Kuwait News

1 year ago

No Biometric Fingerprinting, No Travel, Expats In Kuwait Are Told

Expatriates in Kuwait, who had missed a deadline to undergo mandatory biometric fingerprinting, will not be able to leave the country before taking it, a security official has said. The deadline for expatriates in the country to undergo the procedure expired on December 31. The defaulters have since got their government and banking transactions suspended. With the deadline expiration, those expats are also blocked from entering and exiting the country. Last year, Kuwait extended a deadline for expatriates and citizens to undergo biometric fingerprinting. For Kuwaitis, the deadline expired on September 30. A total of 3.5 million Kuwaitis and expats have done the fingerprinting so far, according to Talal Al Khalidi, an officer at the Interior Ministry’s General Department of Criminal Evidence. The target group among expats are about 2.6 million of whom 181,718 have not yet undergone the procedure, the official told the Kuwait Radio. “The doors of the General Department of Criminal Evidence are open throughout the week to receive those who have not undergone biometric fingerprinting at eight centres,” Al Khalidi said. He stressed that the fingerprinting process does not take more than three minutes and the department has the capacity to receive 10,000 appointments per day. […]

1 year ago

Kuwaiti Court Clears 3 Expats Of Daesh Links

A Kuwaiti court has acquitted three expatriates earlier charged with having links to the terrorist Daesh (ISIS) organisation and planning attacks against Shiites in the country. The three Tunisian nationals were declared innocent by the Criminal Court. In January last year, the Interior Ministry said it had dismantled a terrorist cell that was planning to attack Shiite places of worship in the country and referred the suspects to public prosecution. The ministry’s Security Media Department said at the time that the Kuwaiti State Security Service had thwarted the three-member group’s plot after monitoring its movements. The department added that three suspects of an Arab nationality had been arrested. Last month, a Canadian national in Kuwait was sentenced to 10 years in prison in a separate case on charges of promoting Daesh ideology and defaming Arab leaders. The defendant was charged with joining a banned group with the intention of spreading principles aimed at destroying the country’s basic system and calling for joining the group via social media, Kuwaiti newspaper Al Rai reported. The defendant, who is of Arab origin, was also accused of buying unregistered phone lines using his bank account and providing them to other people to use the […]

1 year ago

Kuwait Bans Tents In School

Kuwait has banned pitching tents inside schools, citing “negative” impact on the education environment .The Kuwaiti Ministry of Education has issued a circular, instructing school administrations not to set up tents in schools “due to their negative impact on learners and the educational environment”, Al Anba newspaper has reported. As the school is not just a building, but an educational environment that shapes the student’s personality and affects his/her future, tents there are prohibited for a set of reasons, said Ahmed Al Majidi, an acting director of the education department in the Kuwaiti Capital Governorate. The paper quoted the circular as explaining the reasons of the ban that said tents may cause damage to school facilities including trees, benches, and the buildings themselves. Pitching tents is often associated with increased waste and pollution of the surrounding environment, resulting in negative effects on the well-being of students and teachers. Using cooking utensils and lighting tools inside tents increases the risks of fires, thus putting the lives of students and the school at risk, according to the circular. In addition, having tents at the school may hamper smooth movement and cause incidents. The tents may also distract students’ attention from lessons and […]

1 year ago

Kuwait eVisa Now Easier For UAE And GCC Residents: How Expats Can Apply Online

Expatriates residing in the UAE and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries can now easily apply for an eVisa for Kuwait through the country’s new and improved online visa platform – kuwaitvisa.moi.gov.kw. In December 2024, Kuwait temporarily suspended its eVisa system to implement significant upgrades. The revamped platform is now live, allowing visitors to complete visa applications more efficiently and with fewer delays. For UAE and GCC expats travelling to Kuwait for work, visiting family or friends, or exploring the country, here is a guide to the requirements and application process. Who is eligible? Residents of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain who hold specific professional titles are eligible to apply for an eVisa or obtain a visa on arrival. Eligible professions According to Kuwait’s eVisa portal, the following professions qualify: For UAE residents, eligibility is determined based on the profession listed on your Emirates ID. Required documents and details for a Kuwait eVisa The required documents may vary based on your nationality. Generally, applicants need the following: Additional documents may be necessary depending on the visa type. UAE residents must hold a valid Emirates ID with at least six months’ validity. You must also provide accommodation proof for […]

