To register a company in Kuwait, you need to follow the steps below:
Go to the website of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Kuwait “from here“.
Click on “Kuwait Business Center” which is located in the services list.
Click on the “start now” icon.
Click on the “Services and Transactions” icon.
Select “Submit an application for establishment“.
Through the side arrows, select “Company Formation Services”.
Select “Request to establish a partnership”
Fill in all the required data.
Click on the “Submit Application” box.
An automated email will be sent immediately upon submitting the application with the central application number.
The application will be reviewed during official working hours daily from 8 am to 2 pm, from Sunday to Thursday, and will be responded with approval or rejection according to the stipulated conditions.
The application will be transferred electronically if approved to the Criminal Evidence Department, and will responded to electronically by the Criminal Evidence Department with approval, rejection or review according to the conditions stipulated by the Ministry of Interior.
The application will be transferred electronically if approved by the Criminal Evidence Department to the Ministry of Justice to document the articles of association and the presence of the company owner in person or by proxy.
The articles of association are documented, fees are paid and the certificate of registration in the commercial register is received.
The following table shows the conditions of registering a company in Kuwait:
Type
Conditions
Establishing a new company via department of partnerships
The partnership must include at least two individuals.
Partners must have clear criminal records with no convictions.
The share of the non-Kuwaiti partner must not exceed 49%.
The foreign partner must have a valid residency visa.
The managing partner must not be a government employee.
Each partner must submit proof of payment for their share in the capital.
A limited liability company cannot be formed solely between a husband and wife unless a third partner is involved.
The manager must be a Kuwaiti citizen or from one of the GCC countries.
Establishing a one-person company
The applicant must be the owner or manager of the company.
The company must be owned by only one person, whether a natural person or a legal entity.
The manager must be at least 21 years old and must not be employed in the government sector.
A Gulf citizen is treated the same as a Kuwaiti citizen.
The company’s activities must fall within the list of activities allowed to be practiced in Kuwait.
The criminal records of the company’s owner and manager must be free of any criminal convictions, particularly those related to commercial cases as outlined by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Establishing a Limited Liability Company
The applicant must hold the title of owner or manager of the company.
The company must have at least two partners, with Kuwaiti ownership exceeding 51%.
The manager must be at least 21 years old and must not be employed in the government sector.
A Gulf citizen is treated the same as a Kuwaiti citizen.
The company’s activities must be among those permitted within the State of Kuwait.
The criminal records of the company’s owner and manager must be free of any criminal convictions, particularly commercial cases, as stipulated by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Establishing a joint-stock company
The applicant must hold the capacity of the owner, manager, or representative of the company.
Minimum Partnership: The company must have at least two partners, with Kuwaiti ownership exceeding 51%.
The manager must be at least 21 years old and must not be employed in the government sector.
A Gulf citizen is treated equivalently to a Kuwaiti citizen.
Commercial Address Requirement: The company must have an official commercial address within Kuwait.
The company’s activities must be among those approved for practice within the State of Kuwait.
The criminal records of the company’s owner and manager must be free of any criminal convictions, specifically commercial cases as stipulated by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Establishing a sports club company
The applicant must hold the position of the company manager or be their representative.
The company must be owned by a sports club.
The manager must be at least 21 years old and must not be employed in the government sector.
The trade name of the company must be the name of the sports club.
The company’s activity must be singular and focused on either advertising and marketing sports clubs (for a single person entity) or playing football (for a limited liability company).
The criminal records of the company’s managers must be free of any criminal convictions, specifically commercial cases, as stipulated by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Establishing a professional company – Accounting
The applicant must be the owner, manager, or representative of the company.
The company must have at least two partners, with Kuwaiti ownership exceeding 51%.
The manager must be at least 21 years old and must not be employed in the government sector.
The company must be owned by accountants registered in the accountants’ registry.
The company must obtain automatic approval from the Kuwait Accountants Association.
The company’s activities must be strictly professional services.
The criminal records of the company’s owner and manager must be free of any criminal convictions, specifically commercial cases, as stipulated by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The company must take one of the following forms: liability company, closed joint-stock company, simple limited partnership, or limited liability company.
Establishing a professional partnership – law firm
The applicant must be a person who holds the capacity of owner or manager of the company.
The number of partners must not be less than (2) and the percentage of Kuwaiti ownership must be more than 51%.
The manager must be 21 years of age or older and not work in the government sector.
One of the partners must hold a lawyer’s license from the Kuwaiti Bar Association.
