Kuwait cracks down on unlicensed shop ads and outdoor seating

Kuwait Municipality launches health and advertisement license inspection campaign in the Capital Governorate.

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 25: Kuwait Municipality has launched a comprehensive field campaign to inspect health and advertisement licenses of shops in the Capital Governorate, aiming to ensure full compliance with municipal regulations.

Abdulrahman Al-Rasheed, head of the Capital Governorate inspection team, announced Thursday that 15 violations were recorded during the ongoing campaign. The team focused on verifying the validity of advertisement licenses and inspected advertisement sites, particularly those located outside property boundaries, taking necessary regulatory action against violators.

Al-Rasheed emphasized that unlicensed commercial store advertisements found on the streets are immediately removed, and the store owners are fined accordingly. He also highlighted strict regulations surrounding outdoor seating areas in front of shops, which must be licensed by the municipality under specific conditions. Any unauthorized seating areas are removed promptly, with fines imposed on the owners.

Common violations encountered include misuse of space in front of shops and poor maintenance of billboards, such as discoloration or structural cracks. Al-Rasheed called on shop owners to adhere strictly to municipal laws and regulations.

Inspection teams affiliated with safety departments across Kuwait’s six governorates are conducting similar field campaigns, underscoring the municipality’s commitment to enforcing regulations consistently. The current campaign will be followed by a series of scheduled tours in all governorates, coordinated by the Public Relations Department and relevant municipal divisions.

Al-Rasheed concluded by stressing that municipal inspection teams will continue to take firm control measures to ensure compliance with all rules and regulations.