The Financial and Administrative Affairs Sector in the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has completed the review of the employees’ performance evaluation for the year 2023, reports Al-Anba daily. Assistant Undersecretary for Financial and Administrative Affairs Salah Khaled Al-Saqabi revealed that the excellent job performance bonus will be disbursed to deserving employees during Ramadan, affirming the bonus is included in the budget for fiscal 2023/2024. He stated that most ministries, public institutions, and government agencies have completed the review of employees’ performance evaluation reports, while stressing the need for all these entities to complete the review before the new budget year begins on April 1.

Meanwhile, sources told the daily that an agreement has been reached to reduce the working hours to four during Ramadan for women who will also be given two grace periods — 15 minutes in the morning and another 15 minutes at the end of the working day; meaning, they can arrive 15 minutes late and leave 15 minutes early. The working hours for men will be four hours and 15 minutes with only one grace period — 15 minutes in the morning. Sources clarified that each government agency will be given the freedom to choose appropriate work hours and shifts, taking into account the working hours that will be approved by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Sources said the agreement includes retaining the grace period of 15 minutes in the morning for all employees, so those who report for work on time could leave 15 minutes early, while the number of hours of permitted partial absence during the holy month is two hours maximum and one-hour minimum. Asked if the working hours will be flexible or in shifts, sources disclosed the discussion focused on flexible working hours; such that employees have the opportunity to prove attendance within an hour or two. They confirmed that the flexible working hours system has been proven to have reduced tardiness among employees, adding that the three-shift system was implemented in Ramadan 2023.

Director General of the General Department of Training at the Ministry of Interior Brigadier General Abdul Qader Ahmed Al-Shaaban has stressed the importance of the role of the International Organization for Migration in preserving the rights of expatriate workers. He said this in a press statement issued on the sidelines of the conclusion of a five-day training course titled “Criminal and electronic investigations into cases of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants” organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – the United Nations migration agency in Kuwait – in partnership with the Ministry of Interior.

Brigadier General Al-Shaaban highlighted the establishment of the organization’s office in the State of Kuwait in 1991 and Kuwait’s accession as an active member to IOM in 2017. He revealed that Kuwait hosts about 60 to 70 percent of expatriate contractual workers of various nationalities on its soil. Brigadier General Al-Shaaban affirmed the keenness of the General Department of Training in the Ministry of Interior to organize workshops and training courses with the concerned local and international authorities for officers of various ranks in the Ministry of Interior to acquaint them accurately with the rights of expatriate workers and their duties towards them.

He explained that the training course organized by the General Department of Training at the Ministry of Interior, with the cooperation of the United Nations Migration Organization in Kuwait, took place during the period from February 11 to 15. It was aimed to enhance the capabilities of police officers in confronting the crime of human trafficking. A total of 30 officers of the Ministry of Interior from various departments participated. Brigadier General Al-Shaaban recalled the efforts of the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al- Jaber Al-Sabah – the Humanitarian Leader, his prominent international role in preserving the dignity of everyone living on the land of Kuwait, and his emphasis on treating expatriates well, preserving their rights and duties, and allowing them to work comfortably within the country. He concluded by revealing that several more training courses and events will be held for national cadres in the ministry in parallel with the developments occurring in the labor and immigration laws in the State of Kuwait.

Meanwhile, Head of the IOM’s mission in Kuwait Mazen Abu Al- Hassan said, “Preventing human trafficking, protecting and assisting victims, and prosecuting perpetrators are essential elements for combating human trafficking”. In a speech he delivered after the session, he stressed that IOM is proud of its long-term partnership with the Ministry of Interior through a series of workshops conducted in cooperation with the ministry over the years.” Abu Al-Hassan explained that the topics covered during the training included indicators for identifying cases of human trafficking, national legislation related to human trafficking and international agreements, using information technology for investigating cases of human trafficking, identifying symptoms associated with psychological trauma for victims of trafficking, and establishing strategies for conducting interviews with victims and suspects. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals call for immediate and effective measures to eliminate forced labor, modern slavery, and human trafficking.

