The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has intensified its regulatory oversight of key commercial sectors, imposing a total of 141,500 dinars in financial penalties during the second quarter of 2026 as part of a broader drive to strengthen corporate compliance and reinforce the country’s framework for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
The Ministry’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Department, has issued 83 financial fines covering businesses operating in the gold and silver jewelry, precious metals, gemstones and real estate brokerage sectors.
The Ministry said the enforcement measures are designed to strengthen adherence to regulatory obligations, promote greater transparency across supervised industries and ensure that businesses operate in line with Kuwait’s established anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing requirements.
The Penalties and Sanctions Implementation Department issued 216 orders requiring specific compliance measures, in addition to 80 financial penalties totaling 135,500 dinars and 212 written warnings to businesses operating in gold, silver, precious metals and gemstone jewelry.
The department also received 93 applications to appoint compliance monitors within the sector, highlighting the increasing emphasis on dedicated compliance oversight and stronger internal controls.
Real estate brokerage faces enhanced scrutiny
Real estate brokerage companies were also subject to intensified regulatory action. The department issued 134 orders requiring specific procedures, imposed three financial penalties totaling 6,000 dinars, and issued 117 written warnings to establishments operating in the sector.
A total of 38 applications to appoint compliance monitors were submitted by real estate brokerage establishments during the quarter.
Across both sectors, the Ministry recorded 350 orders requiring specific compliance procedures, 329 written warnings and 131 requests to appoint compliance monitors during the second quarter.
Meanwhile, the Ministry’s Control and Supervision Department continued its risk-based monitoring of businesses under its regulatory mandate, with particular attention to activities considered more vulnerable to financial crime.
Within the jewelry, precious stones and precious metals sector, four cases were classified as high risk under comprehensive assessment, while five were classified as medium risk. The department also recorded 358 cases under subjective classification and 98 under social classification.
Under the sector’s other classifications, 118 cases were categorized as subjective, five as social and 61 as emergency cases.
The real estate brokerage sector recorded four high-risk cases under comprehensive assessment, while three cases were classified as medium risk under comprehensive assessment and 39 as medium risk under subjective assessment. The low-risk category included nine cases under social classification, while the other category comprised 20 subjective cases and one social case.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining robust supervisory and enforcement standards across the businesses under its jurisdiction. The approach is intended not only to address regulatory breaches but also to encourage companies to strengthen their compliance structures, internal controls and risk-management practices.
For businesses operating in regulated sectors, the latest enforcement figures underscore the growing importance of maintaining effective AML and counter-terrorism financing controls, accurate reporting procedures and dedicated compliance oversight.
The Ministry said its continued supervisory and enforcement efforts are aimed at raising overall compliance standards and strengthening the effectiveness of Kuwait’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework in line with approved regulatory requirements.
