The Ministry of Interior is moving forward with the decision to suspend transactions for citizens and expatriates who do not complete their biometric fingerprinting by the deadline—September 30 for citizens and December 31 for expatriates. It is important to note that failure to comply with this requirement will not result in a travel ban, as the Constitution guarantees the right to travel. Travel bans can only be imposed based on instructions from the Public Prosecution, the General Department of Investigations, or through a ministerial decision for public interest.

According to sources, it is anticipated that over 250,000 citizens and expatriates will not complete the biometric fingerprinting due to violations or criminal involvement. Since biometric fingerprinting began in May 2023, approximately 805,000 citizens have completed the process, while 171,000 have yet to do so. Among expatriates, 1,864,000 have been fingerprinted, and about 970,000 have not yet completed the procedure.

Bedouns are also required to undergo biometric fingerprinting, which should be coordinated with the Information Systems General Department and the Central Agency for Remedying Illegal Residents Status (CARIRS) when traveling, renewing security cards, or processing transactions. This biometric project aims to establish a comprehensive database of all residents and visitors aged 18 and over, providing accurate information about everyone in the country.

The project is designed to combat passport forgery and dual citizenship issues, uncover crimes and their perpetrators, and identify individuals through security patrols and communication towers. It was initiated after Kuwait studied the experiences of other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and international examples, with delegations sent to observe and avoid potential problems. Launched in May 2023, the biometric fingerprinting began as an optional measure for travelers and later became a requirement for obtaining commercial licenses. Biometric centers have been established across the six governorates, accompanied by a public awareness campaign and appointment scheduling through the Sahel application.

After the deadlines for citizens and expatriates pass, those who have not completed the biometric fingerprinting will be unable to process transactions with ministries, government agencies, banks, and stock exchange-listed companies. An investigation will follow to determine the reasons for non-compliance.