KUWAIT: Kuwait has introduced new regulations to govern the country’s charitable organizations — nonprofit organizations that serve as a backbone of local and international aid work. The move is part of a broader push by the Ministry of Social Affairs to tighten oversight and ensure transparency across the country’s nonprofit sector.

The updated regulation, issued Sunday under Ministerial Decision No 90, replaces a 2015 framework that had governed the creation and operation of charitable associations for nearly a decade. It introduces streamlined procedures for registration, stricter rules on board eligibility, and more robust mechanisms for oversight.

But with a separate law also introduced in June this year for charitable foundations — known locally as mabarat — some are wondering: What’s the difference, and why now?

Associations vs foundations

The regulation published in Sunday’s Kuwait Al-Youm applies specifically to charitable organizations — these are typically membership-based organizations governed by a general assembly. Members elect the board, vote on budgets and reports, and participate in decision-making.

In contrast, charitable foundations, governed by the June 2025 regulation, are non-membership-based entities often created through endowments or donations. They are managed by a board of directors appointed by founders.

So, What’s new in Sunday’s regulations? The new rules introduce a more detailed and centralized regulatory structure than the one introduced in 2015. Here are the biggest changes:

Fewer founders

In 2015, starting a charitable association required at least 50 Kuwaiti founders. The new regulation lowers that to just 10. But the bar for eligibility has been raised: board members must now be at least 30 years old and hold a university degree. Founders must have clean legal records and formally commit not to request financial support from the government.

The 2025 rules strengthen the Ministry of Social Affairs’ role in monitoring organizations at every stage — from registration to elections and fundraising.

Organizations are now required to: Notify the ministry before any public fundraising activity; seek ministry approval to relocate, expand, or even admit new members; and provide full member lists and financial reports upon request. Perhaps most notably, the ministry must be physically present at general assemblies for decisions to be valid. If it withdraws from a meeting, the assembly is automatically invalidated.

Clearer penalties

The application process to start a charity organization is more structured under the new rules. The ministry must issue a decision on registration within one month of receiving a complete application. A dedicated register must now log all applications — accepted or rejected — along with reasons for refusal. Rejected applications can be appealed within a month. The new framework lays out a clear escalation process for violations: Associations get one written warning. If they fail to correct the issue within one week, their bank accounts are frozen. Repeated violations or financial misreporting can lead to suspension or even dissolution — with the cabinet’s approval. In contrast, the 2015 regulation used a longer enforcement ladder, with two warnings spaced out over a month or more, and didn’t clearly spell out consequences for repeated non-compliance.

Why Now?

The updated regulation comes amid heightened scrutiny of charitable activity in Kuwait, especially around fundraising transparency and potential misuse of funds. In early 2025, the ministry temporarily suspended all charitable fundraising in response to unauthorized donation drives on unofficial platforms but has since lifted the suspension.

Kuwait is now in the final stages of approving a comprehensive law to regulate charitable work and strengthen oversight over the sector. A key feature of the law is the creation of a governmental ‘center’, dedicated to humanitarian work, serving as a unified authority overseeing all aspects of charitable activities. The new law is currently under legal review and is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Red Crescent Society (KRCS) says the national campaign to deliver emergency aid to Gaza is gaining momentum, drawing support from charities across the country in what officials are calling a model of institutional coordination and humanitarian solidarity. “The campaign is witnessing strong engagement from humanitarian and charitable associations in the country, which reflects unity of purpose and institutional synergy in fulfilling our humanitarian duty,” said KRCS Chairman Khaled Al-Mughamis.

Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) after meeting with officials from Najat Charity, Al-Mughamis said the organizations discussed ways to coordinate their participation in the national relief effort, especially in providing food aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

He described the initiative as a direct response to “the high directives that prioritize standing with our brothers in Gaza in light of the difficult humanitarian circumstances they face,” calling it a reflection of “Kuwait’s deep-rooted official and popular support for the Palestinian cause.”

KRCS is working with state authorities to operate an air bridge to Gaza, Al-Mughamis added. “This move reflects the State of Kuwait’s unwavering commitment to just humanitarian causes.” As part of the effort, KRCS briefed Najat Charity’s delegation on procurement and delivery logistics. Quantities will be scheduled and shipped according to a strict timetable “to ensure consistent supply and delivery,” he said.

From Najat Charity’s side, Board Chairman Faisal Al-Zamel praised the Red Crescent’s leadership in crisis response. “We are proud of the cooperation with KRCS, which has extensive experience in managing humanitarian crises and continues to make valuable contributions to relief work,” he said.

Al-Zamel noted that Kuwaiti charities enjoy strong public trust. “Donations will be accepted over three days, and once the deadline ends, we will immediately begin procurement and preparation through the Kuwait Flour Mills & Bakeries Company, in coordination with KRCS.” “The suffering of the Palestinian people cannot be ignored,” he said. “Donating is the least we can do under these dire conditions.” As of 9:30 pm Sunday, the campaign had collected KD 1,452,400 from 37,985 donors. —Agencies

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior, represented by the Criminal Security Sector, announced on Sunday that it had dealt a major security blow to an international drug trafficking network operating from outside the country. Large quantities of narcotics prepared for distribution within Kuwait were seized in the operation. In a statement issued by the General Department of Security Relations and Media, the ministry said the operation was executed under the direct supervision and field follow-up of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah.

Following intensive investigations and surveillance, security forces arrested two Asian suspects in separate operations in the Shuwaikh and Kaifan areas. Authorities confiscated 14 kilograms of pure heroin, 8 kilograms of shabu (methamphetamine) and two precision electronic scales from the suspects’ possession. The detainees and the seized materials have been referred to the competent authorities for legal action. The ministry affirmed that the operation falls within the framework of its ongoing efforts to combat the drug menace and dismantle trafficking networks.

The Ministry of Interior reiterated its commitment to continuing its intensive campaigns and security crackdowns to pursue drug traffickers and thwart all smuggling and distribution attempts in order to safeguard society from the dangers of narcotics. The ministry also urged citizens and residents to report any suspicious activity to the General Department for Combating Narcotics via the hotline 1884141, which operates around the clock, stressing that all reports are handled with full confidentiality. — KUNA