Kuwait is out of the GCC tourism openness trend
FIRST, I want to acknowledge the extensive steps taken to enhance Kuwait's openness. The new residency law undoubtedly has several positive aspects, but it is important to expedite the preparation of its executive regulations to ensure its implementation. However, there are still some drawbacks that prevent the openness from being fully realized. I present these observations to His Excellency the Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah, whose commendable efforts in various fields are widely recognized. His leadership is essential for completing Kuwait's civilized image and ensuring that it keeps pace with its GCC counterparts. The GCC countries have taken steady steps towards openness and economic revitalization through the enactment of modern residency laws.
One of the drawbacks is the requirement that visitors to Kuwait must hold a university degree. If a person is visiting to assess investment opportunities or has specific expertise needed by a company for a limited time, should their ability to accomplish the task depend on their academic qualifications or their practical experience?
On this occasion, I recall that the U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order during his first term to emphasize 'skills over academic certificates.' He explained, 'We seek candidates with competence and knowledge, rather than simply recruiting based on academic credentials.' In advanced countries like Germany, France, and the UK, experience and skills are prioritized over academic qualifications, as they contribute more directly to national development.
Another observation: Why is a resident or citizen prevented from obtaining a visit visa for a family member if they are capable of supporting them and providing return plane tickets?
Why is it necessary to purchase the ticket from a domestic airline, while many foreign airlines are closing their offices in Kuwait?
During the years of closure, due to the shortsighted vision of some officials, Kuwait lost a great deal of expertise. The decision that restricted the renewal of work permits only to highly qualified individuals led to many skilled workers leaving the country.
Meanwhile, the Gulf states opened their doors to these professionals, welcomed them, and benefited from their expertise and knowledge of local customs. Here, I am reminded of the saying: 'Kuwait educates and trains, then exports skilled labor to other countries.' As a result, Kuwait has regressed in many areas, and its economy continues to suffer. Socially, these flawed decisions, often influenced by residency traders, have turned Kuwait into a community of bachelors. In contrast, GCC countries have worked to resolve this issue by allowing business and family visits. In some cases, individuals can travel multiple times on the same visit visa. Gulf countries have also made it easier for expatriates to bring their families without complications.
Other countries have addressed the problem of 'loose labor' (freelancers) by sponsoring workers and collecting fees that would otherwise go to residency traffickers. We must capitalize on the success of the 26th Gulf Cup, when Kuwait welcomed thousands of Iraqis in a wonderful experience. They stayed in hotels, purchased goods, and returned home without a single violation.
These visits strengthened friendship and ties among nations. In the past, some GCC countries adopted strict measures for visit visas. Today, many allow visas to be issued electronically. For instance, Saudi Arabia now issues a visit visa in just three minutes. As a result, Saudi Arabia has millions of visitors who contribute significantly to its economy. Finally, when a Kuwaiti company applies for a temporary business visit, why is it required that the visitor holds a university degree? They are coming to Kuwait for a fixed period for a specific business assignment, not for personal reasons like marrying the company owner's daughter. I reiterate that I present these observations to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, in the hope that Kuwait can stay in line with the GCC's trend of openness.
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Kuwait Times
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Former President Joe Biden, a Democrat who succeeded Trump, repealed that ban on nationals from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen in 2021, calling it "a stain on our national conscience". Trump said the countries subject to the most severe restrictions were determined to harbor a "large-scale presence of terrorists," fail to cooperate on visa security, have an inability to verify travelers' identities as well as inadequate record-keeping of criminal histories and high rates of visa overstays in the United States. "We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States," Trump said. He cited Sunday's incident in Boulder, Colorado in which a man tossed a gasoline bomb into a crowd of pro-Israel demonstrators as an example of why the new curbs are needed. An Egyptian national, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, has been charged in the attack. 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Arab Times
2 days ago
- Arab Times
Lawsuits in Kuwait get a fee-lift
KUWAIT CITY, June 5: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah presided over the weekly meeting of the Cabinet, during which a decree-law amending certain provisions of Judicial Fees Law No. 17/1973 was approved. This amendment is the first in more than five decades. It aims to limit the growing number of vexatious cases, ensure the seriousness of the right to litigation, and promote alternative dispute resolution methods like arbitration and conciliation. The amendment includes the increase of fees and rates imposed on lawsuits with a specified or unspecified claim value. It stipulates a five percent rate if the claim value is up to KD30,000; 3.5 percent if the claim value exceeds KD30,000 up to KD150,000; 2.5 percent if the value ranges between KD150,000 and KD500,000; 1.5 percent if the claim value ranges between KD500,000 and KD5million; and one percent if the claim value exceeds KD5 million. It raised the fees for orders on petitions and requests from KD5 to KD10; KD50 for urgent lawsuits and enforcement issues — up from KD3; court lawsuit fees increased to KD100, including