KUWAIT: The Ministry of Social Affairs has introduced new rules to better regulate charitable organizations, known locally as mabarat. The regulation, published Sunday in the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm, was enacted under Ministerial Decision No. 122 of 2025 by Minister of Social Affairs and Minister for Family and Childhood Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah. It aims to strengthen oversight of charitable foundations in Kuwait to ensure transparency, accountability, and lawful operation.
The regulations set out to establish clear rules and procedures for the creation, management, and supervision of charitable foundations, including registration requirements, governance standards, fundraising controls, financial reporting, and enforcement measures to prevent misuse and ensure transparency. The law also outlines conditions under which a charitable foundation can be dissolved.
These changes come at a time when all charitable fundraising in Kuwait has been put on hold since mid-April. The suspension followed the discovery of unauthorized donation campaigns running through unofficial websites and accounts. The ministry explained that this pause is necessary to protect donors’ money and ensure full transparency. Fundraising will remain suspended until the new regulations are fully in place. Under the new rules, charitable foundations must follow strict legal steps to register and operate legally. This includes mandatory registration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, clear governance structures, financial reporting, and strict controls over fundraising and public activities.
One key requirement is that no person or group may carry out charitable work or make agreements on behalf of a mabara without official registration and approval from the ministry. Foundations must also get permission before moving locations, opening new branches, or asking the public for donations. The rules clearly state: “It is prohibited for any applicant to carry out any charitable or social activity except after the foundation is officially registered.” Anyone who breaks this rule risks suspension.
10 Kuwaiti founders
To register a mabara, there must be at least ten Kuwaiti founders, each at least 21 years old, with a clean legal record regarding honesty and trust. Board members must be at least 30 years old and have at least a diploma-level education. Founders must also deposit KD 10,000 into a bank account under the foundation’s name. Additional approvals are required from security agencies, Kuwait Municipality, Fire Force, and the Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry of Social Affairs now has the authority to supervise registered foundations closely. Ministry officials can inspect any mabara at any time without prior notice and review their financial and operational records. If violations occur, foundations may face fines, suspension of their accounts, or even complete closure. If a foundation does not fix problems within a week after being notified, the ministry can freeze its bank accounts. Serious repeated violations, hiding financial information, or failing to submit reports for two years could lead to the foundation losing its legal status or being dissolved by the government.
Foundations can be shut down if they fail to keep the minimum number of members, cannot meet financial responsibilities, stray from their mission, or remain inactive. In such cases, the ministry appoints a committee to manage the foundation’s assets, which will eventually return to the ministry to support other approved causes.
This bylaw is part of a larger effort to improve transparency and align Kuwait’s charitable sector with international standards against money laundering. A report by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) last November praised Kuwait’s legal improvements but stressed the need for stronger enforcement. Kuwaiti authorities have increased cooperation across ministries to better track donations, especially those crossing borders, and to shut down inactive organizations. Additionally, the ministry is working on a new digital platform linked to the Mobile ID system earlier this year to streamline charity applications and monitor aid distribution. So far, more than 30 foundations have been dissolved for inactivity or failing to meet requirements.
