Kuwait: Free Trade Zone Decision Cancelled

According to local newspaper reports, Kuwait’s Council of Ministers has cancelled Kuwait Decision No. 512/2018 establishing a free zone in Shuwaikh port. However, the Public Authority for Industry will continue to undertake the tasks entrusted to it in the area until 1 April 2019. The Government has entrusted the Kuwait Ports Authority, together with the Kuwait Municipality to make future plans and projects for ports according to the country’s fourth organisational chart. Contracts with investors demanding the evacuation of buildings and land and handing them over to the Government should not be renewed.

Kuwait: E-payments to be Regulated

Kuwait’s Central Bank has announced it has issued Instructions to all service providers to register on their electronic payments system. Under the Instructions, all service providers will have to regulate their e-payment transactions in line with the relevant regulations. The Central Bank will be able to scrutinise all e-payment methods.

Kuwait: Age Limit for Recruiting Foreigners will be Reduced to 60

Kuwait is looking to impose a new cap on hiring foreigners based on their age, as part of a an official drive to address the demographic imbalance in the country as Kuwaiti nationals represent only 30 per cent of the total population. Under the proposal, the age limit for recruiting foreigners will be reduced from 65 to 60 and no contract for any expatriate who turns 60 will be renewed. A limited number of positions that require particularly high skills would be exempted from the new rules. Other measures being considered by the Interior, Social affairs, Labour and Trade Ministries include confining family visit visas to spouses and children and limiting them to one month without the possibility of renewal. Currently, family visit visas cover expatriates’ relatives, including their parents, and can be extended. The Ministry of Interior is also considering reducing the number of work permits to members of some large communities, and limiting them to government contracts and technical specialities. Increasing recruitment fees and health insurance and requiring expatriates to undergo medical check-ups before entering Kuwait are other options being considered.

Kuwaitis Can’t Leave GCC Anymore with Old Passports

Source: Kuwait Times, 5 July 2018

The Nationality and Travel Documents Department of Kuwait’s Interior Ministry has advised Kuwaiti nationals must hold e-passports before leaving the GCC. The advice followed a meeting of GCC Interior Ministers, where fellow interior Ministers were also advised the change came into effect on 30 June 2018. Kuwaiti nationals can currently travel freely with their civil IDs.

Read full article here: http://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/kuwaitis-cant-leave-gcc-with-old-passports/

Kuwait: Amendments to the Companies Law Relating to Protection for Minority Shareholders Approved

Kuwait’s National Assembly has approved amendments to the Companies Law relating to protection for minority shareholders. The changes would reduce the minimum percentage of shareholders to request a general assembly requirement from 25% to 10%. Distribution of profits approved in a general assembly would take place within one month of the meeting. For companies with multiple directors, the general assembly would determine their powers and responsibilities. The time before a general assembly would also be increased from 15 to 21 days.

Lawyers have welcomed suggestions a Private-Public Partnership Law could be on the way in the Kingdom. If it is introduced, it will regulate the role of the private sector in terms of partnering with the public sector in infrastructure projects for the first time.

Despite not having any specific regulations in this area, the Kingdom has completed a number of projects using this framework.

Kuwait: Visa Changes for Expatriate Engineers

Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower has announced it has signed an agreement with the Kuwait Engineers Society which will see visa changes for expatriate engineers introduced. Under the agreement, expatriate engineers will not be able to renew their work permits without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Kuwait Society of Engineers. All engineers will be given a NOC certificate after they have passed a competence test regardless of when they entered the country and how many years they have worked.

Kuwait: New Requirements for Vehicle Registration

From 17 June 2018, vehicles in Kuwait will have to meet a new requirement to get their registration issued or renewed. The General Manager of the General Authority for Environment, Dr Mohammed Alahmad made the announcement. In addition to other inspection requirements, vehicles will have to pass an environmental test which means they should meet the environmental standards.