Sheikh Khaled Al-Badr commends the Public Authority for Sports for unwavering support
KUWAIT CITY, May 3: In the presence of Board Chair of the Kuwait Aquatics Federation (KAF) Sheikh Khaled Al-Badr Al-Sabah, Vice Chair Hamid Al-Gharib, and representatives from sports clubs and companies, the General Assembly of the Kuwait Aquatics Federation approved the financial and administrative reports for the period from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. The estimated budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year was also approved.
According to a press release, the General Assembly, which was held in the Olympic Committee's meeting room, endorsed the appointment of an auditor for the 2025/2026 fiscal year and discussed proposals submitted by sports clubs.
During the meeting, Sheikh Khaled Al-Badr expressed his gratitude to the attending club and company representatives, as well as the members of the General Assembly, for the trust they have placed in the KAF Board of Directors and for its outstanding role in driving progress and advancing the field of aquatics.
Sheikh Khaled also thanked the Public Authority for Sports for their support and for overcoming any challenges.
In addition, he commended the full cooperation and coordination between KAF and the parents/guardians of both male and female players.
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Arab Times
4 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
6 days ago
- Arab Times
Italian envoy highlights strong Kuwait-Italy ties
KUWAIT CITY, June 3: Italian Ambassador to Kuwait Lorenzo Morini has stressed that Kuwaiti-Italian relations are an exemplary model of partnership based on mutual trust, fruitful cooperation, and shared values and principles. In a speech delivered during his country's National Day celebration with Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in attendance, Morini affirmed that 'political dialogue between Italy and Kuwait is distinguished. Our cooperation in the field of security and our economic relations are excellent. Italy and Kuwait are committed to playing an active role on the international stage to promote peace, dialogue and pluralism; and to support developing countries.' He added, 'Today, we celebrate a pivotal moment in our country's history -- a moment that ushered in an era of justice, unity, peace and prosperity for the Italian people. Today, in this hall, we see living examples of the achievements that Italy has made, thanks to that historic decision.' He also disclosed, 'I have found in Kuwait a true passion and deep love for products made in Italy, and everything related to our culture and traditions. I believe that most of this success is due to the Italian citizens residing in Kuwait. I am deeply grateful for their daily commitment to promote Italy's image and improve relations between our countries and peoples.' He concluded, 'I look forward to continuing to work with the Kuwaiti authorities during my term to strengthen relations between Kuwait and Italy. I am confident that I will have your support, as I have had it since my first day in this wonderful country.'
Arab Times
02-06-2025
- Arab Times
40 Years Same Price: Kuwait's Timeless 100-Fils Falafel Sandwich
KUWAIT CITY, Jun 2: In a country of gleaming towers and booming oil revenues, a humble 100-fils falafel sandwich continues to quietly tell a story of compassion, dignity, and policy with purpose. Since 1984, a decree No. 44/1984 was issued in Kuwait under the direction of the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, not for oil, infrastructure, or defense, but for falafel. The Amir's directive mandated that the price of a falafel sandwich remain fixed at 100 fils (about $0.33), ensuring that the nation's poorest residents would always have access to an affordable, filling meal. At first glance, a falafel sandwich may seem insignificant in the wider scope of economic policy. But for tens of thousands of low-wage earners in Kuwait, many earning less than two dinars a day, that sandwich can mean the difference between hunger and sustenance. These workers, who often juggle the burdens of rent, remittances, and survival, rely on such basic food items to get through each day. While some eateries have slightly reduced the size of the falafel or the sandwich over the years to maintain margins, the price tag remains unchanged. And this is not by chance. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through its Customer Protection Department, continues to actively enforce the 1984 decree. Inspectors routinely visit restaurants to verify compliance and have issued numerous fines to violators attempting to raise prices. "The law is still enforced," one inspector told Arab Times. 'If anyone sees a restaurant charging more, they should report it. We will take action.' More than just a cheap meal, the 100-fils falafel represents Kuwait's social conscience—an enduring symbol of a leadership philosophy that prioritized the basic dignity of all residents, regardless of income. In a time when global food prices are rising sharply, Kuwait's unwavering commitment to this modest sandwich offers a rare and powerful example of policy rooted in humanity. Bread (Khubz) at 50 Fils: State-Baked and Subsidized Another cornerstone of Kuwait's food strategy is bread, produced largely by the Kuwait Flour Mills & Bakeries Company (KFMB)—a state-owned enterprise. KFMB supplies Arabic bread (khubz) and other bakery items at prices unchanged for decades. A packet of five khubz still costs just 50 fils, with the government subsidizing flour to ensure bakeries can maintain low prices without sacrificing quality. Ration Cards and Essential Commodities Beyond bakeries and sandwich stands, Kuwait's subsidy net extends to household staples. Rice, sugar, flour, powdered milk, lentils, cooking oil, and infant formula are distributed to Kuwaiti families via a ration card system, ensuring affordability even during periods of international food price spikes. In 2023 alone, the government allocated KD 386 million for subsidies, 37.5% of which went toward basic food items. This proactive financial commitment reflects the state's desire to cushion citizens from the inflationary effects of global shipping bottlenecks, conflict-driven shortages, and currency fluctuations. Inflation Bites—But Not Without a Fight Despite these efforts, 2024 has seen food prices in Kuwait rise by 25–30% for many imported goods, according to local market reports. The increase has been largely attributed to rising freight costs and global instability. To counteract unjustified pricing, Kuwait's Ministry of Commerce and Industry has taken a hardline stance: suppliers are prohibited from raising prices on essential food items without prior approval, and cooperative societies are required to maintain standard pricing levels across the board. 'We're seeing price controls not just as emergency measures but as part of a larger philosophy,' said a representative from a local co-op union. 'The idea is to protect both citizens and long-term economic stability.' A Social Model Worth Noticing While some may argue that such policies aren't scalable or sustainable elsewhere, Kuwait's approach offers a unique model of resilience through regulation. Anecdotal evidence even suggests some school cafeteria staples have seen price increases of just 50 fils over the past 15 years, underscoring a national culture of moderation in food pricing. At a time when other nations are struggling to keep supermarket shelves affordable, Kuwait is preserving a decades-old promise: that a meal—or at least a sandwich—will always be within reach of every pocket.
