Latest news with #PACI
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Arab Times
Your Haris Just Sold Your Address — And Now It's Disappeared From Your Kuwait Civil ID
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 8: Kuwait's Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) has been on an aggressive mission to stamp out fake residential addresses, targeting expired leases, missing documents, property ownership changes, and buildings awaiting demolition. But while the official focus is on cleaning up records, the reality on the ground reveals a far more sinister story- a thriving black market for Civil ID addresses, run in plain sight. In many recent cases, legitimate tenants have found themselves erased from PACI's system, not because they violated their lease, but because the property they live in changed hands. The new owner rents out the same units, and through a corrupt chain involving building caretakers (haris), the address is handed over to someone else for cash. The scam runs like clockwork. For KD 70 to KD 150, caretakers use the property owner's Civil ID, the building's PACI number, forged lease contracts, and even fake rent receipts to register a 'new tenant.' Once PACI updates the records, the original tenant's registered address is deleted, and their name appears in the Kuwait Official Gazette (Kuwait Alyoum). The victim, still paying rent, suddenly has no legal proof of residence. In many of these buildings, official rent receipts and lease papers are never issued, creating the perfect breeding ground for abuse. Caretakers hide behind excuses, 'The owner is out of the country,' 'His Civil ID is under renewal,' 'The papers are delayed' — while quietly pocketing bribes from desperate migrant workers seeking a legal address. And the corruption doesn't end there. Existing tenants themselves are becoming part of the racket. For KD 150 to KD 200 per year, some renters 'sell' space on their lease contract, falsely declaring that another individual is living in their apartment and personally known to them. This fraudulent add-on is then registered with PACI, giving the newcomer an official Civil ID address — even if they've never set foot in the property. These schemes don't just manipulate paperwork; they actively strip rights from genuine residents, compromise Kuwait's residency database, and enable the shadow economy to thrive. What was meant to be a safeguard for orderly housing records has instead become a tool for exploitation, with corrupt caretakers, opportunistic tenants, and desperate buyers all feeding off the same illicit network. For those who wake up to find their PACI address wiped clean, the message is brutal and clear: In Kuwait's underground address market, your home can be sold out from under you — and all it takes is a handshake, a forged contract, and a pocketful of dinars.
Kuwait News Agency
4 days ago
- Kuwait News Agency
PACI urges Kuwait Mobile ID users to authorize only self-initiated transactions
KUWAIT, Aug 6 (KUNA) -- The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) on Wednesday urged citizens and residents using the Kuwait Mobile ID application to authorize transactions only if they initiated them personally A statement by PACI indicated that users must review data provided by service providers before authorizing any transaction to prevent data breaches and help ensure the security of their information. Kuwait Mobile ID application a digital identification app developed by the PACI for citizens and residents of Kuwait. (end)
Arab Times
5 days ago
- Arab Times
Think Before You Tap: PACI Issues Urgent Alert to ‘Kuwait Mobile ID' App Users
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 6: The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) has issued a public advisory urging citizens and residents to exercise caution when responding to authentication requests via the "My Kuwait Mobile Identity" app. PACI emphasized that users should only approve authentication requests if they are directly related to an action they have initiated. Users are strongly advised to verify the service provider's name and ensure the purpose of the request is legitimate before granting access or sharing any personal information. A recent example, as shown in the app, included a service provider requesting authentication for "SIM card holder identity confirmation" at 9:46 a.m. on August 6, 2025. The notice warned that such requests should not be approved unless the user has knowingly initiated the process. PACI reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding users' data and urged the public to remain vigilant to prevent unauthorized access or misuse of personal information.
Arab Times
5 days ago
- Arab Times
Think Before You Tap: PACI Issues Urgent Alert to ‘My Kuwait Identity' App Users
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 6 – The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) has issued a public advisory urging citizens and residents to exercise caution when responding to authentication requests via the "My Identity" app. PACI emphasized that users should only approve authentication requests if they are directly related to an action they have initiated. Users are strongly advised to verify the service provider's name and ensure the purpose of the request is legitimate before granting access or sharing any personal information. A recent example, as shown in the app, included a service provider requesting authentication for "SIM card holder identity confirmation" at 9:46 a.m. on August 6, 2025. The notice warned that such requests should not be approved unless the user has knowingly initiated the process. PACI reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding users' data and urged the public to remain vigilant to prevent unauthorized access or misuse of personal information.
Arab Times
7 days ago
- Arab Times
Don't Get Your Address Wiped Out in Kuwait: Renew Your Rental Contract NOW
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 4: Kuwait's expatriate community is in turmoil as a PACI crackdown targets fake rental addresses, leaving hundreds each month suddenly erased from the civil records. In scenes described by insiders as 'bureaucratic mayhem,' the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) is waging war on dodgy landlords and cut-corner tenants alike. Working hand-in-hand with building owners, PACI is meticulously reviewing the records, determined to weed out anyone playing fast and loose with the rules. The numbers are staggering: month after month, expats discover their official addresses have vanished overnight, often because a fake address was supplied, a new contract wasn't signed, or the entire building faces demolition. It's the most vulnerable who are bearing the brunt. For low-paid bachelors and undocumented workers (mainly from Asian countries), the only way to secure or renew a Kuwaiti Civil ID is often to pay through the nose for a 'fake' address, with rogue landlords' watchmen (known as Haris) reportedly pocketing as much as KD150 per head for the privilege. This underground trade offers desperate workers a lifeline, but spells a paperwork nightmare for the authorities. The crackdown has been turbocharged since the Mangaf fire disaster, which shocked the nation and laid bare the lethal risks of overcrowded, misregistered homes. There's no more room for error—or sympathy. Letting your rental contract lapse isn't a minor oversight anymore. PACI, reportedly acting 'without hesitation,' now deletes addresses for expired, missing, or grossly outdated contracts. The effects are immediate: expats find their Civil IDs frozen, their visa renewals in limbo, and hefty fines of up to KD100 looming. Officials are urging expatriates to check their Civil ID details on the Kuwait Mobile ID or Sahel Apps, before it's too late. What once passed for harmless corner-cutting is now considered a serious national threat. And if you're one of the unlucky ones caught out, don't panic. There's help at hand. For step-by-step guidance on restoring your vanished address in the Civil ID system, see our previous coverage at the link below.
