KUWAIT: Kuwait has introduced a new decree law effectively banning the raising of foreign flags and symbols representing religious, tribal, or social groups without prior approval from the Ministry of Interior. This new regulation, published on Sunday in the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm, applies to both public and private occasions, including national holidays, celebrations, and regular days.
The legislation, Decree Law No 73 of 2025, amends the existing Law No 26 of 1961 concerning the Kuwaiti national flag. Under this amended law, individuals are now prohibited from displaying any foreign national flag unless permission is granted. The only exceptions are during regional and international sports tournaments held in Kuwait and where such displays are in line with international conventions, such as those governing embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions.
This decree also extends the ban to flags and symbols that represent religious sects, tribal affiliations, or social factions. This measure is described as a move intended to protect national unity and public order within the country. Ministers have been tasked with enforcing the law, which took effect immediately upon its publication in the official gazette.
Stiff penalties introduced

The new regulations come with a series of escalating penalties, with fines ranging from KD 1,000 to 10,000. Unauthorized display of foreign flags is punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine ranging from KD 1,000 to 2,000. Displaying sectarian or tribal flags or symbols carries a heavier sentence of up to three years in prison and fines of KD 2,000 to 10,000. Improper use of the Kuwaiti national flag, such as using it for commercial advertising or in a damaged state, is also penalized with up to one year in prison and fines between KD 300 and 2,000. All violations may result in confiscation of the flags or symbols, and repeat offenders will face doubled penalties.
Threat to public harmony
The decree aims to close existing regulatory gaps regarding the display of foreign and symbolic flags. According to the law’s explanatory memorandum, the legislation was introduced in response to repeated incidents where foreign and sectarian flags were displayed during public events and private gatherings — actions that officials warned could disrupt public harmony and weaken national identity.
“The raising of certain foreign flags within the country during official celebrations may compromise public order,” the memorandum stated. It added that the law seeks to “preserve public order, protect society, reinforce the duty of national allegiance, and safeguard national unity.”
The government clarified that the law does not override existing international treaties that allow foreign embassies and diplomatic missions to display their national flags on their premises and vehicles.

KUWAIT: In a renewed drive to advance one of Kuwait’s most ambitious development projects, His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait, chaired a strategic meeting at Bayan Palace focused on the Northern Economic Zone— of which Silk City is a prominent part. The meeting brought together senior officials and experts from the Northern Economic Zone project team to review initial features of the zone’s strategic plan. Discussions emphasized enhancing private sector participation through a flexible legislative framework and competitive incentive structures targeting industrial, commercial, and tourism sectors. The legal foundation for establishing the zone was also addressed, with officials stressing the need to preserve full Kuwaiti sovereignty while creating an investor-friendly environment.

Reviving Silk City

Silk City, or Madinat Al-Hareer, has been decades in the making. Originally proposed in the 1980s as a residential project in Subiya, the initiative evolved into a sweeping urban and economic development plan that includes Subiya, Boubyan Island, and nearby northern areas—covering over 250 square kilometers. Though envisioned as a hub for trade, innovation, and regional connectivity, the project has faced repeated delays due to geopolitical instability and shifting political priorities.

Chinese involvement

A key driver in the latest iteration of the Silk City project is Kuwait’s growing partnership with China, particularly under the framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). As early as 2018, high-level Kuwaiti delegations—including representatives from the Silk City Development Authority—visited Beijing and met with China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the China Development Bank, and top Chinese construction and tech firms such as Huawei, Alibaba, CGGC, and CCCC.

These meetings led to several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) around infrastructure investment, e-commerce, and digital development, positioning Silk City as a potential cornerstone of China’s regional logistics and digital trade ambitions. The project’s inclusion in Kuwait Vision 2035—a national strategy to diversify the economy beyond oil—further deepened its alignment with China’s strategic interests in the Gulf. However, the road has not been smooth. Political opposition within Kuwait and debates over the role of foreign stakeholders as opposed to Kuwait’s private sector have contributed to delays. The project has largely been on hold since 2019.

A turning point

Despite these challenges, the government appears determined to move the project forward. The first phase of Silk City, listed on the New Kuwait 2035 website, includes the activation of the China-Kuwait agreement on master planning and the development of special legislation for a competitive economic zone governed by independent institutions. Officials at Tuesday’s meeting, including Abdulaziz Dakhil Al-Dakhil, Head of the Prime Minister’s Diwan, and Housing and Municipal Affairs Minister Abdulatif Hamed Al-Mashary, reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to transforming the northern region into a hub for trade, innovation, and international investment. — Agencies

KUWAIT: His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah chairs a strategic meeting at Bayan Palace focused on the Northern Economic Zone. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Minister of State for Municipal and Housing Affairs, Abdullatif Al-Meshari, Minister of Public Works Dr Noura Al-Mushaan, and Minister of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy Dr Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem discussed the recommendations of His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister, regarding the provision of services related to housing projects. This came in a statement by the Public Authority for Housing Welfare to KUNA following a meeting held by the Coordinating Committee to Follow Up on the Provision of Services Related to Housing Projects on Tuesday. The meeting was chaired by Minister Al-Mishari, with the attendance of the Ministers of Public Works and Electricity as well as senior officials from relevant government agencies.

The statement said the committee reviewed the Prime Minister’s recommendations and instructed those concerned to accelerate the removal of obstacles. The committee also reviewed the progress achieved in housing welfare projects and the commitment to their specified timelines. The ministers emphasized their keenness to monitor the implementation of housing welfare projects in line with the directives of the political leadership, ensuring suitable housing for citizens, developing infrastructure, and achieving the highest standards of quality in work. They praised the cooperation among concerned authorities regarding remarks on some obstacles within their jurisdiction in the housing welfare projects, which contributes to formulating a strategy to overcome these challenges.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah had chaired Monday, a meeting of the Coordinating Committee to Follow Up on the Provision of Services Related to Housing Projects. He directed the removal of obstacles facing current projects and called for joint work among relevant entities to eliminate what hinders speeding up the pace of work in these projects. The committee’s work aims to accelerate the pace of work, ensure implementation according to the set timeline, and resolve any issues that may arise during the progress of the projects. — KUNA