Kuwait amends traffic law, private license now covers taxis and ambulances

The Official Gazette “Kuwait Alyawm” published Ministerial Resolution No. 1257 of 2025, issued by the Ministry of Interior, amending Clause 1 of Article 85 of Ministerial Resolution No. 81/76, which pertains to the Executive Regulations of the Traffic Law and its subsequent amendments.

The amendment redefines the scope and conditions for the issuance of a Private Driver’s License, specifying the types of vehicles that can be operated under this category.

The revised clause now reads, “Private License issued to drive private cars with a capacity not exceeding 7 passengers, transport vehicles with a load capacity of no more than 2 tons, as well as taxis and ambulances.”

A reliable source, without going into details, said 66,584 driving licenses have been cancelled for various reasons.

The new regulation clarifies validity periods based on residency status:

• Kuwaiti citizens and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nationals are eligible for a private license valid for 15 years.
• Non-Kuwaiti residents are granted a license valid for 5 years.
• Illegal residents (bedoun) will receive a license valid for the duration of their card review, which refers to their ongoing legal status assessment by relevant authorities.

The resolution further instructs that the Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior is responsible for enforcing this decision, which officially takes effect from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

This amendment comes as part of a broader effort to clarify license categories, ensure regulatory consistency, and streamline vehicle classification and usage within Kuwait’s traffic framework.