Latest news with #FahadYousefAlSabah
Gulf Insider
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Gulf Insider
Kuwait Extends Private Driving Licence Validity
Kuwait has extended the validity of private driving licence to 15 years for Kuwaitis and GCC citizens, and five years for expatriate residents, Al Anba Arabic daily reported. Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, issued a ministerial decision extending the validity of driving licence for both citizens, GCC nationals and expatriate residents, marking a significant change to the country's licencing rules. Under the new regulations, the validity of licences for expatriates has been increased to five years, up from three. Licences for Kuwaiti citizens and Gulf nationals will now be valid for 15 years instead of 10. For stateless residents, the licence term will remain tied to the validity of their identification documents. The duration of licences for Kuwaitis had traditionally been 10 years, while for expatriates it was reduced at one point to a single year. Several months ago, Sheikh Fahad Al Sabah extended expatriate licence validity to three years, the new announcement pushes it to five years with immediate effect. Kuwait maintains strict conditions for expatriates seeking a driving licence, including a requirement to hold a university degree. New arrivals are eligible to apply only after residing in the country legally for two years. Source Gulf News
Gulf Insider
28-07-2025
- Gulf Insider
Pilot, Doctor Arrested In Kuwait Airport After Ammunition Found In Luggage
Kuwaiti authorities have arrested a pilot and a doctor employed by a local airline after customs officers at Kuwait International Airport discovered 64 rounds of ammunition in the doctor's luggage, the Ministry of Interior said. Security officials said the doctor, a Pakistani national, admitted during questioning that the ammunition had been supplied by a Kuwaiti pilot. Acting on the tip, security forces arrested the pilot at the airport. During interrogation, he corroborated the doctor's account. A search warrant was subsequently executed on the pilot's home and vehicle, where investigators uncovered a cache of 500 unlicenced rounds of ammunition, 87 bottles of alcohol, and equipment allegedly used to produce liquor, according to the ministry. The two suspects have been referred to the public prosecution for legal proceedings. The arrests came as part of a broader nationwide crackdown on law violations. Authorities said 192 wanted individuals and violators have been detained in recent days under the directives of Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
Gulf Insider
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Kuwait Grants Citizenship Rights To Children With Disabilities Born To Kuwaiti Women
In a significant step toward equal rights and social justice, Kuwait's Ministry of Interior has issued a ministerial decision granting lifetime treatment as Kuwaiti citizens to children with disabilities born to Kuwaiti mothers, according to local media reports. The decision was issued by Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, as part of a series of ministerial decisions, which are grounded in Article 3 of Law No. 8 of 2010 that enshrines the rights of persons with disabilities and aims to ensure their protection, integration, and full participation in society. In a related development, Major General Ali Al Adwani, acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, issued two additional directives allowing several minor children of Kuwaiti women to be treated as citizens until they reach the age of adulthood. The measures reflect the government's continued efforts to address the legal and humanitarian concerns faced by families headed by Kuwaiti women, particularly in cases where the father is not a citizen. Authorities emphasised that these steps align with Kuwait's national legal framework and its commitments under international human rights conventions. The Ministry of Interior reaffirmed its commitment to promoting equality and safeguarding the rights of vulnerable groups, calling the decisions part of a broader policy to uphold principles of social inclusion and justice.
Gulf Today
04-07-2025
- Gulf Today
UAE and Kuwait thwart smuggling of a large quantity of crystal meth and heroin
The UAE Ministry of Interior (MoI), in co-operation with its Kuwaiti counterpart, has successfully thwarted the smuggling of a large quantity of shabu and heroin. The seizure occurred during an attempt to smuggle the drugs into Kuwait by sea. The seizure included approximately 100 kilograms of shabu and 10 kilograms of heroin worth KWD1.15 million. The MoI stated via its Twitter account: 'We proudly affirm that this co-operation between the UAE Ministry of Interior and its Kuwaiti counterpart embodies a unified vision to combat the scourge of drugs and strengthens mutual trust between us in protecting our communities.' 'We value the praise of Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al Sabah, Kuwait's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and we reiterate our commitment to strengthening channels for information exchange and joint co-ordination to protect our homelands from all threats,' it added. The foiled operation came after a tip-off, obtained through joint co-operation, indicated the arrival of a sea container containing narcotics as part of an organized international network. A tight security plan was developed to track the container and apprehend the suspects. In co-ordination with the General Administration of Customs in Kuwait, the container was allowed to leave Shuwaikh Port and monitored closely until its recipient, an Afghan national, was caught red handed in the Amghara area. The Kuwait Fire Force also participated in opening the container and conducting technical procedures to ensure the integrity of security procedures and the protection of those involved in the operation. Meanwhile, Al Sabah expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to Lt. General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, for the fruitful co-operation and intelligence information that contributed to the success of this operation. He underscored the depth of the fraternal relations between the two brotherly countries and the importance of continued security co-ordination and information exchange in combating organized crime.
Gulf Insider
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Expats In Kuwait Given 30 Days To Comply With Salary Rule Or Send Families Home
Kuwait has begun enforcing a strict set of new rules governing family visas for expats, summoning dozens of foreign residents found in violation of the country's residency regulations. According to Kuwaiti authorities, the Residence Affairs Investigations Department has launched a targeted campaign in recent weeks, identifying expatriates who originally met the minimum salary threshold of KD800 ($2,610)_but later fell below this requirement due to job changes or reduced income. These individuals most of whom had used their higher salaries to secure family residency permits (Article 22) for spouses and children have now been ordered to regularize their status within one month or send their dependents back to their home countries. The enforcement action follows Ministerial Resolution No. 56 of 2024, introduced in January by First Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al Sabah. Initially, the resolution mandated that applicants hold a university degree and work in a profession matching their qualifications, in addition to earning a minimum of KD800 per month. A July 2024 amendment later removed the degree requirement but retained the income threshold as the primary condition for sponsoring family members. 'The KD 800 salary benchmark is based on socio-economic studies and reflects the government's commitment to ensuring that expatriates are financially capable of providing a decent standard of living for their dependents,' said an official source familiar with the ministry's policy. The source added that the recent campaign is not a blanket crackdown but a targeted compliance effort informed by automated government systems that cross-reference employment, income, and residency data across departments. The Interior Ministry has emphasized that the family visa process remains open to all expatriates, regardless of nationality or educational background, as long as the salary requirement is met. However, under Article 29 of the revised regulation, eligibility is limited to those employed in positions consistent with their declared professions. Discretionary exceptions may be granted for children under the age of five or those born inside Kuwait, pending review by the Director General of Residency Affairs.
