Kuwait issued 20,855 new business licenses in 2024
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced that it issued 20,855 new company licenses in 2024, with a total of 1,934 approved company establishment applications. Additionally, 4,600 applications were rejected, bringing the total number of transactions processed through the Single Window Administration to 27,389.
The Ministry of Commerce data revealed that 13,361 licenses were issued for personal companies, representing 64% of the total licenses issued in 2024. The total number of approved incorporation applications reached 870, all concentrated in March, while no approvals were recorded for personal companies in other months.
Additionally, 1,934 incorporation applications were rejected, all in March, bringing the total number of personal company transactions to 16,165.
The Ministry of Commerce issued 3,757 licenses for micro-enterprises, representing 18% of the total licenses. The total number of approved establishment applications reached 44 companies, all concentrated in March, while 123 applications were rejected, bringing the total number of micro-enterprise transactions to 3,924.
As for private companies, 3,737 licenses were issued until the end of the third quarter of 2024, before their issuance was halted. The Ministry of Commerce issued a decision last October to merge very small licenses and licenses of a private nature under the name of freelance business licenses. The total number of approved establishment requests for private companies reached 1,020 companies, compared to 2,548 rejected requests, bringing the total number of transactions to 7,305.
Last August, the Ministry of Commerce issued a decision to regulate self-employment activities for companies (micro-enterprises and activities of a special nature), covering 175 activities. These businesses can operate without the need for a commercial store, as an exception to the requirements stipulated in Ministerial Resolution No. 411 of 2013. The decision also facilitates the application process for these licenses, granting them a validity period of 4 years.
The suspension of applications for the mobile vehicle companies sector remains in effect, with no new establishment operations since its temporary halt in 2021. This pause continues until the sector is fully regulated and new locations for these vehicles are designated in cooperation with the Kuwait Municipality. The Ministry of Commerce had previously identified 400 locations for mobile vehicle owners in coordination with the Municipality’s Organization Sector, the General Traffic Department, and other relevant authorities.
Last year, Minister of Commerce Khalifa Al-Ajil issued a decision to halt the transfer of food truck licenses, prohibiting their sale or reassignment. Additionally, the decision mandated the cancellation of licenses for mobile trucks that fail to comply with designated locations or licensing requirements.
Source: Al Rai
