By B Izzak, Agencies

KUWAIT: A ministerial decision was published in the official gazette on Sunday increasing the validity of the driver’s licenses for expatriates to five years instead of three. The decision also increased the validity of the driving licenses for Kuwaitis and Gulf citizens to 15 years instead of 10. As for bedoons or stateless people, the validity is linked to the validity of their IDs, according to the decision. The validity of the driver’s licenses for Kuwaitis used to be for 10 years. It was then reduced to just one year for expats and remained 10 years for Kuwaitis.

Several months ago, the validity for expats was increased to three years, according to a decision issued by Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah. However, the duration was raised to five years on Sunday. The decision is effective immediately, the decision said. Kuwait applies strict conditions for expatriates to obtain a driver’s license including a university degree. Newcomers must apply for a driver’s license after staying legally for two years.

In another development, the Public Institution for Social Security (PIFSS) announced Sunday that the upcoming KD 20 increase in retirement pensions will be disbursed starting August 1. In a statement posted on its official account on X (formerly Twitter), the institution confirmed that the increment applies to all Kuwaiti retirees, including those treated as Kuwaitis, as well as individuals entitled to pensions based on their respective eligibility percentages. PIFSS clarified that the increase will be processed automatically, and beneficiaries are not required to visit the institution or submit any requests to receive the additional amount.

KUWAIT:  The Kuwait Dive Team, operating under the Environmental Voluntary Foundation (EVF), has salvaged a 30-ton vessel off Al-Salmiya’s coast, the team’s chief Walid Al-Fadhel said on Monday. Al-Fadhel told KUNA that the 57-foot-long boat that had drifted due to strong winds and was a hazard to navigation and leaking oil into the waters close to the Marine yachts harbor. The personnel involved in the operation stabilized the vessel and collected some of its scattered debris at the spot where yachts and boats pass regularly, Al-Fadhel said, indicating the Coast Guards had put all their available resources at the disposal of lifting the boat and its remains in coordination with other authorities.

The diver succeeded in floating and towing the boat despite some difficulties such as the scorching heat, strong winds and rocky hurdles. Al-Fadhel urged sea-goers to take precautions and spare themselves such accidents, noting that waste left behind at the sea is a pollutant to the environment. (end)The Kuwaiti Diving Team has carried out such missions since 1986. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Abdullatif Al-Meshari issued a ministerial decision on Sunday to form a permanent committee for women’s housing affairs chaired by Sheikha Bibi Yousef Saud Al-Sabah.

According to a statement from the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW), the decision underscores “the importance of women’s role in society and the need to guarantee their rights through specialized committees.” The new committee builds on an earlier initiative from October 2024 that established a temporary task force on the same issue — now made permanent with expanded powers to ensure dignified housing for women.

The committee’s responsibilities will include reviewing grievances related to women’s housing under the government’s rental scheme, handling special cases, organizing housing allocation lotteries, and supervising properties designated for women. Among those properties are key residential complexes such as Sabah Al-Salem, Tima and Sulaibiya.

The PAHW explained that the committee is tasked with “putting forward the best visions for women’s housing, overseeing relevant real estate, and exploring development options.” It will also study and recommend policy updates to improve project execution and streamline housing services for women.

The committee consists of eight members, including Deputy Director for Distribution and Documentation Bader Al-Subaie, Director of Follow-up Mohammad Al-Adwani and Housing Research Supervisor Asmaa Al-Jafour. Additional members include Interior Ministry representative Ali Al-Ustath, legal expert Abdulaziz Al-Efaisan, Fawziya Dashti, a representative from the Kuwait Credit Bank and Bashaer Al-Bather.

Notably, the committee is authorized to form subcommittees or working groups — whether from its own members or external experts — to tackle specific issues. However, outside contributors will not have voting rights.

Taskforce to committee

The decision formalizes efforts that began in October 2024, when Minister Al-Meshari first appointed Sheikha Bibi to lead a special team tasked with reviewing the state of properties designated for women and proposing improvements. That team was originally given four months to complete its work.

In March 2025, the team’s mandate was extended to allow further evaluation of women’s housing needs and incorporate feedback from female citizens. The PAHW noted at the time that “the recommendations made during this period are currently under review and being implemented in accordance with existing housing regulations.” — Agencies