Kuwait’s travel ban orders soar to 73,612 in 2023

• The number of orders to lift a travel ban reached 2,375, constituting 34.7% of the total procedures.

• The number of finalized executed files rose from 35,073 in 2022 to 43,427 in 2023, an increase of 8,354 files, or a rate of 23.8%.

• The total number of travel ban and arrest procedures reached 153,784 in 2023, showing an increase of 13,779 procedures, or 9.8%, compared to 2022.

The Ministry of Justice has put considerable effort into streamlining litigation processes and enforcing judgments across its departments nationwide, including the General Administration of Enforcement.

Over the past year, this administration has made significant strides in speeding up judgment enforcement procedures and simplifying litigation processes, aiming to ease the burden on litigants, according to Al Anba newspaper.

The total number of procedures completed in departments reached 8,409,636 in 2023, marking an increase of 2,966,502 procedures compared to 2022, when the total reached 5,443,134 procedures, representing a 54.5% rise.

According to the annual statistical book details prepared by the Department of Statistics and Research in the Information Technology and Statistics Sector at the Ministry of Justice, and published by Al-Anbaa, the number of finalized executed files rose from 35,073 in 2022 to 43,427 in 2023, an increase of 8,354 files, or a rate of 23.8%.

Travel ban and arrest procedures

The total number of travel ban and arrest procedures reached 153,784 in 2023, showing an increase of 13,779 procedures, or 9.8%, compared to 2022 when the total was 140,005 procedures.

In 2023, the number of travel ban orders reached 73,612, constituting 47.9% of the total procedures. The number of orders to lift the travel ban reached 45,959 in 2023, making up 29.9% of the total procedures.

Rental section

In the rental section, the total number of procedures increased from 25,465 in 2022 to 26,781 in 2023, a growth rate of 5.2%. Here is the distribution of procedures based on:

A. Type of procedure

The highest number of procedures was for the supply form and supply receipt, totaling 5,781 procedures each in 2023, constituting 21.6% each. Following that was the disbursement confirmation order with 4,274 procedures, making up 16.0%, and then the disbursement form and disbursement authorization, with 3,761 and 3,745 procedures each, accounting for 14.0% each.

B. Alarming decline in rental department procedures

The number of procedures in the rental department decreased in some governorates, with Al-Jahra Governorate showing the largest percentage decrease compared to the previous year at 14.2%, followed by Hawalli Governorate at 11.4%. Conversely, there was an increase in the rental department in some governorates, with Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate showing the highest rate of increase over the previous year at 27.5%, followed by Al-Ahmadi Governorate at 19.8%, and finally the Capital and Farwaniya Governorates at 11.6% and 7.9%, respectively.

Inheritance Department

Regarding the Inheritance Department, the total number of procedures in 2023 reached 24,871, marking a decrease of 1,954 procedures, or 7.3%, compared to 2022’s total of 26,825 procedures. Here is the breakdown of procedures:

A. Type of procedure

The top procedures in 2023 were the confirmation of disbursement and disbursement form, each totaling 8,241 procedures, accounting for 33.1% each. Following that was the disbursement permit, with 8,217 procedures, making up 33.0%.

B. Region

The number of procedures in the estates department decreased in most governorates, with the Capital Governorate showing the largest percentage decrease compared to the previous year at 21.0%, followed by Mubarak Al-Kabeer and Al-Ahmadi Governorates at 19.9% and 19.2%, respectively.

Hawalli Governorate experienced a decrease of 8.1%, while Farwaniya Governorate saw a minimal decrease of 1.5%. The only increase was observed in Al-Jahra Governorate, with a significant rise of 51.2%.

Advertising department

Regarding the advertising section, the total number of announced advertisements increased from 146,636 in 2022 to 167,876 in 2023, marking an increase of 21,240 advertisements or a rate of 14.5%.

Additionally, the total number of received advertisements increased from 163,326 in 2022 to 178,830 in 2023, representing an increase of 15,504 advertisements or a rate of 9.5%.

Travel ban orders

Regarding the announced travel ban orders, the number increased from 243 announcements in 2022 to 13,448 announcements in 2023, marking a surge of 13,205 announcements or a rate of 5434.2%.

Increase in warnings

Additionally, the total number of official warnings announced also increased from 23,019 announcements in 2022 to 24,906 announcements in 2023, representing a rise of 1,887 announcements or a rate of 8.2%.

Announced rulings

With regard to the announced rulings, the total number increased from 116,316 announcements in 2022 to 122,418 announcements in 2023, marking an increase of 6,102 announcements or a rate of 5.2%. However, the number of announced foreign papers decreased from 60 announcements in 2022 to 58 announcements in 2023, a decrease of two announcements or a rate of 3.3%.

Family Court implementation

Regarding the implementation of the Family Court, the total number of procedures increased from 451,231 in 2022 to 587,051 in 2023, representing a rate of 30.1%. In 2023, the largest percentage increase was observed in the Capital Governorate at 48.2%, followed by Al-Farwaniyah Governorate at 40.0%, then Al-Jahra Governorate at 34.2%. This was followed by Al-Ahmadi and Hawalli Governorates at 27.7% and 23.0%, respectively, and finally Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate at 8.5%.

Travel bans in family courts

Regarding travel bans in family courts, the total number of procedures increased from 6,075 in 2022 to 6,841 in 2023, representing a rate of 12.6%. The number of travel ban orders reached 4,435, accounting for 64.8% of the total procedures.

The number of orders to lift a travel ban reached 2,375, constituting 34.7% of the total procedures, while the number of procedures for proving a case report reached 31, making up 0.5% of the total procedures.

Future expectations for total procedures

Regarding future expectations for total procedures, the anticipated annual average for total major procedures is projected to reach 10,767,476 procedures. The forecast ranges from a minimum of 4,922,526 procedures to a maximum of 16,612,420 procedures between 2024 and 2028. These projections are deemed 95% reliable.

Executed files for the population

Regarding the rate of finally executed files for the population, the rate of finally executed files per 100,000 population in 2023 increased by 114 files from 2022.

Regarding the future expectations of the announced rulings, the anticipated annual average number of announced rulings is expected to reach 130,267 announcements. The forecast ranges from a minimum of 57,370 announcements to a maximum of 203,165 announcements during the period 2024-2028. These expectations are deemed 95% reliable.

Future expectations for travel ban, detention procedures

Regarding future expectations for travel ban and detention procedures, the anticipated annual average of such procedures is projected to reach 164,428. The forecast ranges from a minimum of 38,815 procedures to a maximum of 290,041 procedures during 2024-2028. These expectations are considered reliable, with a 95% accuracy rate.