Kuwait's Audit Bureau seeks transparency in media deals
KUWAIT CITY, March 5: The State Audit Bureau (SAB) has asked the Ministry of Information to study the mechanism for purchasing and renting programs, artistic works and the executive producer, calling for the development of a unified and comprehensive regulation that includes all decisions and conditions regarding these operations. Sources explained to the newspaper that this step aims to enhance transparency, fully benefit from the budget allocated to this sector, and achieve the highest level of efficiency in managing media contracts. Sources said SAB asked the ministry to prepare a unified and comprehensive regulation that includes all decisions on purchasing and renting operations to ensure the clarity of procedures and the integrity of contract implementation, as well as to avoid any discrepancy or difference in the standards followed.
Sources added that this procedure is in light of the ministry's purchase of several drama series and programs to be shown on Kuwait TV during the holy month of Ramadan. Sources said SAB stressed the need to verify the suitability of the prices that were adopted to evaluate the purchase of artistic works and to make sure that the assessment is carried out according to accurate standards that reflect the actual cost of production and artistic quality. Sources indicated that SAB stressed the importance of the declarations of the contracted companies being an integral part of the contract documents to guarantee clarity of obligations and rights between the contracting parties, as this contributes to raising the efficiency of government contracts and avoiding loopholes that may affect the quality of media content or the efficiency of financial contracts. Sources confirmed that all works contracted for Ramadan shows have obtained the necessary approvals from the competent authorities, including the Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT) and the Distinguished Works Purchasing Committee at the ministry.
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- Kuwait Times
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Kuwait Times
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- Kuwait Times
Lulu Retail reports Q1 2025 revenue of $2.1 billion, up 7.3% year-on-year
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Kuwait Times
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- Kuwait Times
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The authorities also announced the imminent resumption of plot distributions in South Saad Al-Abdullah, supported by KD 262 million in infrastructure contracts awarded during Q1 2025, with project completion targeted between large-scale plans are underway to launch three new residential zones in Nawaf Al-Ahmad, Khiran, and Al-Sabriyah, which together could accommodate up to 150,000 housing units. On the financing front, activity slowed with Kuwait Credit Bank (KCB) approved housing loans totaling KD 37.3 million in Q1 2025, down sharply from KD 110.6 million in Q4 2024. The decline is likely linked to the ongoing halt in plot distributions. Correspondingly, disbursed government plot loans fell 8.5 percent q/q, reversing the 14.6 percent increase recorded in Q4 2024.