The training course is part of the efforts undertaken by the State of Kuwait in its various ministries and institutions, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Public Authority for Manpower, and the permanent national committee concerned with implementing the national strategy to prevent human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. Abu Al-Hassan concluded by highlighting the efforts exerted by Kuwait to combat the crime of human trafficking, including the issuance of law No. 91/2013 regarding combating human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, establishing a center to accommodate expatriate workers, and forming the permanent national committee concerned with implementing the national strategy to prevent human trafficking and smuggling of migrants.

The latest Kuwaiti labor market data issued by the Central Statistics Bureau revealed that about 107,000 citizens and expatriates entered the labor market in the first nine months of 2023; bringing the total number of workers in the country to about 2.897 million citizens and expatriates at the end of September last year, compared to 2.79 million at the end of December 2022 — an increase of 3.8 percent, reports Al-Anba daily. The total workforce in the country includes 2.44 million expatriates in the private and government sectors at the end of September 2023, compared to 2.34 million at the end of December 2022 — an increase of 4.2 percent; while the number of citizens reached around 448,800 at the end of September 2023, compared to about 442,600 at the end of December 2022 — an increase of 1.4 percent.

The data showed that the recruits in the labor market included 6,181 citizens; while the expatriates, including domestic workers, reached 100,780 foreign workers. Indians topped the list of expatriate communities in the Kuwaiti labor market with about 879,500 at the end of September, as they increased by 44,900 from January to September; compared to 834,670 at the end of December 2022. Egyptians came in second place with 479,880 at the end of September 2023, although their number decreased by about 4,372; compared to 484,259 at the end of December 2022. Kuwaitis are in third place, and their number reached 448,800 at the end of September 2023 — 6,181 higher compared to 442,647 at the end of December 2022. Filipinos ranked fourth, but their number declined from 266,900 at the end of December 2022 to 260,380 at the end of September 2023. Bangladeshis are in fifth place with 256,670 at the end of September 2023, compared to 241,300 at the end of December 2022.

On the other hand, the distribution of workers according to nationalities showed that the number of workers in the government and private sectors; that is, excluding domestic workers, increased by about 70,500 — 2.107 million at the end of September 2023, compared to 2.036 million at the end of December 2022. Indians topped the list of expatriate communities working in the two sectors with about 526,800 at the end of September 2023 — about 29,700 higher than 497,000 at the end of December 2022. Egyptians are in second place with 478,800 at the end of September 2023, although their number decreased by 4,351; compared to 483,180 at the end of December 2022. Kuwaitis are in third place after their number rose from 442,647 at the end of December 2022 to 448,828 at the end of September 2023.

The Ministry of Education continued its efforts to follow up the implementation of the fingerprint attendance system in public schools, which started on an experimental basis last Sunday, reports Al-Anba daily. Educational sector sources revealed to the Daily that on the first day; the concerned authorities in the ministry monitored 400,000 fingerprinting operations for teachers, indicating that it was observed that a teacher made the fingerprint attendance more than once as the system does not accept it.

Sources confirmed that the Technical Committee at the Information Systems Center is working hard to address all problems, explaining that the signing of timesheets for entry and departure continues to protect the rights of teachers. Sources said fingerprinting will not be applied permanently without ensuring that all procedures are correct. “We are currently in a trial period to find out the negatives, if any, and address them,” sources added. In another context, the ministry granted the periodic bonus to its employees, including teachers and administrators, which was scheduled for January but it was postponed.

Sources said the Administrative Sector has completed the review and verification procedures for the names eligible for the bonus, which reached approximately 20,000 teachers and administrators, indicating that the bonus will be paid retroactively to the ministry’s employees in public and assistant positions. Sources that some employees will be paid this month and others in March, noting that there are employees whose salaries have been approved for the current month so there was no time to add the bonus.

‘Insider Monkey’ said that fuel prices in Kuwait remain the cheapest among the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and rank fifth in the world, with the price of a gallon being $1,286 according to the list issued by the company for the 10 cheapest countries in terms of fuel prices around the world.

‘Insider Monkey’ attributed this decrease to the support provided by the government to all consumers, both citizens and expatriates, noting that since the percentage of expatriates who hold driving licenses constitutes about 55% of the total driving licenses granted in Kuwait, half of the government support goes towards expatriates’ fuel consumption.

