1.8 million credit cards in Kuwait drive 2.498 billion dinars in spending in seven months
- Banks issued or renewed approximately 252,000 credit cards during the first seven months of 2026
- Electronic purchases and online payments ranked second, with spending reaching approximately 888.7 million dinars
- Cash withdrawals through credit cards reached approximately 293.4 million dinars
The number of valid credit cards in Kuwait reached about 1.8 million by the end of July 2026, highlighting the growing use of credit cards in the local market. Central Bank of Kuwait data showed that spending by citizens and residents through Visa and Mastercard credit cards totaled about 2.498 billion dinars during the first seven months of the year.
The scale of usage was reflected in the number of transactions, with about 123.8 million credit card transactions recorded from January through July. These included point-of-sale purchases, electronic payments and purchases, as well as cash withdrawals from ATMs.
Banks also issued or renewed approximately 252,000 credit cards during the first seven months of the year, underscoring continued activity in this segment of banking services and its growing role among payment methods in Kuwait.
Point-of-sale purchases accounted for the largest share of credit card spending, reaching about 1.3 billion dinars through approximately 80.63 million transactions. The average transaction value was about 16.1 dinars.
The figures underline the strong role of credit cards in everyday purchases, allowing cardholders to spend against credit limits provided by banks, subject to the applicable repayment terms and conditions.
Electronic purchases and online payments ranked second, with spending reaching approximately 888.7 million dinars during the first seven months.
These transactions totaled about 41.42 million, with an average value of approximately 21.5 dinars per transaction, reflecting the growing use of credit cards across digital platforms, websites and applications.
Cash withdrawals through credit cards reached approximately 293.4 million dinars during the same period, generated through around 1.76 million ATM transactions, with an average withdrawal of about 166.7 dinars.
Unlike direct and electronic purchases, credit card cash withdrawals allow cardholders to obtain cash against their available credit limit, subject to the repayment terms set by the issuing bank.
Overall, the first seven months of 2026 recorded significant credit card activity in Kuwait, with approximately 1.8 million valid cards, 123.8 million transactions and total spending of about 2.498 billion dinars across point-of-sale purchases, electronic payments and cash withdrawals.
