Latest news with #PACI
Arab Times
25-05-2025
- Arab Times
643 Residents Must Update Address Records or Face KD 100 Fine
KUWAIT CITY, May 25: The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) has urged individuals whose residential addresses have been deleted from its records to visit the authority within 30 days from the date their names are published in the Official Gazette. Failure to comply may result in a fine of up to 100 Kuwaiti dinars per person, in accordance with Article 33 of Law No. 32 of 1982. Kuwaiti authorities released a list of 643 individuals whose addresses were removed, either upon the property owner's request or due to the demolition of the buildings. PACI emphasized the importance of updating residential information and advised those affected to visit the authority with the necessary documents to register their new addresses.
Zawya
25-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
NBK leads the way with complete digital account opening for non nbk customers through its mobile banking app
Al-Dakhil: The service enables users to seamlessly join the NBK customer base and enjoy a superior, fully digital banking experience Reinforcing its pioneering role in digital banking, National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has introduced a fully digital account opening feature through its NBK Mobile Banking App — marking a first-of-its-kind service in Kuwait's banking sector. The innovative service enables non-NBK customers to open any type of account through a seamless, fully digital process — anytime, anywhere — without the need to visit a branch. Users can simply fill in the application and electronically sign the agreement using 'Kuwait Mobile ID' digital verification system via the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) takes few minutes, so customers can enjoy the offerings of exceptional banking Following the verification process, users create their login credentials and gain instant access to NBK Mobile Banking, where they can deposit funds into their new account through K-Net and manage all banking transactions with ease, speed, and security. Commenting on the new service, Mr. Mohammad Al-Dakhil, AVP - Digital Business at NBK, said: ' This launch underscores NBK's commitment to delivering cutting-edge digital banking services that enable customers to enjoy a faster, easier, and more integrated banking experience.' He added that the new account opening feature opens the door for non-NBK customers to join the NBK family effortlessly and benefit from a wide range of innovative products and services. The rollout is part of NBK's ongoing efforts to enhance and expand its mobile banking capabilities by introducing new features and optimizing existing ones. Through the NBK Mobile Banking App, customers can perform a variety of banking transactions, including opening new accounts, reviewing account and card activity, checking NBK Miles and NBK Rewards Points, make credit card payments and settle e-bills, updating personal information, and locating NBK branches, ATMs, and CDMs across Kuwait — all in a secure digital environment. The NBK Mobile Banking App is available for download via the Apple App Store, Google Play, and Huawei App Gallery.
Hamilton Spectator
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
PACI Dance Program celebrates 12 years with More Than a Room
The Prince Albert Collegiate Institute (PACI) Dance Program will be hosting their 12th annual More Than a Room fundraiser with a performance on Thursday evening at the EA Rawlinson Centre. More Than a Room began over a decade ago as a way to cover the cost of converting a classroom into a professional dance studio. Since then, the event has helped pay for costumes, workshops, travel to competitions, and guest choreographers. PACI Dance teacher Alicia Wotherspoon said that she could not believe the 12th year of the program had come to an end. 'Over the past decade, the dance program has provided students from diverse backgrounds and varying skill levels the chance to explore the art of dance,' she said. Wotherspoon said the classes helped to foster an environment where students learn not only dance technique, but also how to uplift and encourage one another regardless of their successes or setbacks. 'The supportive atmosphere has instilled in our students the values of leadership, respect, and confidence, as well as the importance of hard work,' Wotherspoon said. 'The dance studio has become much more than just a room where classes are held. It has become a space for self-expression and for creating lifelong connections.' This year's show explores the idea of nostalgia and the longing we feel for moments from the past. 'It's the aching for a place or a person or a thing: a canola field, the smell of fresh bread, a childhood friend, the sound of the drum, a hug from a grandparent, the book of burnt CDs from your first car,' she said. 'In remembering, we wrestle with the tension between holding on and letting go - of the people in those memories, the emotions they stirred, and, most of all, the versions of ourselves we were in those moments.' Students worked all year to prepare for Thursday's show. Wotherspoon said the dance program is a passion of hers, and one she's happy to share with her students. She said the program gives students of all backgrounds and skill levels the opportunity to take dance classes and earn three Arts Ed credits. During this year, the group performed at the PACI Remembrance Day Assembly and Winter Showcase. They also taught dance to students at King George School. They also participated in a livestream with the National Ballet of Canada. There will also be performances from the PACI Dance Program, singer/songwriters Kiefer Paul and Amanda Paul, dancers from King George Elementary School, Carlos Moosomin, and the Birch Hills Dance Centre. Wotherspoon added that she is grateful to work with students and share her love of dance. Dancers like Grade 10 student Rosie Wilson are also grateful to the chance to learn about the art form. 'I love that in dance class you can be yourself and have fun while working hard at the same time,' Wilson said. 'I wasn't too sure about dance, but I'm glad I did it. Dance has given me a type of freedom I can't explain. When I'm dancing, I feel lighter and free to express myself. I will miss having this connection with these people. I will miss laughing together and having fun together as dancers.' Grade 12 student Nesslin McDonald is in her last year in the PACI Dance Program. Like Wilson, McDonald said the experience has been wonderful. 'I love the community, the freedom of expression, the work put towards training, (and) the ability to produce moments bigger than myself,' McDonald said. 'We have changed from nervous dancers to a family who I can always lean on. For three years, we have built our dance family. That's what I will miss most, the friends and the love for the art. Without them, I don't know what I'd do.' Wotherspoon added that there is a silent auction filled with amazing donations from community members and locally owned businesses that have been organized by Susan Brown. The doors opening at 7 p.m. and the show scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the box office and online.