According to the figures, the annual cost of fuel in Kuwait, including gasoline and diesel products amounts to about 976 million dinars (equivalent to 3.15 billion dollars), while the value of the sale of these products is about 651 million dinars (equivalent to 2.1 billion dollars), which means that the difference exceeds 300 million dinars, equivalent to $1.05 billion.

Kuwait is considered a major producer in the global oil markets, and is a member of OPEC. The oil sector contributes nearly half of the country’s gross domestic product, and about 95% of total export revenues, as well as the country’s general revenues.

Returning to the ‘Insider Monkey’ report, Iran topped the list of countries with the cheapest fuel prices, ranking first in the world. For Iranians, cheap gasoline is considered an acquired right, as their country has the fourth largest reserve of crude oil in the world, and a gallon of fuel is sold at $0.108. This should not exceed a monthly quota of about 16 gallons, with the price nearly doubling for any consumption exceeding this limit.

The large government support kept fuel prices low, but due to the widening gap between the supply, which is restricted by local refining capacity, and the high demand, the government was forced to take advantage of its strategic reserves and import gasoline for the first time in a decade.

Below is a list of the 10 cheapest countries in the world in terms of fuel prices:

Iran: The price of a gallon is $0.108.

Libya: The price of a gallon is $0.116.

Venezuela: The price of a gallon is $0.132.

Algeria: The price of a gallon is $1,267.

Kuwait: The price of a gallon is $1,286.

Angola: The price of a gallon is $1.375.

Egypt: The price of a gallon is $1,409.

Turkmenistan: The price of a gallon is $1.625.

Malaysia: The price of a gallon is $1,642.

Kazakhstan: The price of a gallon is $1,721.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) intends to implement a ban on the sale and distribution of “balloons” and “water pistols” and foam sprayers” across all commercial outlets in Kuwait, reports Al-Qabas daily. The Al-Qabas daily has learned that this ban will encompass cooperative societies, supermarkets, and stores, with significant penalties imposed on violators, including closure of the point of sale and legal prosecution, reports Al-Qabas daily. According to informed sources, the anticipated decision from the ministry will enforce the ban for a specific period, including February. This action follows numerous complaints regarding the misuse of balloons, pistols, and water sprayers during national holiday celebrations.

The sources further revealed that the Ministry of Commerce has decided to prohibit the sale of balloons and water pistols based on pertinent data, which has been detailed as follows:

- The huge annual waste of water, specifically during February 25 and 26.

- The phenomenon of using balloons and water sprinklers causes an increase in car accidents and damage to other people’s property.

- The Ministry of Health annually records a large number of injuries to the face and eyes due to the injured being thrown into balloons from water pistols filled with liquids.

- The Ministry of Interior records a large number of cases of physical assault during the holiday period, which are sparked by throwing balloons and throwing water.

Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA) called on Sunday mobile and fixed subscribers to update their data to ensure the continuity of their access to services from companies.

The manager of the Competition and Operators Affairs Department at the authority, Khaled Al-Qarawi told News Agency that the registration list of subscribers to communication services was obliged by all licensed companies to urge their customers to update their expired personal data and information registered with the companies.

Al-Qarawi emphasized the importance of maintaining continuity of service to subscribers during the update phase, adhering to protocols set by mobile and virtual telecommunications providers.

He emphasized the significance of public awareness of the registration list for mobile and fixed telecommunications services on the TRA website and urged them to avoid fraud.

Meanwhile, Mobile telecommunications companies such as Zain, Ooredoo and STC also urged users to update their Civil ID either through online or from their Mobile apps to ensure uninterrupted service.

Mumbai Police registered a case against an unknown person after an IndiGo flight from Chennai to Mumbai received a bomb threat on Tuesday.

According to the Mumbai Police, about 40 kilometres away from Mumbai airport, a threatening letter was found in the airplane bathroom. Written on some tissue paper were the words, "There is a bomb in my bag, if we land in Bombay, everyone will die, I am a terrorist agency."

"After receiving this threatening letter, the local police and other agencies were informed about it," said the police. "As soon as the plane landed at the airport, all the passengers were hurriedly debarred and the plane was checked, but it was a matter of relief that nothing like this was found."

Mumbai Airport Police registered a case against an unknown person and initiated an investigation into the matter.

