Cabinet issues executive regulations for the Red Crescent and Red Cross emblems law

The Council of Ministers issued Decision No. 1026 of 2026 on 8 September 2026, adopting the executive regulations of Decree-Law No. 134 of 2025 on regulating the use and protection of the Red Crescent and Red Cross emblems. The regulations were published in Kuwait Al-Youm Issue 1808 on 13 September 2026 and took effect the following day.

The regulations place licensing in the hands of the Ministry of Defence, acting through its Medical Services Authority. Only listed categories may use the emblems at all: military and National Guard medical units, the Kuwait Red Crescent Society and its facilities, state civil medical units, licensed private healthcare facilities, qualified medical personnel, and the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Federation. Private healthcare facilities and qualified individuals sit inside a licensing and coordination system; a licence application must be decided within 30 days, silence counts as rejection, and a refusal can be challenged within 30 days before a grievance committee formed by the Minister of Defence (Articles 7 and 8). Identity cards issued to licensed users are valid for three years.

The rule with the widest business reach sits at the end of Article 7: the emblems, their names, and any similar mark may not be used for advertising, commercial or decorative purposes, or in trademarks, patents, trade names or the names of associations. A red cross or red crescent in a shop sign or logo, a practice still seen among pharmacies and clinics, now needs to be removed or brought within the licensing system.

WEFAQ's view: healthcare operators and brand owners should audit their signage, logos and registered marks now. The regulations are already in force, and the ban on commercial use of the emblems and similar marks is written in absolute terms.

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Source: Council of Ministers Decision No. 1026 of 2026 and the annexed executive regulations; Kuwait Al-Youm Issue 1808, pages A48 to A51, dated 13 September 2026.

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your circumstances, please contact WEFAQ Law Firm.