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Kuwait enforces eviction of charities from private housing

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KUWAIT: Kuwait Municipality launched Thursday its first field inspection campaign to evacuate charity associations and foundations operating in private and model residential areas across the six governorates.

Private residential areas are low-density zones reserved for single-family housing, primarily intended for Kuwaiti citizens, where land is distributed through the country’s housing welfare program. In contrast, investment housing areas feature multi-unit buildings — such as apartments, duplex villas, and studios — designed for rental or ownership across all floors.

The campaign comes following a request from the Ministry of Social Affairs to Kuwait Municipality to enforce Ministerial Decision No. (206/2009) — which prohibits the use of buildings in private residential areas for any purpose other than private housing. The ministry began surveying all registered charities — approximately 84 organizations with over 200 branches across the country — earlier this month to take legal action against those located in private residential zones.

Khaled Al-Fadhli, Head of the Emergency Team at Ahmadi Municipality, told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that field teams had issued warnings to several charity premises over the past days, ordering them to vacate. On Thursday, the teams inspected five areas — Fahaheel, Fintas, Ali Sabah Al-Salem (Umm Al-Hayman), Sabah Al-Ahmad Residential City, and Al-Sabahiya — issuing 15 evacuation warnings. Al-Fadhli praised the cooperation of some associations that voluntarily removed their violations in Al-Ahmadi Governorate.

Al-Fadhli stressed that the monitoring teams will not tolerate any violations of Kuwait Municipality’s regulations and laws, emphasizing that field campaigns will continue over the coming days across different governorates.

This move is part of a wider regulatory reform of Kuwait’s charitable sector. Last month, the ministry suspended all charitable fundraising nationwide, citing concerns about unauthorized campaigns. Since November 2024, Minister of Social Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah has dissolved at least 30 charities found inactive after inspections. These measures are designed to eliminate inactive or ineffective organizations and ensure that resources are being used efficiently.

These reforms also align with Kuwait’s efforts to improve financial oversight and comply with international anti-money laundering standards. A Financial Action Task Force (FATF) report released in November 2024 acknowledged Kuwait’s legal framework to combat illicit finance, but pointed to enforcement challenges. Countries that fall short of FATF standards risk being greylisted or blacklisted, which can affect global financial relations. Kuwaiti authorities have since ramped up coordination among ministries to tighten control, particularly over cross-border donations. Officials say these efforts aim to uphold Kuwait’s humanitarian leadership while meeting international best practices. — Agencies

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Kuwait welcomes France’s move to recognize Palestine

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KUWAIT: The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron’s announced intention to officially recognize the State of Palestine.

In a press release, the ministry commended this significant step that would contribute to implementing relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative in a way that enables the Palestinian people to have self-determination and establish their independent Palestinian state on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem being its capital.

The ministry called on other countries to follow suit in order to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause. — KUNA

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Kuwait Airways reports six pct increase in Q2-‘25 revenues

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KUWAIT:  Kuwait Airways announced on Friday achieving revenues of USD 324 million in the second quarter of 2025, marking a six percent increase compared to the first quarter.

Kuwait Airways Corporation reported operating revenues of USD 285 million in the second quarter of 2025, reflecting a 14 percent increase compared to the first quarter, according to a statement on its official X platform account.

The company added that operating expenses declined by USD 19.4 million, representing a 20 percent reduction over the same period.

It also noted that the number of departure flights reached 7,063 during second quarter of 2025, marking a nine percent increase compared to the previous quarter, while the total number of passengers transported reached one million. — KUNA

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Volunteers unite to clean coast of Umm Al-Maradim Island

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By Ahmad Boukaheel

KUWAIT: A cleanup campaign was held at Umm Al-Maradim Island, bringing together volunteers, government bodies, and private sector participants in a large-scale effort to clean the island’s coastline and promote environmental awareness.

The initiative was organized by Salman Al-Qattan and Yousef Al-Omran, founder of the (Bou Jarrah Makes a Difference) initiative. Volunteers spent the entire day cleaning the island, supported by both public and private sector entities.

The initiative aimed to clean Kuwait’s shores and raise environmental awareness across different segments of society by encouraging citizens and residents to participate in hands-on activities that promote a culture of environmental preservation.

“We must begin with the younger generation by nurturing a deep respect and sense of responsibility for the environment from an early age,” said Bou Jarrah. “It is essential that preserving nature becomes ingrained in their daily habits and mindset, so that protecting our planet turns into a natural and lifelong commitment.”

He added that a sustainable future for Kuwait and the world is only possible through raising awareness and instilling good values early on.

“This campaign clearly demonstrates the power of collaboration between government agencies and volunteer groups working together toward a common goal. Such unified efforts reflect the true spirit of Kuwait’s community, where everyone comes together to face environmental challenges with dedication and determination,” Abdullah Al-Mishwah, a marine blogger who helped organizing the campaign, said. “We are proud to see how collective action can lead to meaningful impact in protecting and preserving our natural environment.”

Key participants included the volunteer team “Bou Jarrah Yughayyer,” the Environment Public Authority, the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources and Kuwait Municipality. The event was also attended by Brigadier General Sheikh Mubarak Ali Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, Director General of the Kuwait Coast Guard.

Abdulaziz Al-Muhanna, Vice Chairman of the The Kuwait Environment Protection Society, told KUNA that a large amount of waste was collected—equivalent to the load of four municipal transport trucks—noting that plastic and foam made up the largest portion of the waste retrieved from both the beach and underwater. He stressed said the campaign helped deliver a message about the significance of Kuwait’s islands and instilled a love for volunteer work in the community.

Amina Al-Kharaji, who joined the “Fakhr Al-Deera” volunteer team for the first time, shared her happiness at participating in the campaign. She encouraged others who haven’t yet taken part to join future efforts for the sake of Kuwait. Another volunteer, Abdullah Ashkanani, said this was his first time joining such an initiative. He emphasized the importance of keeping beaches clean to turn them into a tourist destination. He encouraged families, both adults and children, to take part in beach cleaning initiatives, highlighting that the sea is a vital part of Kuwait’s history.

Faten Al-Dahina, a member of the Al-Dawazah Volunteer Team, stressed the importance of national campaigns such as this one, noting their role in spreading awareness about preserving Kuwait’s beaches. She advised beachgoers to always leave the place cleaner than they found it. Dr Zahra Habeeb, another volunteer, expressed her gratitude to the organizers for hosting such events and for providing full services to support and motivate volunteers.

Abdulwahab Ahmed Nasr, a young child, expressed both happiness and frustration—he was pleased to help but surprised and bothered by how some beach visitors carelessly throw large amounts of waste, which harms marine animals. He concluded his statement with the heartfelt phrase, “Kuwait deserves it,” showing his deep love for a clean and beautiful Kuwait.

Another child, Mohammed Salman Al-Qattan, proudly said he collected the largest amount of trash during the cleanup. He shared how happy it made him and his father to see the beach clean. He added that he wants to continue protecting the marine environment from pollution.

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