the request to appoint an expert; KD150 for enforcement issues — up from KD30; KD100 for requests to dismiss a judge, expert and arbitrator; KD500 for a request to refer a property to a sales judge; the fee for warnings for each party increased from 500 fils to KD5; cost of stamp duty increased from 500 fils to KD1; and requests to expedite lawsuits, suspension and cancellation are subject to a fee of KD5. Article One of the Decree-Law stipulates the replacement of a number of articles of the Judicial Fees Law with new texts. Article Two states that if the lawsuit includes multiple claims of known value — whether original or reserve, and arising from a single legal cause; the assessment shall be based on their total value. However, if they arise from different legal causes, the assessment shall be based on the value of each one separately. Article Five states that if it is impossible to estimate a claim, it shall be deemed unvalued. The following claims, in particular, shall be deemed unvalued: claims for the authenticity of a signature, claims and objections submitted to the judge of urgent matters, original forgery claims, requests for enforcement of arbitrators' rulings and appeals against such orders, requests for orders to implement foreign court rulings, requests to dismiss judges, experts and arbitrators, requests and orders on petitions submitted to the Execution Department and appeals against them, claims for easements, claims for interpretation and correction of rulings, claims for review of endowments, claims for entitlement to residency in endowment sites or their eviction, and claims for eviction of rented premises. It also stipulates that if a claim includes multiple original claims or original and reserve claims — all of which are unvalued — a fee shall be imposed on each of them separately. If these claims are related, a single fee shall be imposed on them. Under the decree, a fixed fee is imposed on the following lawsuits: personal status lawsuits of all types, partition lawsuits between partners, appeals against orders on petitions, and the list of fees and expenses. Fees are also collected for each lawsuit that has been in effect for one year from the date of its cancellation and has not been renewed from the date of cancellation, or from the date of the expiration of the penal or consensual stay and has not been resumed. A fee of KD5 is imposed for a request to renew a lawsuit from cancellation, shorten its hearing date, or expedite it from the penal or consensual stay. The applicant is obligated to pay this fee regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit. A new fee of 10 percent of the value of the fee due is collected for the lawsuit when it is re-filed within three months from the date of the judgment, as if it never existed, or by abandoning it; provided that the subject of the lawsuit or its litigants do not change. The exemption request shall be submitted to the Clerks Department of the Court of First Instance, accompanied by the supporting documents or a copy thereof. The Clerks Department shall notify the Judicial Fees Department of the request and its documents, so that it may submit its report. A committee of three judges shall be formed to decide on the request in the absence of the parties and without pleading unless the committee deems it necessary to attend. The committee shall have a secretary who will attend its sessions and record its minutes. The committee's decision shall be issued by a majority vote of its members, including the reasons for the decision and the basis upon which the exemption was based. The exemption from fees shall be personal and shall not extend to the heirs of the exempted person or their replacement. The committee referred to in the previous article may, during the course of the case or after judgment therein, based on a request from the Judicial Fees Department or the opposing party in the case, annul the exemption decision if it is proven that the justified incapacity has ceased. The Court Clerks Department shall notify the circuit hearing the case of the annulment decision. If the fee-exempt opponent is required to pay the fees, he must first be requested to pay them. If it is impossible to collect the fees from him, it is permissible to recover them from the concerned party if the state of his inability is no longer in accordance with the previous article. A fee of KD5 is imposed on warnings and notifications — other than notification of the statement of claim, judgment and other notifications related to the progress of a dispute before the court — for each person notified. A fee of 500 fils is collected for each page of the copy of the judgment requested from non-litigants. The same fee is imposed for each page requested by the litigants after they obtained the first copy. A fee of KD1 is imposed on certificates and copies of the lawsuit papers requested by the litigants or others regarding the progress of the lawsuit or the judgment therein. It also stipulates that the courts shall adjudicate in lawsuits and requests for which the fee is paid in advance, or for which a temporary exemption is established. No lawsuit or request may be initiated before this fee is paid. If it is found that it has not been paid, the court shall grant the plaintiff an appropriate period for payment. If he does not pay within that period without an acceptable excuse, the lawsuit is deemed null and void. The provisions of Article 123 of the Civil and Commercial Procedures Law shall apply to orders to assess fees and the appeals against them. Without prejudice to the rules of exemption from court fees, the plaintiff is obligated to pay the fee until a final judgment is issued against the other party. The explanatory memorandum states that Law No. 17/1973 regarding judicial fees was issued more than 50 years ago; and it has not been amended despite the economic and social changes in recent years, including the rise in inflation rate and the level of per capita income, which led to an increase in the prices of goods and services. It added that the increasing level of public culture and trust in the judiciary have encouraged citizens to resort to the courts as a safe haven for resolving their disputes. This has led to a steady increase in the number of cases brought before them; hence, litigants have to endure the pain of waiting for resolution.