The Kuwaiti Bar Association’s approval of the establishment.
The company’s activities must be limited to professional activities only.
The criminal record of the company’s owner and manager must be free of criminal judgments (commercial cases) stipulated in accordance with the laws of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Required Documents to Register a Company in Kuwait
The following table shows the Documents required to Register a company in Kuwait:
Type
Documents
Establishing a new company via department of partnerships
copies of civil IDs for all partners and the manager.
a capital certificate for joint ventures and limited partnerships; the capital of the limited liability company must be reserved during the establishment period.
Secure a certificate from the Public Institution for Social Security for the manager.
a lease contract and receipt for the business premises.
a certificate of the address automatic number from the Public Authority of Civil Information.
a certificate of the sponsor’s approval for the foreign partner to enter into a partnership, approved by the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
signature authorization from the sponsor.
Ensure the foreign partner has a valid work permit.
Complete the transfer of the manager’s residence to the company.
Establishing a one-person company
There are no documents required, except in the following cases:
If the company owner is a foreign or Gulf legal entity (upload the company license, if any, its commercial register and its articles of association on the administration website after translating and authenticating them at the Kuwaiti Embassy in the country of origin and the Authentication Department at the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
If the director is a doctor working in the Public Authority for Applied Education for the consulting activity, he uploads an official approval from the Public Authority for Applied Education for him to assume the management clause of the company to be established on the administration website.
If the director assumes the management of more than one company with the same purposes, he uploads the minutes of the general assembly of the company he manages with the approval of all partners for him to assume the management clause of the company to be established on the administration website.
Establishing a Limited Liability Company
There are no documents required, except in the following cases:
If the director is a doctor working in the Public Authority for Applied Education for the consulting activity, he uploads an official approval from the Public Authority for Applied Education for him to assume the management of the company to be established on the administration’s website.
If the director assumes the management of more than one company with the same purposes, he uploads the minutes of the general assembly of the company he manages with the approval of all partners for him to assume the management of the company to be established on the administration’s website.
Establishing a joint-stock company
The director, who works as a faculty member at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training and is involved in consulting activities, must attach an official approval from the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training to assume the management clause in the application to establish the company.
The director, who manages more than one company with the same objectives, must attach the minutes of the general assembly of the current company they manage, including the approval of all partners, to assume the management clause in the application to establish the new company.
The foreign partner must attach a criminal record certified and approved by the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in the foreign partner’s home country and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the State of Kuwait.
Establishing a sports club company
A certificate from the General Sports Authority to whom it may concern, as the legal representative of the sports club.
Establishing a professional company – Accounting
A certificate of registration in the register of accountants.
There are no other documents, except in the following cases:
If the director works within the teaching staff at the Public Authority for Applied Education for the consulting activity, he attaches an official approval from the Public Authority for Applied Education for him to assume the management item in the application submitted to establish the company.
If the director works for a company with the same activity, he attaches the minutes of the general assembly approving his assumption of the management item for another company with the same activity.
Establishing a professional partnership – law firm
A letter of approval from the Kuwait Lawyers Association to establish a company stating (names of partners – partners’ shares – trade name of the company).
There are no other documents, except in the following cases:
If the director works within the teaching staff at the Public Authority for Applied Education for the consulting activity, he attaches an official approval from the Public Authority for Applied Education for him to assume the management item in the application submitted to establish the company.
If the director works for a company with the same activity, he attaches a general assembly report approving his assumption of the management item for another company with the same activity.
Questions & Answers
Is the company registration service accessible online in Kuwait?
Is the company registration service accessible online in Kuwait?
Yes, the company registration service is available online through the electronic portal designated for this purpose on the website of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Where can companies be officially registered in Kuwait?
Where can companies be officially registered in Kuwait?
Companies in Kuwait are officially registered at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which is the responsible authority for this sector.
What are the costs associated with registering a company in Kuwait?
What are the costs associated with registering a company in Kuwait?
The registration fees for a company in Kuwait vary based on the required licenses, type of company, and other specific details.
Is it possible for a foreigner to establish a company in Kuwait?
Is it possible for a foreigner to establish a company in Kuwait?
Yes, a foreigner can establish a company in Kuwait after obtaining residency and meeting all the necessary conditions and requirements.
Can a Gulf citizen establish a company in Kuwait?
Can a Gulf citizen establish a company in Kuwait?
Yes, a Gulf citizen can establish a company in Kuwait, and they are treated as Kuwaiti citizens in this regard.
