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1 week ago
Kuwait has introduced a new rule requiring expatriate workers in the private sector to obtain an exit permit from their registered employers before leaving the country. The move is envisioned to enhance regulatory oversight, ensure legal compliance, and strike a fair balance between the rights of workers and employers. The circular was issued by Sheikh Fahad Al Yousef, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and will be implemented in coordination with the Public Authority for Manpower. The procedure will take effect from July 1. Under the new policy, expatriate workers must submit a formal request for an exit permit to their employers, detailing personal information and the intended date of travel. This must be done using an official form approved by the authority. All requests will be processed electronically via a dedicated platform designed to expedite approvals and ensure accuracy. The authority clarified that the initiative aims to organise the departure process for foreign workers, prevent unauthorised exits, and protect the rights of both workers and employers. It also aligns with broader efforts to modernise Kuwait’s labour environment and improve administrative efficiency. Employers and workers have been urged to comply with the new procedure. The Ministry of Interior’s website confirms that the […]
3 weeks ago
Kuwait has begun enforcing a strict set of new rules governing family visas for expats, summoning dozens of foreign residents found in violation of the country’s residency regulations. According to Kuwaiti authorities, the Residence Affairs Investigations Department has launched a targeted campaign in recent weeks, identifying expatriates who originally met the minimum salary threshold of KD800 ($2,610)_but later fell below this requirement due to job changes or reduced income. These individuals most of whom had used their higher salaries to secure family residency permits (Article 22) for spouses and children have now been ordered to regularize their status within one month or send their dependents back to their home countries. The enforcement action follows Ministerial Resolution No. 56 of 2024, introduced in January by First Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al Sabah. Initially, the resolution mandated that applicants hold a university degree and work in a profession matching their qualifications, in addition to earning a minimum of KD800 per month. A July 2024 amendment later removed the degree requirement but retained the income threshold as the primary condition for sponsoring family members. “The KD 800 salary benchmark is based on socio-economic studies and reflects the government’s […]
1 month ago
The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has clarified on social media that certain expats workers and visitors who have overstayed their visas may be exempted from fines or legal action — provided they meet specific conditions outlined by the ministry of labour. The move supports the ministry’s ongoing efforts to ease the process of rectifying visa and residency statuses. In an official statement, the ROP said: “The Royal Oman Police has closely followed discussions regarding the exemption from fines and financial obligations recorded against individuals and employers. It clarifies that the exemption applies to specific cases mentioned in the Ministry of Labour’s announcement regarding status rectification.” Who qualifies for exemption? The ROP added that it has upgraded all technical systems to facilitate transactions and urged eligible expats to take advantage of the grace period, which continues until Thursday, July 31, 2025. Drop in expat numbers According to data from the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI):
3 months ago
Kuwaiti authorities have ordered the deportation of an Indian man after he attempted to commit suicide from an iconic bridge in the country, according to a media report. Authorities at the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry have decided to deport the expatriate and ban his return to the country for life after he attempted suicide by throwing himself from the Jaber Bridge, reported Al Rai newspaper. During a morning inspection tour, coastguard personnel had spotted a person stuck on the bridge, attempting suicide. They immediately headed to the site and prevented him from carrying out the attempt, the report quoted a security source as saying. “It was later found out that he was of Indian nationality and was referred for investigation,” the source added. The expat admitted that he was locked in dire circumstances and concluded that the only solution was to take his life. The Sheikh Jaber Causeway is one of the world’s longest bridges. Authorities have recently beefed up security on the facility after an increase in suicide attempts on the site. Inaugurated in 2019, the bridge connects Kuwait’s north and south. In recent months, Kuwaiti media has reported a series of suicide deaths and attempts in the country.