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Arab Times
Kuwait targets exam cheating with prison terms, hefty fines
KUWAIT CITY, June 5: Minister of Education Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaei praised the Cabinet's approval on Wednesday of a draft bill amending the Penal Code and criminalizing cheating and exam leaks. He called the legal amendments 'a turning point' for educational justice. He expressed gratitude to His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah and other Cabinet members for their roles in this development, which reflects the political leadership's commitment to safeguarding the futures of students. The draft law explicitly outlaws the printing, selling, or leaking of exam questions and answers for intermediate and secondary schools, mainly when intended to facilitate cheating or undermine the examination process. Al-Tabtabaei emphasized that such actions threaten Kuwait's educational reputation and that legal action would be taken against offenders. The Cabinet's approved amendments add two articles to the Penal Code: Article 259 bis, which punishes leaking exam materials with imprisonment of up to five years and fines ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 dinars, and Article 259 bis (a), which penalizes altering exam answers or grades with up to seven years in prison and fines between 5,000 and 10,000 dinars. This initiative aims to protect the integrity of education and ensure fair assessments for all students. Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti Council of Ministers, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, convened its weekly session on Wednesday at Bayan Palace, reviewing significant local, regional, and international developments while approving major legal and institutional reforms. At the outset, the Cabinet extended Eid Al-Adha greetings to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and the people and residents of Kuwait. It also congratulated the Crown Prince on the first anniversary of assuming office, praising his national achievements and leadership. As part of its legislative agenda, the Cabinet approved two draft decree-laws. The first introduces Articles 259 bis and 259 bis (A) to Penal Code No. 16 of 1960, criminalizing acts related to cheating and manipulation in intermediate and secondary school exams. Violations are punishable by imprisonment of up to seven years and fines ranging from KD 1,000 to KD 10,000. The second draft law amends Judicial Fees Law No. 17 of 1973, aiming to discourage frivolous lawsuits and promote alternative dispute resolution methods such as arbitration and conciliation. These measures seek to preserve the integrity of the educational system and improve the effectiveness of the judiciary. The Cabinet commended the recent speech delivered by His Highness the Crown Prince at the Second GCC–ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, where he represented His Highness the Amir in his capacity as President of the Gulf Cooperation Council. In his address, His Highness emphasized the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation and building strategic partnerships rooted in mutual respect, sustainable development, and integration. Highlighting the combined economic strength of the GCC and ASEAN — with a total GDP nearing USD 6 trillion — His Highness called for enhanced cooperation in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and food security, especially through sustainable agricultural investment. The Cabinet also praised the Crown Prince's participation in the GCC–ASEAN–China Tripartite Summit, where he welcomed the launch of the 2023–2027 strategic dialogue action plan. The plan outlines collaboration across sectors including renewable energy, education, health, technology, and scientific research. The Cabinet reviewed the results of the Crown Prince's official visit to Japan from May 28 to 31. During the visit, His Highness met with Emperor Naruhito, Crown Prince Fumihito, and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to discuss elevating bilateral ties to a strategic partnership. Minister of Information, Culture, and State Minister for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi presented a detailed report on the Crown Prince's visit to Kuwait's pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka. Accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, His Highness toured the pavilion, which showcases Kuwait's achievements in economy, energy, environment, education, and cultural heritage. He expressed appreciation for the organizers' efforts in presenting Kuwait's identity to the global audience. The Cabinet also discussed the outcomes of the recent official visit by Syrian President Ahmad Al-Shara. The talks, chaired by His Highness the Amir on the Kuwaiti side and President Al-Shara on the Syrian side, focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors and addressing the latest developments in Syria. Both parties emphasized the need for intensified international efforts to ensure Syria's sovereignty, security, and stability. Additionally, the Cabinet reviewed high-level visits from the leaders of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Talks with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan highlighted the strength of fraternal relations. These meetings led to the signing of several memoranda of understanding in sectors such as energy, advanced technology, education, law, health, investment, and cybersecurity. The Council received a presentation from Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy Dr. Subaih Abdulaziz Al-Mukhaizeem, who outlined progress on several strategic infrastructure projects. These include the Shagaya and Abdaliyah Renewable Energy Projects, Az-Zour North Phases II and III, Khairan and Nuwaiseeb Phase I, and the Subiya Plant expansion phases. Combined, these projects will add 14,050 megawatts of electricity and 228 million gallons of daily water production. The Cabinet commended the ministry's efforts and stressed the importance of addressing implementation challenges to meet the nation's growing energy demands. The session concluded with the Cabinet approving several items on the agenda and referring others to specialized ministerial committees for further review and action. Through these comprehensive discussions and decisions, the Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to national development, regional cooperation, and institutional integrity.
