The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has completed drafting a decree-law that prevents expats from engaging in economic activities in Kuwait without obtaining the required licenses from the relevant authorities.
According to Al-Anba Arabic daily, this law prohibits both Bedouns and expats from facilitating commercial cover-up activities. This includes allowing expats to use trade names, licenses, official approvals, or commercial registrations to operate illegally. The law also forbids obstructing or hindering the competent authorities from carrying out their duties, including by withholding or providing false or misleading information.
The Minister of Commerce has designated certain employees as judicial police officers, granting them the authority to inspect, oversee, and monitor violations in commercial activities suspected of breaching the law. Violations will result in penalties as severe as those prescribed for fraud under the Penal Code, including business closures and deportation of the violators.
Final rulings against offenders will be published on the Ministry of Commerce’s website to ensure transparency and discourage violations.
This law aims to protect the local market from illegal practices that harm the national economy.