3 months ago
Expat workers milling on street corners for freelance maintenance work, waiting hours, sometimes days, are in Parliament’s sights as MPs push for tighter rules and greater accountability on sponsors. A group of MPs, led by Khalid Buanaq, has put forward the plan, warning that unchecked day labour is adding strain to markets and neighbourhoods. Their proposal points to clusters of workers, often seen waiting in the hope of securing short- term jobs in home repairs, plumbing, painting, or other manual trades. The concern is that this not only leaves many without stable income but also raises questions about the wider effects on the community. Daily crime rates “This isn’t just an economic issue,” the proposal states. “It is also tied to rising daily crime rates among irregular workers, some of whom, out of desperation, may break the law. The government must step in, set clear rules, and hold those responsible for bringing in these workers accountable if they leave them to drift without jobs.” The MPs suggest two paths forward: either placing workers under proper sponsorship with jobs lined up or arranging for their return home. They argue that without firm action, the situation will continue to weigh on the […]
3 months ago
Kuwait is facing a deepening shortage of domestic workers, with official data showing a decline of more than 30,000 workers over the past 18 months — an average of 55 workers leaving per day — as recruitment challenges and regional competition intensify. Figures from the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) show the total number of domestic workers fell to 780,930 by the end of December 2024, down from 811,307 in mid-2023. Officials say the drop is being driven by a mix of foreign labor restrictions, rising Gulf demand, and shifting domestic trends. Hamad Al Ali, an official at a domestic workers recruitment office, said several Asian countries have scaled back labor exports to Kuwait, citing pre-arrival fees imposed on workers. “The well-documented issue with Filipino domestic workers has also impacted the numbers,” he said, referring to labour disputes that have disrupted supply in recent years. Al Ali added that some Kuwaiti families are opting to reduce reliance on domestic help, following a string of high-profile incidents involving worker-related crimes. The labor shortage is being further fueled by increased demand across neighboring Gulf countries, where workers are drawn by better job offers and working conditions. Restrictions on certain nationalities Meanwhile, Kuwait’s own restrictions on certain nationalities have further tightened the labour pipeline. […]
3 months ago
Saudi Arabia conducted nationwide inspection campaigns between February 27 and March 5 to ensure compliance with residency, labor, and border security laws, resulting in 20,749 recorded violations. Authorities reported 13,871 violations related to residency, 3,517 involving border security, and 3,361 concerning labor regulations. A total of 1,051 individuals attempted to cross into the Kingdom illegally, with 43% identified as Yemenis, 54% as Ethiopians, and 3% from other nationalities. Additionally, 90 people were apprehended while trying to leave the country unlawfully. Security forces also arrested 12 individuals for facilitating the transportation, sheltering, and employment of violators. Currently, 40,173 expatriates — 35,862 men and 4,311 women — are undergoing legal procedures for regulatory enforcement. Among those detained, 32,375 violators have been instructed to contact their respective embassies or consulates to obtain proper travel documentation, while 2,576 have been directed to arrange departure bookings. Authorities have also repatriated 10,024 individuals. The Ministry of Interior warned that those aiding illegal entry, transportation, or sheltering of violators may face up to 15 years in prison, fines of up to SR1 million, and the confiscation of vehicles or properties used for such purposes. These acts are classified as major crimes warranting arrest. The ministry urged citizens […]
4 months ago
The Public Prosecution of the Sultanate of Oman has sentenced Mohammed Faras, an Indian national, to two years in prison and a three-month driving ban. The court ruling stems from a tragic incident where Faras was driving at high speed in the wrong direction on a divided road, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuries to fifteen others. In addition to the prison sentence, Faras is also required to pay for the damages caused by his reckless actions. Following the completion of his prison term, he will be deported from Oman. This case serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of reckless driving and emphasises the critical importance of adhering to traffic laws to ensure public safety. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and Faras remains in custody. Also read: All Passport And Attestation Centres For Indian Expats In UAE To Change This Year
4 months ago
Kuwait deported 74 expats last year after they violated the country’s traffic law as part of stringent penalties to boost road safety, according to a security official. Brig. Mohammed Al Subhan said the deportees’ violations were either driving a car without a licence or committing serious infringements. He told Kuwait TV that the total violations of seat belts and using the phone by hand at the wheel reached 61,553 last year. The official added that recent amendments to the Kuwait traffic law came due to the rise in accidents, violations and deaths. The Ministry of Interior in Kuwait, a country of 4.7 million, records between 200 and 300 traffic accidents per day, resulting in 28 to 30 injuries, according to Brig. Al Subhan. Some 90% of accidents are caused by inattention while driving. Traffic accidents in Kuwait resulted last year in 284 deaths against 296 in 2023, according to official figures. New traffic law The fatalities included 11 children under the age of 14. Kuwait is set to enforce in April a new traffic law that incorporates stringent penalties and hefty fines aimed at curbing reckless driving and enhancing road safety, replacing a traffic law that went into effect in […]
5 months ago
All passport and attestation centres for Indian expats in the UAE are set to change, as the Indian missions plan to launch a unified service centre with branches in 14 locations no sooner than the second quarter of this year, Gulf News can reveal. The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has reopened a tender inviting bids from service providers to run Indian Consular Application Centre (ICAC) which will merge all the consular services under one facility. The Embassy has proposed 14 branches of ICAC to serve more than four million Indians living in the UAE and foreigners seeking Indian visa services through the Indian missions here. Currently, two different service providers offer outsourced services for the missions. BLS International processes the passport and visa applications while IVS Global handles the document attestation services and some services are handled at the Embassy and the Indian Consulate in Dubai. Quick and transparent The new unified facility is proposed to offer comprehensive, quick and transparent services in prime locations with strict requirements to streamline services, reduce waiting times and ensure enhanced efficiency and accessibility. The embassy had previously issued a similar tender in 2023, with plans to launch the ICAC project in January […]
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