Arab Times
18-05-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait Deletes 12,500 Fake Addresses in Post-Mangaf Fire Reforms
KUWAIT CITY, May 18: Nearly a year after the devastating Mangaf fire that claimed at least 50 lives, Kuwait has moved decisively to tighten civil registration procedures and clamp down on false residential address reporting. The government's response includes rigorous enforcement by the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI), mandating that the address on an individual's civil ID must now match their actual place of residence. To update their address, expats are required to submit proof of residency— a measure that has resulted in the cancellation of over 12,500 fake or fictitious addresses, particularly in high-density areas such as Hawalli, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, and Mahboula. The Municipality has also stepped up monitoring of bachelor accommodations in residential zones, further contributing to the rise in address change requests. PACI has launched a new service through the 'Sahl' app to facilitate address updates for both Kuwaitis and expatriates. Real Estate Impact and Rental Surge The crackdown has had notable repercussions on the real estate sector. Individuals whose addresses are deleted are given a 30-day grace period to register a valid address or face fines of up to KD 100. This has led to a reshuffling of population distribution and contributed to rising rental prices across governorates. By the end of 2024, average apartment rental values in investment areas rose by 3.1% year-on-year. The increases include: Hawalli: KD 364 (+2.5%) Farwaniya: KD 341 (+3.4%) Ahmadi: KD 304 (+3.4%) Mubarak Al-Kabeer: KD 360 (+2.9%) Jahra: KD 335 (+3.9%) Regulatory and Political Dimensions Businessman Qais Al-Ghanim emphasized that the move is a regulatory correction, aimed at reinforcing laws long ignored. He noted that accurate civil ID address registration is vital for electoral integrity, legal processes, and national security. Al-Ghanim acknowledged that some citizens previously registered under false addresses for tribal or electoral gains, a practice now under strict scrutiny. He further explained that the crackdown aligns with recent actions related to the withdrawal of Kuwaiti citizenship. Individuals stripped of their citizenship (particularly those occupying state-owned housing) must relinquish these properties, as Kuwaiti law prohibits real estate ownership by non-citizens. Toward More Accurate Data Real estate expert Abdulaziz Al-Dughaishim welcomed the stricter enforcement, highlighting the resulting improvements in data accuracy and regulatory efficiency. 'With clearer geographic distribution, the state can make better-informed decisions,' he said, adding that the shift also enhances legal traceability and reduces manipulation in cooperative society and parliamentary elections. Al-Dughaishim also noted a shift in corporate housing practices. Employers who previously registered large numbers of workers at a single property are now distributing tenants across multiple buildings to stay within legal bounds. A Black Market Emerges Despite the progress, some property owners have sought to exploit the system. Observers report a growing black market where landlords charge KD 100–150 to register workers (particularly Asians) under fake residential addresses to fulfill civil ID requirements. Authorities are now working to curb this underground practice, which undermines the ongoing reform efforts. As Kuwait continues to tighten enforcement and streamline its civil registry, officials stress that accurate address data is not only a regulatory concern but a national imperative—rooted in lessons from a tragedy that the nation is determined never to repeat.
Arab Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
With 5 Million People, Expatriates Make 70% Of Kuwait's Population
KUWAIT CITY, May 14: Kuwait, a small but wealthy nation in the Arabian Peninsula, is known for its striking blend of modern architecture and vast desert landscapes. With a population nearing 5 million, it ranks as the 128th largest country globally. The nation's economy is heavily reliant on oil, though its financial sector has also shown promising growth in recent years. Recent data from the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) reveals that expatriates continue to dominate Kuwait's demographic composition. As of December 2024, the population stood at 4,987,826, with non-Kuwaitis making up a significant 68.6%, or 3,419,843 people. Of these expatriates, Indians form the largest group, numbering over 1 million, followed by Egyptians at 657,280. Together, these two nationalities account for nearly half of all foreign residents. The Indian community, the largest foreign group in the country, comprises 21% of the total population and 29% of the expatriate population. Egyptians, the second-largest group, have increased by 2% year-on-year, reflecting steady migration from the region. Kuwaiti nationals number 1,567,983, making up about 32% of the population. The employment landscape in Kuwait reveals a clear divide between nationals and expatriates. Kuwaitis dominate the public sector, accounting for 78% of the workforce, but their presence in the private sector is minimal, comprising just 4%. Conversely, expatriates make up the vast majority of the private sector workforce, with non-Kuwaitis filling 96% of private sector jobs. In total, expatriate workers number 2.56 million, far outnumbering the 540,878 working Kuwaitis. A particularly notable statistic is the 780,930 domestic workers, emphasizing Kuwait's heavy reliance on foreign labor for household services. Kuwait's household composition also reflects this divide. The average Kuwaiti family consists of seven members, while expatriate families average only two members per household. This difference is further mirrored in birth rates: Kuwaitis have 21 births per 1,000 people, while the rate for non-Kuwaitis is just 4 per 1,000. In terms of occupation, Kuwaitis typically hold roles in government, education, and executive positions, whereas expatriates dominate the domestic labor sector and perform manual labor or low-wage services, such as driving, cleaning, and working in restaurants. Gender demographics in Kuwait show that while Kuwaiti women slightly outnumber men (794,923 to 773,060), men make up 61% of the total population. This skew is primarily due to the male-heavy expatriate workforce. Overall, Kuwait's population dynamics reveal the central role expatriates play in the country's workforce and societal structure, with Kuwaitis primarily engaged in government roles and expatriates filling critical positions in labor-intensive industries.
