Eighth “Ya Hala” draw halted, ninth merged with tenth for transparency
Kuwait's Ministry of Commerce is tightening raffle regulations to ensure transparency, postponing ninth "Ya Hala" draw and merging it with the tenth, while suspending results of the eighth draw amid fraud concerns.
The Head of the Ministry of Commerce’s Supervisory Committee for Raffle and Promotional Offers, Dr. Nasser Al-Maraghi, assured that the ministry is committed to ending past irregularities that raised concerns about manipulation in commercial raffles. He emphasized that officials are dedicated to restoring public trust in the process and safeguarding the integrity of Kuwait’s economy.
In a press statement, today, Thursday, 27th March, Al-Maraghi stated that the committee, established by Ministerial Resolution No. 27 of 2025 last Monday, has commenced its work. He highlighted that the committee is focused on developing a clear vision and implementing new mechanisms to regulate commercial raffles, ensuring integrity and transparency while addressing past shortcomings.
Al-Maraghi further stated that, in collaboration with the organizers of the Kuwait Shopping Festival, Ya Hala, the ninth draw has been postponed and will be merged with the tenth draw on April 5th. This decision aims to uphold the integrity of the newly implemented procedures, enhancing transparency, clarity, and credibility for all future raffles.
Addressing concerns over the eighth draw, which faced allegations of irregularities, Al-Maraghi stated that its results will be put on hold until the fact-finding committee and investigative authorities complete their review. He added that coordination has been established with the organizers of the Kuwait Shopping Festival, Ya Hala, to ensure transparency in the process.
Source: Al Rai