Due to expatriates frequently submitting incomplete paperwork, the Department of Residence Affairs in Kuwait’s six governorates has taken proactive measures. They’ve prepared a comprehensive brochure outlining the necessary documents needed to fulfill family visit requirements.

According to the circular, approval for visits requires a signed request from the sponsor, including his phone number, a pledge signed by the sponsor, a travel ticket issued by Kuwait Airways or Jazeera Airways, a copy of the arriving person’s passport, provided that the validity of the passport is more than six months, a copy of the sponsor’s civil ID, verification of the address, and permission. The sponsor is required to handle the “computer printout.”

Important conditions include certificates of kinship, which must be authenticated by the Kuwaiti embassy abroad, the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry, and the foreign ministry of the visitor’s home country.

Additionally, a security source reiterated that visa issuance for all types of visits is ongoing, dispelling rumors of the ministry’s imminent closure of visitation permits within a month or two.

The Kuwait Municipality has unveiled a comprehensive field plan in preparation for the upcoming 63rd National Day and the 33rd anniversary of Liberation Day. In an official statement released today, Sunday, the municipality outlined its strategy to ensure cleanliness and orderliness during the national holiday celebrations.

According to the municipality, the field plan encompasses the deployment of machinery and cleaning workers to various locations and streets expected to host festivities marking national occasions. The initiative commenced today and will continue throughout February.

Key components of the plan include the removal of any unauthorized activities taking place on state property and strict enforcement of licensing regulations for event organizers. The municipality emphasized that supervisory authorities will conduct intensified inspection campaigns to monitor street vendors and ensure compliance with regulations.

Violations will be promptly addressed, and legal actions will be taken against offenders to uphold the cleanliness and integrity of public spaces, streets, and squares. The municipality underscored the importance of collective responsibility in maintaining a clean environment during national celebrations and urged the public to refrain from engaging in activities that may tarnish the festivities.

Highlighting ongoing efforts, the hygiene management team in Hawalli Governorate has initiated a field campaign to prepare coastal areas at popular beach destinations such as Al Blajat, Marina Mall, and Green Island. As part of the campaign, public facilities have been cleaned, and containers have been distributed to accommodate waste generated during the celebrations.

Today’s campaign yielded significant results, with public spaces, coastal areas, and designated celebration venues receiving thorough cleaning. Additionally, the municipality deployed a substantial workforce, including cleaners, sweepers, and lorries, along with the provision of waste containers at strategic locations to ensure effective waste management and maintain cleanliness standards during the festivities.

The "Sahel" app, serving as Kuwait's unified platform for government transactions, is gearing up to unveil its long-awaited English version. According to a report by local media outlet 'Kuwait Times,' the official spokesperson for the 'Sahel' app, Yousef Kazem, affirmed ongoing efforts to introduce this crucial update.

Initially launched as an Arabic-only application, 'Sahel' aimed to streamline government transactions for citizens and residents. However, the absence of English support posed a significant barrier for non-Arabic speakers, limiting their access to essential services through the platform.

Recognizing the need for inclusivity, Kazem emphasized, "We are certain that there is a large segment of society, especially non-Arabic speakers, who need to easily access the e-services directly through the application." He reiterated the commitment to address these concerns by integrating an English version in forthcoming updates.

Despite the assurance of improved accessibility, a specific launch date for the English version was not disclosed.

A member of the Kuwaiti Fishermen’s Union, Abdullah Al-Sarhid, has filed a complaint with the Fahaheel Police Station accusing 3 Indian men of stealing his private fishing boat and escaping with it to their homeland, reports Al-Anba daily. Al-Sarhid said, during a press conference, he would seek the help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to recover the boat and prosecute those accused of theft Al-Sarhid denied rumors that the suspects were not paid their salaries for two years, or that he had maltreated them and withheld their passports, stressing that this talk is completely untrue and a mere fabrication and lie.

He added that the Indian embassy of the suspect men summoned him some time ago and showed him that there was a travel ban imposed on the three suspects (as the court had found the three to be involved in consuming liquor cases) and that he informed the embassy that, he was ready to pay the travel tickets if the embassy could issue the necessary documents. He stressed that Kuwait is a state of institutions and laws, and some parties protect the rights of the worker, and if they had rights, they would have resorted to them or the embassy of their country, but they escaped with the boat, which is worth more than 35,000 dinars. He pointed out that the police in their (expatriates) home country have arrested the three fugitives, and the authorities contacted him via video calls, listened to his testimony, and charged the fugitives with — stealing a boat, leaving a country, and entering another country illegally.

