Kuwait Issues Decree-Law No. 72 of 2026 Regulating the Establishment and Management of Places of Worship

Decree-Law No. 72 of 2026, promulgating the Law on the Regulation of the Establishment and Management of Places of Worship, was issued at Seif Palace on 12 July 2026 and published in Kuwait Al-Youm Issue 1800, dated 19 July 2026, taking effect on publication. Places of worship established or managed by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs fall outside its scope.

The law comprises thirty articles in six chapters. A prior licence from the competent minister, issued on the recommendation of a dedicated Places of Worship Committee, is now required to establish, elevate, expand, reinforce, renovate, manage or demolish a place of worship (Articles 11–16), and a licensed place of worship acquires legal personality from the date its licence is issued.

The financial-governance provisions are notable. Every place of worship must maintain an account with a local bank subject to Central Bank of Kuwait supervision, into which all of its financial resources must be deposited, with the account overseen by the competent unit at the ministry. Records, books and electronic systems must be retained at the place of management for no less than ten years. The preamble's citations of the Anti-Money Laundering Law No. 106 of 2013 and the 1959 law on licensing public fundraising signal a clear donations-transparency agenda.

On enforcement, designated ministry employees hold judicial-officer status, the Public Prosecution has exclusive competence to investigate and prosecute offences under the law (Articles 23–29), and a ministry committee will hear grievances against decisions issued under it (Article 30).

The Cabinet must issue executive regulations within six months of publication. Existing places of worship then have six months from the regulations' effective date to regularize their status; the competent ministry may close non-compliant premises and liquidate their assets, returning funds to their owners unless impossible, or assume or assign their management.

WEFAQ advises legal representatives of existing congregations, and the charities and property owners that host them, to map the licensing, banking and record-keeping requirements now rather than await the executive regulations, given the short regularization window that will follow them.

Source: Decree-Law No. 72 of 2026, Kuwait Al-Youm Issue 1800, dated 19 July 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.