Kuwait unveils new initiatives to boost domestic tourism this summer
KUWAIT CITY, May 19: The Standing Committee for Celebrating National Holidays and Occasions convened on Sunday to discuss several key initiatives aimed at promoting domestic tourism during the summer season. The meeting, held at Seif Palace, was chaired by the Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi. It was attended by Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Chairperson of the Voluntary Work Center, and other committee members representing various official bodies.
Minister Al-Mutairi presented a series of recommendations to stimulate domestic tourism, including the creation of a dedicated tourism website that would outline approved initiatives and adhere to established standards. He also proposed facilitating transit visa procedures in the coming period and extending the operating hours of shopping malls throughout the summer. Additionally, the committee discussed plans for a range of recreational activities, including theatrical performances, and the inclusion of events organized by the Tourism Enterprises Company in the "Hayakum" application — a comprehensive platform designed to showcase all national events in coordination with relevant authorities.
During the meeting, the committee reviewed special summer offers presented by Jazeera Airways in collaboration with Kuwait Airways. A visual presentation was also given by the Hayakom digital platform team, highlighting the various tourism, sports, and cultural events listed on the platform. This included activities from the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, as well as initiatives under the Gardenia project.
The Touristic Enterprises Company also provided a comprehensive update on its ongoing projects and progress. In addition, the committee's evaluation and quality control team presented a report on its work.
Among the proposals discussed was the creation of a comprehensive tourism guide for Kuwait, as well as promotional packages offered by local hotels at competitive prices to further encourage domestic tourism.
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Arab Times
a day 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
Sacrificial sheep price falls, demand remains sluggish
KUWAIT CITY, June 4: Although prices of sacrificial sheep have dropped compared to last year and demand is expected to increase ahead of Eid Al-Adha, the market remains sluggish despite a growing trend of online purchases. In an interview with the newspaper, citizen Fahd Al-Mutairi said he noticed that most Kuwaitis still prefer to buy local sheep, even though they are more expensive than imported varieties. He disclosed that he surveyed several sellers before making a purchase and found that prices for local sheep range between KD165 and KD175. However, he criticized the lack of price regulation, describing the pricing as 'arbitrary,' with some local sheep selling for as low as KD160. Sheep trader Abu Mutab, also a citizen, confirmed that prices have declined by about 10 percent compared to last year. He attributed the dip to the recent closure of the Kabad livestock market due to the spread of a virus in some cattle farms. He clarified that although the disease affected cows and not sheep, and despite repeated assurances from the Food Authority that it poses no risk to consumers, the temporary closure has disrupted supply and undermined confidence in the market. He expects a slight increase in prices closer to Eid Al-Adha, particularly by Wednesday and Thursday, pointing out that just a month ago, prices were approximately 10 percent higher. He also voiced concern about the surge in online sheep sales; many of which, he claimed, are conducted by unlicensed sellers. While online shopping is convenient for many customers, he warned that it can be misleading, especially for buyers unfamiliar with sheep breeds. He cautioned that some sellers may falsely market imported sheep as local, potentially deceiving customers. He called on regulatory authorities to intensify oversight of online livestock sales to protect both the market and consumers. Another citizen, who identified himself as Butarki, disclosed that he makes it a point to buy his sacrificial sheep from the Kabad livestock market every year. He observed that prices this year are noticeably lower than last year, which he attributed to what he described as a general lack of interest from citizens in purchasing sheep this season. Bu Faisal, a livestock farm owner, affirmed that the price of local sheep tends to fluctuate based on the cost of animal feed. He said this year's price decline is largely due to the abundance of various types of sheep currently available in the local market. He cited another factor -- the noticeable reluctance of charitable organizations and committees to purchase sacrificial animals for donation this year, which has led to an oversupply. He explained that prices are also influenced by seasonal dynamics, such as many citizens choosing to travel abroad during the Eid holiday; thereby, reducing local demand. He added that pricing can vary depending on the market's location, with some areas commanding higher prices than others. He echoed concerns over online sales, saying that the prevalence of online sheep sellers has played a major role in pushing prices down this season. He stressed that fluctuations in feed prices and labor costs remain critical factors that influence the cost of local sheep in particular. With Eid al-Adha approaching, the Kabad sheep market is witnessing a slowdown and decline in prices compared to last year. The staff of the newspaper toured the market, where both traders and citizens expressed expectations that prices may rise slightly as the Day of Arafat nears. Still, the overall sentiment remains one of stagnation, with many pointing to the surge in online sheep sales as a major contributor to the current downturn. Bilal Al-Din, a trader specializing in Saudi sheep, said prices currently range from KD166 to KD175 with weights between 28 and 35 kilograms. He pointed out that prices are roughly KD10 lower than they were two months ago. Sheep seller Mizan Rahman stated that he exclusively sells Iraqi sheep for KD110. He revealed that local sheep are priced between KD170 and KD175, Syrian sheep between KD140 and KD145, and Iranian sheep from KD95 to KD100. Similarly, trader Mubarak Al-Ali disclosed that he deals only in Iranian sheep, priced at KD95 to KD100; indicating that most of his customers are Iranians and other expatriates who often choose more affordable options compared to the higher-priced local or other Arab breeds. Sheep seller Abdul Hamid Hussein corroborated this view, saying local sheep are sold for between KD160 and KD170, with Saudi sheep only slightly cheaper. He added that prices are expected to rise automatically on the Day of Arafat due to increased demand, revealing that the weights at his store range from 25 to 30 kilograms.
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Arab Times
All 8,000 Kuwaiti pilgrims have arrived; teams at highest readiness: Hajj Mission Chief
MAKKAH, June 4: Dr. Bader Al-Mutairi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Head of the Kuwaiti Hajj Mission, announced Tuesday that all 8,000 Kuwaiti pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The pilgrims are part of 60 organized Hajj missions in preparation for the upcoming pilgrimage season. In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Dr. Al-Mutairi confirmed that all participating teams from various Kuwaiti government agencies are fully operational and working around the clock at the holy sites to ensure the safety and comfort of Kuwaiti pilgrims. He noted that preparations at Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah have been completed, crediting the efforts of mission teams who have been working diligently since the early stages of planning. These efforts reflect a unified commitment to providing a secure and well-organized environment for pilgrims to perform their rituals with ease and peace of mind. Dr. Al-Mutairi urged all Kuwaiti pilgrims to strictly follow the instructions issued by the Saudi authorities, prepare themselves for the rituals, and fully cooperate with the supervisory and service teams of the Kuwaiti Hajj Mission. The Kuwaiti Hajj Mission comprises representatives from several government and public agencies, including the Ministries of Islamic Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Information, and Health. It also includes personnel from the General Fire Department, the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, the Public Authority for Youth, and the Kuwait Red Crescent Society—all dedicated to serving the guests of God during the pilgrimage.
