Kuwait: Expatriates to be Banned from Health Clinics

Kuwait Times, 26 June 2022: Kuwait’s Health Minister has announced they are implementing a plan to ban expatriates from public hospitals, polyclinics and health centres.

The ban will apply to entities in the private sector.

Public hospitals will only be open to citizens.

The ban is being imposed to address a supply and demand issue.

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Kuwait: Smoking to Be Banned in Enclosed and Semi-Enclosed Places

Alqabas, 22 June 2022: The Legal and Financial Committee of the Municipal Council has recommended approving a ban on smoking in enclosed and semi-enclosed places, but allowing it in places designated for that in accordance with the requirements and controls contained in the Environment and Family Law.

The committee has decided to refer the draft controls and rules for naming cities, suburbs, regions, roads, streets and squares to the executive body and the legal department to express an opinion.

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Kuwait: Foreigners Residency Law Amendments to be voted on

Arabian Business, 27 May 2022: Kuwait’s Parliament is going to vote on Foreigners Residency Law amendments.

Those who own real estate in Kuwait could be offered 10-year visas, if the proposed changes are approved.

Expatriates and foreign investors in the country could also soon be granted long-term residency visas in the country.

The maximum residency period for expatriates working in the country could be increased to five years. Once the residency period expires, they will either have to leave the country or renew their residency application.

The residency visa for foreign investors is likely to be extended to 15 years.

Children whose mother is a Kuwaiti national and is married to a non-Kuwaiti could also be offered the 10-year visa.

The duration of the family visit visa is likely to be increased from three months to a year also.

Those who overstay residency permits and visit visas will be fined four instead of two Dinars a day.

Sponsors or employers would have to pay the costs of deporting expatriate workers.

Finally, the Interior Ministry will continue to be responsible for deporting expatriate workers for the public good, to maintain national security and for moral reasons.

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Kuwait: Banks Must Disclose Records of Specific Individuals and Institutions

Arab Times, 26 April 2022: Kuwait’s Central Bank has issued a Circular requiring some local banks to disclose records of specific individuals and institutions.

They relate to several accounts belonging to a marine equipment company.

They also relate to financial records of seven citizens going back eight years.

The Central Bank has issued the request following a request from the Public Funds Prosecution and Anti-Money Laundering.

The country’s Public Prosecution must be provided with all of the relevant information about the company accounts and the seven individuals for 1 January 2014 to 1 January 2021.

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Kuwait: Regulations to Protect the Rights of Technology Users Approved

Alqabas, 23 April 2022: Kuwait’s Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority has approved regulations to protect the rights of users of communications and information technology services.

Among other things, the regulations include an obligation to obtain explicit consent from the service requester when subscribing.

The consent may be in writing, oral, or via electronic message.

The licensee has to keep a copy of the subscriber’s consent.

Unwanted messages must be regulated, including the creation of a database to stop receiving these types of message if requested by subscribers. For dull story, click here.

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Kuwait: Implementing Regulations to Law Establishing Capital Market Authority Amended

Alqabas, 17 April 2022: Kuwait’s Capital Market Authority has announced it has amended the Definitions and Companies Governance Chapters in the Implementing Regulations or Kuwait Decision No. 72/2015 to Kuwait Law No. 7/2010.

The Authority said the amendments of the two chapters is based on a decision of the Authority Commissioners Council.

The amendments must be enforced by all of the relevant entities from its published date in the Official Gazette. For full story, click here.

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Kuwait: Trade Fair Rules Must be Complied With

Arab Times, 27 March 2022: Kuwait’s Interior Ministry has announced trade fair rules must be complied with.

The security directorates in the respective governorates have to be informed of temporary exhibitions.

They have to be organised and comply with the relevant Ministerial Decision on the establishment of temporary trade fairs.

The rules for hosting concerts are different. The General Directorate of Criminal Investigation of the Information Ministry has to be informed by the organiser of the concert.

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Kuwait: Commercial Agency Law Amendments Proposed

Arab Times, 22 February 2022: A Kuwaiti MP has proposed an amendment to the country’s Commercial Agency Law.

They have proposed an amendment to Article 24 of Kuwait Decree-Law No. 68/1980.

If approved, it will state ‘Any foreign company can establish its branch in the country and operate here without the need for a Kuwaiti agent’.

They have also proposed an amendment to Article 31 of Kuwait Law No. 49/2016 (the Public Tenders Law) on the conditions which individuals or companies must meet to participate in public or limited tenders, as well as direct contracting.

Individuals or companies must be registered in the commercial register, in addition to the suppliers and contractors register. The aim of the amendment is to eliminate the privileges granted to local agents, most of who have caused problems which impeded the implementation of many development projects because of the absence of suitable technology and unwillingness to support national projects.

They added most local agents focus on making gains and engage in visa trading, instead of working in the public interest

They went on to say some of these agents won tenders and then divided the projects which were distributed to subcontractors who failed to meet the conditions.

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Kuwait: Implementing Regulations to Health Requirements Against Communicable Diseases Law to be Issued

Alanba, 11 February 2022: Kuwait’s Government is preparing the Implementing Regulations to Kuwait Law No. 8/1969 on the health precautionary measures against communicable diseases.

The Regulations will be issued soon and will be published in the Official Gazette.

They will specify the violations which can be reconciled and their fines in terms of the reconciliation templates and the authorities which the fines must be paid to.

There will be a fine of 50 Dinars for each violation committed by a national or resident under the Law or its Implementing Regulations. For full story, click here.

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Kuwait: Conditions for Expatriates Who are Over 60 to Renew Residence Permits Announced

Kuwait Times, 4 November 2021: Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower has announced expatriates who are over 60 and have a secondary certificate or less can renew their residence permits provided they pay 500 Dinars annually and pay health insurance.

It comes as the Authority repeals a decision it issued last year to ban these expatriates from renewing residence permits.

The decision was ruled unconstitutional by the country’s Fatwa and Legislation Department last month.

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