Kuwait’s Council of Ministers is reviewing 20 new laws for approval

The semi-annual report from the General Secretariat for Planning on the executive status of development plan projects highlighted the progress made by government agencies in preparing and studying several draft laws essential for development projects. The report noted that a number of these laws are currently with the Council of Ministers, awaiting consideration and approval.
The report revealed that the Fatwa and Legislation Department has completed the review of approximately 20 draft laws, which have been sent to the Council of Ministers for consideration. Among these, the most prominent draft laws include:
- Draft law on regulated withdrawal from the Future Generations Fund.
- Draft law to establish the Northern Economic Zone.
- Amending the Kuwaiti import law.
- The draft law on real estate financing for the Kuwait Credit Bank.
- Public Debt Bill.
- A draft law to restructure the wage system in the public sector.
- Amending the law to include the 2005 increase in the salary subject to supplementary insurance for the private sector.
- Draft law to adopt the Gulf Cooperation Council Agreement on Selective Goods.
- Draft law approving the Gulf Cooperation Council Agreement on Value Added Tax.
New Laws
The competent government agencies are also in the process of preparing several draft laws, with the most prominent among them being:
First: A draft law amending the attached table to Law No. 42 of 2006, which redefines the electoral districts for membership in the National Assembly.
Second: A draft law on fees and financial costs for the use of public facilities and services.
Third: Energy Services Pricing Bill.
Fourth: Tourism Bill.
Legislative Program
The report indicated that the legislative program for the development plan for the fiscal year 2024/2025 includes 63 draft laws. By the end of the first half of the fiscal year, 24 of these laws had been approved.
Approximately 20 laws are currently under discussion in the Council of Ministers, while 3 laws are in the drafting and review stage at the Fatwa and Legislation Department.
Additionally, 16 laws are still in the preparation stage with the relevant authorities. The report emphasized the need to accelerate the completion of these draft laws due to their connection to the progress of development plan projects.
Legislative challenges facing development plan projects account for approximately 4% of the total challenges, while administrative challenges make up about 43% of the overall obstacles affecting the projects.
Development Projects Challenges
The Council of Ministers instructed the General Secretariat of the Supreme Planning Council to prepare a detailed report on the challenges facing development projects, the completion rates of these projects, and their spending rates in alignment with the development programs and pillars of the New Kuwait Vision 2035. This request was made within the framework of Article (10) of Law No. 7 of 2016 concerning development planning.
The Council of Ministers requested the Secretariat to do the following:
- Follow up on the implementation of the 2024/2025 annual plan projects.
- Limiting legislative requirements.
- Reviewing the challenges of project implementation and appropriate solutions.
The Secretariat was tasked with coordinating with the relevant authorities to address and overcome all obstacles and challenges hindering the implementation of the plan, and to develop appropriate solutions to these issues.
Source: Al Qabas