The Indian workers who attempted the getaway on a boat valued at 35,000 dinars almost succeeded until Indian authorities intercepted them upon their arrival. Subsequent investigations delved into their illegal return and implicated the boat’s owner, Abdullah Al-Sarhid. However, media reports, notably from India, highlighted the fugitives’ allegations of mistreatment and unpaid wages, omitting Al-Sarhid’s perspective, adds Al-Nahar daily. Al-Sarhid, a Kuwaiti Fishermen’s Union member, initially notified the Indian embassy of the situation but broke his silence in light of media scrutiny. He refuted claims of unpaid wages and mistreatment, asserting that the escapees resorted to theft due to their motives, not any wrongdoing on his part. The Indian embassy, having previously been briefed on the travel bans, assured Al-Sarhid of their cooperation in deporting the fugitives.

However, he expressed disappointment in the biased portrayal by Indian media, emphasizing the deceitfulness of the accused. Taking legal action, Al-Sarhid filed a theft case against the absconders and sought assistance from local authorities and the Indian embassy to recover his boat. He remains committed to pursuing justice and retrieving his property, hoping for appropriate consequences for the perpetrators.

Just hours before the Ministry of Education’s scheduled implementation of the fingerprint attendance system in schools, reactions rejecting this move have intensified, with increasing demands to abandon it, reports Al-Qabas daily. Officials in several schools have voiced concerns, describing the decision to implement the fingerprint system as ill-considered and disruptive to the educational process.

They argue that verifying the attendance of educational staff does not necessitate such a system, as teachers are already obliged to fulfill their teaching duties according to their assigned schedules. These officials emphasize that the fingerprint system adversely impacts the educational process, introducing unnecessary bureaucracy and undermining the flexibility and trust inherent in the educational environment.

The Ministry of Social Affairs, the Minister of Social Affairs Sheikh Firas Al-Malik has given instructions to officials to form a team to inspect cooperative societies and outlets selling vegetables and fruits to ensure that 75 percent of the cooperative societies’ stocks are purchased from Kuwaiti farmers. The sources explained that the decision is supposed to be issued this week to launch tours of all sales outlets and ensure that all the cooperative societies’ vegetable and fruit stocks are from local farmers.

Necessary measures will be taken against any cooperative society that does not comply. This is because Sheikh Firas Al-Malik seeks to support farmers through such regulatory decisions. The team will have judicial control. Therefore, any cooperative society that does not comply will be gradually subjected to penalties, as judicial control is initially carried out and then the approval of the cooperative society’s financial authority is suspended. In this context, the sources revealed that Sheikh Firas Al-Malik formed a committee to study citizens’ complaints against cooperative societies, expedite the investigation and follow-up, and take the necessary measures regarding these complaints quickly, away from red tape.

The official spokesman of the unified government application of electronic services “Sahel” Yousef Kathem, announced Thursday the launching of the Communications and Information Technology Commission’s “Aman” service, to monitor phishing scams. In a statement, Kathem said that Aman (safety) service will appear to users through the commission’s services list on “Sahel” application, allowing people to directly report phishing scams.

The goal is to allow application users to report any phishing attempt, whether through messages or fake calls, he said.

The service also aims to monitor all forms of electronic fraud facing citizens and residents through various means, involving text messages or voice calls, he pointed out. “Sahel” application was launched in 2021 mainly to enhance the efficiency and speed of public services within the framework of electronic transformation in Kuwait.

The Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi has affirmed his keenness to implement the government’s work program that was presented to the National Assembly. The work program has many goals that will be implemented within 100 days, including new constructions and openings, increased attention to primary health care, and digitizing health services. In a press statement issued on the sidelines of the launch of the annual Diagnostic Radiology Conference titled “The Latest Developments in the field of Diagnostic Radiology”, Minister Al-Awadhi said the government’s work program includes a plan to develop the primary health care sector, which will take place under the supervision of the Assistant Undersecretary for Healthcare Affairs Dr. Nadia Al-Jam’iyah. He revealed that the program also includes opening new centers, extending the working hours, training and paying attention to national cadres, and strengthening the infrastructure.

