with members of the Kuwait Bar Association, the Minister explained that the draft law, with input from the Kuwait Bar Association, contains provisions designed to shield lawyers from detention in court-related offences. Under the new framework, judges will be required to file an official complaint and send cases to investigation committees instead of holding lawyers in 24-hour custody.

The legislation also clarifies contracts and fee structures for legal practitioners, establishing a comprehensive regulatory system in coordination with the Kuwait Bar Association to ensure optimal outcomes. If approved, this law, alongside Kuwait Decree-Law No. 23/1990 On the Organisation of the Judiciary, will revolutionise the legal profession.

The Minister noted that the recent surge in litigation fees is linked to a dramatic increase in lawsuits. Courts are currently receiving around 500,000 new cases annually, in addition to approximately one million cases carried over from previous years, with appeals before the Court of Cassation reaching 81,000. To address this backlog, 10 new committees will be formed in October to handle appeals, replacing the longstanding three-committee system.

On the subject of family law, the Minister criticised Kuwait Law No. 51/1984 Regarding Law on Personal Status for being misaligned with Kuwaiti society and Islamic Sharia provisions. A draft amendment, developed by a committee composed of family court judges and public prosecutors, proposes changes to over 120 articles, the addition of 20 new articles, and the removal of 15 outdated ones. This draft has been forwarded to the Kuwait Lawyers Association for review.

Additionally, the Minister acknowledged that Kuwait Law No. 16/2020 On the Protection from Domestic Violence has shortcomings and will undergo significant revisions, particularly to resolve issues related to enforcement during official holidays. Efforts are also underway to merge Kuwait Law No 111/2015 Promulgating the Juvenile Law and Kuwait Law No. 21/2015 Regarding Children’s Rights into a single statute, with the public prosecution assuming responsibility for investigations, and new alternative penalties specifically tailored for juveniles being introduced.

The Minister confirmed that Kuwait Decree-Law No. 40/1980 Promulgating the Regulation of the Experts Law is currently under review, with proposed amendments aimed at transitioning notifications and documentation to electronic formats. Amendments to Kuwait Law No. 20/2014 On Electronic Transactions and the laws on judicial representation are also nearing completion, which will allow for fully digital management of powers of attorney, personal status cases and real estate documentation.

Addressing delays in litigation processes, the Minister stated that the Ministry is collaborating with Google and Microsoft on four major projects focused on electronic agencies and documentation, real estate registration, and litigation systems. Eight committees are already in place, with plans to establish two more in the near future.

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Kuwait: Central Bank Issues Fines for Money Laundering Violations

Arab Times, 19 August 2025: Kuwait’s banking regulator has imposed substantial fines on two financial institutions for breaching anti-money laundering regulations, with penalties totalling 55,000 Kuwaiti dinars.

The Central Bank of Kuwait levied a fine of KD 35,000 against a local bank following an inspection that revealed multiple compliance failures.

In addition to the financial penalty, the bank received a written warning and must implement specific corrective measures, which governs money laundering and terrorist financing controls.

In a separate action, the regulator fined an electronic payment service provider KD 20,000 for violating Clause 7 of the payment services anti-money laundering instructions issued in July 2023.

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Kuwait: Justice Ministry Announces Full Digital Services Rollout

Kuwait Times, 6 August 2025: Kuwait’s Ministry of Justice has revealed plans for a comprehensive digitisation of its legal services, with legislation for the transition in its final stages.

The digital transformation programme will be implemented in three phases: Electronic filing and registration of cases, including fee payments, streamlined court procedures and digital implementation of court rulings.

The new judicial complex, spanning 400,000 square metres and featuring 70 courtrooms, has already received recognition.

Current operational challenges at the facility include: Limited elevator capacity, Parking constraints, Service processing delays and Underdeveloped existing digital services.

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Kuwait: Sets Stricter Rules for Co-operative Societies

Al Qabas, 3 August 2025: The Ministry of Social Affairs in Kuwait has finalised amendments to the Co-operative Societies (Kuwait Law No. 24/1979), introducing significant changes to board composition and membership requirements.

Under the new amendments, co-operative society boards will consist of nine members, with four appointed by government ministries and five elected by the general assembly. The changes also establish stricter eligibility criteria for board membership.

Key requirements for board candidates include: Minimum age of 30 years, three years of society membership, Property ownership or civil ID in the nomination area, a University degree, a clean criminal record, and completion of ministry-approved training in cooperative work.

The revised law grants the Minister of Social Affairs the authority to dissolve boards or dismiss members for serious financial or administrative violations. In such cases, the minister can appoint a temporary director for up to two months until new elections are held.

Board members found guilty of violations will be barred from running for two consecutive terms, extending to three terms for criminal offences. The law also introduces penalties, including up to two years imprisonment and fines up to 2,000 dinars for various infractions.

The amendments require boards to follow employment policies aligned with the ministry’s Kuwaitisation directives. Each society must appoint a general manager, who cannot be a board member, subject to conditions set by the Social Affairs Minister.

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Kuwait: New Building Regulations Apply Only to Free Zone Service Sector

Kuwait Times, 26 July 2025: Kuwait Municipality has confirmed that recent amendments to building specifications apply exclusively to the free zone’s service sector (16), and not to the broader Shuwaikh and Al-Rai areas.

Municipality Director clarified that the new regulations maintain the existing 150 percent building area allowance for hotels within service plots, while introducing the option for multiple basement levels.

The updated specifications establish specific requirements for sector (16):

• Maximum building coverage of 130 percent across three floors
• Minimum shop and showroom sizes of 100 square metres
• Office spaces no smaller than 150 square metres on ground and mezzanine floors
• Increased restaurant allocation from 5 to 10 percent
• Mandatory on-site parking provision

They also noted that the former free zone, now under the Public Authority for Industry’s jurisdiction, permits various commercial activities, including:

• Administrative offices
• Retail shops
• Banking services
• Health clubs
• Hotels
• Warehousing facilities

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