Kuwait Caps Cash at KD 10 Across Licensed Private Healthcare, With Closure and Criminal Referral for Breach

On 12 July 2026 the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Osama Khaled Abdullah Boodai, issued Ministerial Decision No. 110 of 2026 on the prohibition of cash transactions by companies in certain activities, published in the Official Gazette (Kuwait Al-Youm, Issue 1800, page 13) on 19 July 2026. Article One obliges every company owning a private health facility licensed by the Ministry of Health — including hospitals, medical centres, clinics, home healthcare providers and other licensed private medical establishments — not to conduct any cash transaction exceeding KD 10 when collecting fees for its services. Payments above that threshold must be made through the banking channels and electronic payment services approved by the Central Bank of Kuwait.

The sanction is unusually direct. Without prejudice to any other measure or penalty provided in related laws, Article Two applies the penalties set out in Decree-Law No. 10 of 1979 on the supervision of trade in goods, services and handicrafts, and provides that any establishment breaching Article One shall be closed and referred to the competent investigation authorities. A further article repeals any conflicting provision in any other decision. The decision takes effect from its date of issue rather than from gazette publication, so the obligation has been live since 12 July 2026.

The decision is the second instalment of a sector-by-sector cash ceiling rather than a standalone measure. In April 2026 the same ministry issued Ministerial Decision No. 32 of 2026, applying an identical KD 10 limit — and the same closure-and-referral sanction — to health institutes, men's, women's and children's salons, sports clubs, pest control companies, and businesses importing, exporting or storing public health pesticides. The recitals to Decision 110 cite the anti-money laundering law (Law No. 106 of 2013), the Commercial Shop Licences Law as amended by Decree-Law No. 162 of 2025, the Consumer Protection Law and the Companies Law, alongside a Ministry of Health letter of 30 March 2026.

WEFAQ's view: At KD 10 this is not a cap on cash but a cashless mandate — a routine consultation fee already clears the threshold. The exposure is operational rather than financial: the sanction is closure and referral to the investigation authorities, not a fine calibrated to turnover, and it attaches to the licence-holding company. Operators should treat point-of-sale readiness, CBK-approved payment channel contracts and front-desk instructions as an immediate compliance item, and should assume the schedule of covered activities will keep expanding.

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Source: Kuwait Al-Youm, Issue 1800, page 13 (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministerial Decision No. 110 of 2026 on the prohibition of cash transactions by companies in certain activities), dated 19 July 2026; Ministerial Decision No. 32 of 2026; KUNA, 7 April 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.