Minister Al-Awadhi revealed the receipt of 79 ambulances, which will enter into service soon. He affirmed the keenness to pay attention to digitization, archive files, and activate digital programs as a comprehensive plan for the ministry. In his speech during the opening of the conference, Dr. Al-Awadhi said the future vision for healthcare services in the field of diagnostic radiology in Kuwait will extend to include the roles and responsibilities of providers and confront challenges related to the safety and rights of patients. He highlighted the need to take advantage of the latest technologies and promising opportunities and harness them to serve patients. The minister stressed the importance of continuing to work as a single team to meet the desired professional and humanitarian responsibilities. He explained that the conference will hold discussions on many challenges, including artificial intelligence (AI), with the aim of improving health services to ensure accuracy in diagnosis and treatment, specifically for cancer and cardiovascular patients. Scientific conferences serve as an opportunity to exchange future visions for enhancing scientific and professional cooperation between specialists in this field.

The annual diagnostic radiology conference reflects the Ministry of Health’s keenness and constant commitment to keep up with this specialty’s latest technologies and scientific developments. There is a clear global interest in the latest and most advanced technologies in the field of diagnostic radiology. The minister expressed his great pride in the contribution of national cadres in many international scientific researches in the field of diagnostic radiology, which were published in many famous international journals. Meanwhile, the President of the conference and Head of the Radiology Department at the Amiri Hospital Dr. Asma Al-Failakawi said in a similar speech that the conference will host an elite group of international experts and consultants in the field of diagnostic radiology, as well as national expertise and competencies to raise the level of health services and efficiency of medical personnel. She explained that the conference activities will continue for three days under the patronage of the Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi and under the supervision of the Chairman of the Radiology Departments Council Dr. Buthaina Al-Kandari.

The conference follows the continuing medical education program and will give the participating doctors 19 points from the Kuwait Center for Medical Specialties (KIMS). It will hold discussions on many topics about diagnosing diseases related to chest, heart and digestive system. This will happen by organizing six workshops and many interactive lectures, which began yesterday and will continue until the end of the conference on Saturday. The lectures and workshops include a workshop on breast X-rays and two cerebral vascular ultrasound workshops for children and adults, as well as workshops for radiology technicians on the latest research and developments in the fields of radiology, in addition to a lecture on artificial intelligence and how to use it in the field of radiology.

Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahd Al-Yousef, also serving as the Minister of Defense and Acting Minister of Interior, undertook an inspection visit to the Department of Deportation and Temporary Detention Affairs. Accompanied by Sheikh Hamoud Al-Mubarak, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Financial Affairs, Sheikh Fahd's objective was to oversee operations, identify challenges, and devise solutions.

During the visit, Sheikh Fahd evaluated the capacity of the deportation prison and inspected various prisoner wards, including those housing male and female inmates. He actively listened to the concerns and grievances of the inmates, prioritizing their most pressing issues.

In response to the observations and complaints, Sheikh Fahd issued directives to address the obstacles faced by inmates within the legal framework. He stressed the importance of establishing mechanisms to streamline procedures for deportees, especially those lacking passports, necessitating close coordination with relevant embassies for swift repatriation.

Furthermore, Sheikh Fahd emphasized the need to rectify all deficiencies within the administration of deportation and temporary detention affairs. He outlined a forward-looking vision aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and eliminating obstacles and challenges within this critical administrative domain.

Additionally, Sheikh Fahd visited the Juvenile Administration Building, also known as the Social Evaluation House, reaffirming the government's commitment to addressing various aspects of the nation's corrections and rehabilitation system.

The Residency Affairs departments in all six governorates witnessed an influx of expatriates seeking to apply for either family, commercial or tourist visit visas following the announcement made by the ministry about the resumption of issuance of these visas under new conditions based on instructions from the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Acting Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef.

These conditions stipulate the following:-

- The applicant’s monthly salary should not be less than KD 400 in order to apply for visas for parents, wife, and children, and not less than KD 800 for relatives.

- The specified duration of the visit should be adhered to

- A round-trip flight ticket must be booked on national airlines.

- Requests to convert the visit visas into residence permits will not be accepted.