1 year ago

Kuwait’s New Residency Law Excludes Long-time Illegals

A new residency law, which went into effect in Kuwait earlier this month featuring potential reconciliation and payment of fines by violators, does not apply to expatriates who missed an amnesty deadline that expired last year, according to a Kuwaiti security source. The amnesty, which commenced in March, allowed illegal expatriates to readjust their residency status or willingly leave the country without paying fines. The deadline ended on June 30. The source was quoted as saying by Al Anba newspaper that the new law on foreigners’ residency will be applied to violators starting from January 5. “The residency violator, who did not amend his status during the grace period granted during the last year, has no choice but to return to his country without re-entry,” the source added. During the grace period, irregular expatriates, who had no passports, were able to leave Kuwait without having to pay a fine and are allowed to re-enter the country. According to the source, Kuwaiti authorities continue security campaigns against illegal expats. Kuwait, a country of an overall population of 4.9 million people mostly foreigners, is seeking to redress its demographic imbalance and regulate the labour market. Authorities there have recently mounted a nationwide […]

1 year ago

Kuwait Dissolves 13 Charitable Organizations For Non-Compliance With Laws

The Ministry of Social Affairs announced on Monday the dissolution and liquidation of 13 public benefit associations due to their failure to comply with laws and regulations, as well as their lack of an effective role in the community for several years. In a press statement, the ministry explained that the decision followed a comprehensive review of these associations. The associations were found to have failed to hold regular general assemblies or submit the necessary financial and administrative reports. This lack of compliance prompted the ministry to take action to enhance transparency and ensure that the associations fulfill their societal mission. The ministry noted that the associations affected by this decision were involved in various fields, including culture, health, and social services. However, they violated Article 27 of Law No. 24/1962 concerning clubs and public benefit associations, which mandates that associations must fulfill their legal obligations and conduct activities that benefit the community. The ministry emphasized that it had provided these associations with sufficient opportunities to rectify their situations, issuing official warnings. However, no significant actions were taken by the associations to address the violations, leading to the decision to dissolve them. This measure is part of the Ministry of […]

1 year ago

Kuwait Launches Evening Shifts for Ministries, Government Departments to Improve Public Services

Starting Sunday, January 5, ministries and government departments across Kuwait began implementing an evening shift. According to local media, the ministries and institutions had finalised the selection of employees for the evening shifts in advance, in line with a Cabinet decision aimed at improving the work environment in the government sector. The initiative aims to provide citizens and residents greater flexibility in accessing services and completing transactions by extending service hours to suit varied schedules. The evening shift system, which is expected to enhance employee productivity, limits work to a maximum of 4.5 hours per day, starting no earlier than 3:30 pm. Flexible working hours do not apply to evening shifts, according to the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Sources noted that most government agencies operating on shift systems have designated only a small number of units and employees for evening shifts. The initiative is set to simplify procedures and improve service accessibility, ensuring that government services meet the diverse needs of the public. Kuwaiti competent authorities will monitor the impact of the evening shifts to assess their effectiveness in achieving these goals.