Wednesday morning, Al-Seyassah toured a number of Residence Affairs departments, and discovered that the number of applicants in Jahra Governorate was less compared to Farwaniya and Hawally governorates.

The Hawally Residence Affairs Department witnessed large numbers of expatriates, some of whom came without a prior appointment and were sent back. The “Mata” app has nearly 150 visitors daily in each department.

Also, Farwaniya Governorate witnessed a large number of expatriates, but those who did not have a prior appointment were sent back. They were asked to visit the Mata application, as the process for applying through the application requires printing the form, attaching the required papers and documents, and then submitting to the department.

According to security sources, the Residency Affairs departments received an estimated 900 transactions yesterday morning in all the Residence Affairs departments. The applicant’s data are extracted, and reviewed to verify their compliance with the set conditions.

They stressed the need for obtaining an appointment via the Mata app to carry out the transaction so as to organize the reception of expatriates with ease and avoid crowding, as well as the need for providing a round-trip flight ticket within a month along with all the documents required to submit the application.

The sources indicated that a decision has not yet been made regarding receiving the transactions of expatriates with banned nationalities.

They revealed that a family visit visa is valid for one month and a tourist visit visa is valid for three months, adding that applications are submitted through the website of the Ministry of Interior.

It is worth highlighting that the Ministry of Interior had earlier announced in a press statement the conditions to be met for applying for visit visas. They are:-

- The applicant’s salary must not be less than KD 400 in order to bring in first-degree relatives (wife, children, and parents), and not be less than KD 800 to apply for a visit visa for the rest of the relatives.

- It is required to provide a round-trip flight ticket of the national airlines (the national carrier) and submit a written pledge not to request for conversion of visit visa to residence permit in the country.

 The visitors must adhere to the duration of the visit visa.

- Medical treatments for visitors will be provided in hospitals and private health centers but they will not receive medical treatment in government hospitals if they violate the period of stay. In such cases, both the visitor and the sponsor will be included in the security control system by the Directorate General of Residency Affairs Investigations. The violator will be followed up by the Directorate General of Residency Affairs Investigations and the legal procedures followed for violators of the foreigners’ residency law will be applied against him.

- Commercial entry visa will be issued upon a request submitted by Kuwaiti companies or institutions, and granted to those holding university or technical qualifications and in a manner commensurating with the company’s activity and the nature of its work.

- Tourist visas will be issued to people belonging to 53 countries, either directly from the port of entry upon arrival in the country or through an electronic visa by visiting the Ministry of Interior’s website – www.moi.gov.kw, and for residents of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

- Tourist visas will be issued to people with professions specified in ministerial Resolution No. 2030/2008 and its amendments, and in accordance with the controls and requirements specified in the aforementioned ministerial resolution, via hotels and companies that have an automated interface with the Directorate General of Residence Affairs system in accordance with the applicable requirements for that purpose.

The Ministry of Interior affirmed in its statement that the latest decision was issued based on a desire to stimulate the commercial, economic and tourism movement in the country, taking into account the social aspects, most notably the family visit visa granted to parents, wife and children of the residents.

On the inaugural day of accepting visit visa applications, Kuwait's Residency Affairs Department witnessed a surge of expatriates seeking family visit visas. However, a significant number were turned away due to failure to pre-book appointments on the 'Meta' platform.

Sources revealed crucial details concerning visit visa procedures. It's now mandatory to secure a prior booking on the 'Meta' platform, with only 150 appointments available per day in each governorate. This translates to a total of 900 applicants processed across all governorates daily.

Additionally, applicants must present airline tickets for travel within one month of the application date, booked exclusively on Kuwait's national carrier. For destinations lacking direct flights, transit bookings via countries serviced by the national carrier are required.

Visit visas come in two categories: family visit visas valid for one month and tourist visit visas valid for three months, both non-extendable. There's no age restriction for visitors, but compliance with the one-month validity period is crucial. Failure to adhere may result in blacklisting of both visitor and sponsor.

Applicants must ensure eligibility and meet all criteria before booking flight tickets, considering the mandatory nature of airline ticket inclusion.

Salary thresholds on work permits dictate visa eligibility: KD 400 for first-degree relatives (spouse, children, parents), and KD 800 for other relatives.

As of now, visitors from banned countries remain excluded, with the ban persisting until further notice.