1 year ago

Kuwait hosts first International Chess Festival

The first Kuwait International Chess Festival officially kicked off on Sunday, featuring five exciting tournaments with over 250 participants, including male and female chess masters, ranked players, and young talents from 25 countries. In a press statement, Adel Al-Omairi, Vice President of the Kuwait Mind Sports Association, shared that the festival will host tournaments for Masters, Challengers, and Women, along with two rapid chess tournaments for both adults and juniors. The event is set to run for nine days, concluding on January 13. Al-Omairi noted that the opening day marked the start of the first round in the Master, Challenger, and Women’s tournaments, with one round scheduled each day for the next nine days. He explained that the Rapid Chess Championship will consist of nine rounds, starting with five rounds on January 9, followed by the remaining four rounds on January 10. The Blitz Chess Tournament is scheduled for January 11, with all nine rounds played in a single day. He stressed the importance of hosting such a major event, emphasizing its role in promoting chess among youth and juniors. Al-Omairi expressed confidence in the success of the five tournaments, predicting fierce and high-level competition, given the participation of top-tier […]

1 year ago

Kuwait: MoH sets new prices for supplements, medicines

Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al- Awadhi issued a decision to set the prices of 12 nutritional supplements, which will be added to the list of approved nutritional supplement prices. In addition, Al-Awadhi approved the prices of 289 medicines and pharmaceutical products. Article Two of this decision includes amendments to the names of 15 medicines and formulas. Furthermore, the Medical Engineering Department at the Ministry of Health has announced the launching of 14 tenders for supplying equipment and accessories to the Council of Children and Premature Children departments at Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital and Jahra Hospital. These tenders include medical laboratory services for the Chest Diseases Hospital and Sabah Hospital. The Medical Engineering Department said all bids must be submitted through its tender box. Bids will remain valid for 90 days from the closing date. Companies wishing to participate must be registered with the Biomedical Engineering Department and entities specialized in the relevant field. Companies must pay the prescribed fees for purchasing tender documents and submit a certificate of support for national labor when participating in the tender process.

1 year ago

Kuwait: Wanted Man Killed in Shootout With Police During Arrest Attempt

A wanted man in Kuwait has been killed in an exchange of fire with police during an arrest attempt, Kuwaiti security authorities said. The Kuwaiti Interior Ministry said after police had specified the place of the wanted person and during the arrest operation, he began shooting at the security personnel, drawing a response from them. The man was injured in the shootout and moved to the hospital where he died later. His weapon was seized, the ministry added. “The security personnel continue to make maximum efforts to pursue and arrest anyone, who tries to undermine the security and stability of the country,” said the ministry, stressing that safety and security of citizens and expatriates is a top priority. The man showed fierce resistance to his arrest and opened fire on the police, who had to return the fire and injured him, a senior security official said. Undersecretary of the Criminal Security Sector at the ministry, Maj. Gen Hamed Al Dawas, told Al Rai newspaper that the offender was transferred to the Farwaniyah Hospital, where he died. The paper quoted security sources as saying that security forces had earlier got information specifying the location of the fugitive in Al Firdous area […]

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Search Here

No Biometric Fingerprinting, No Travel, Expats In Kuwait Are Told

Kuwaiti Court Clears 3 Expats Of Daesh Links

Kuwait Bans Tents In School

Kuwait eVisa Now Easier For UAE And GCC Residents: How Expats Can Apply Online

Kuwait’s New Residency Law Excludes Long-time Illegals

Kuwait Dissolves 13 Charitable Organizations For Non-Compliance With Laws

Kuwait Launches Evening Shifts for Ministries, Government Departments to Improve Public Services

Kuwait hosts first International Chess Festival

Kuwait: MoH sets new prices for supplements, medicines

Kuwait: Wanted Man Killed in Shootout With Police During Arrest Attempt

Recent Posts

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Seven People Rescued After Their Vessel Broke Down Off The Coast Of Rabigh

Now It Takes Just 48 Hours To Get UAE’s Single Entry Tourist Visa Valid Up To 60 Days

MoH Issues Summer Heat Guidelines As Temperatures Soar Above 48°C

Two Accused Of Assaulting Worker Over Car-Washing Turf Dispute In Sharjah

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