Ministry of Finance Sets Document Prices and Grievance Fees for Purchase Unit Procurement at the Central Agency for Public Tenders

The Minister of Finance issued Ministerial Decision No. 35 of 2026 on 16 July 2026, fixing the sale prices of tender and practice documents and the fees for grievances against the Purchase Unit and the Purchase Committee at the Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT). The decision was published in Kuwait Al-Youm Issue 1801 on 26 July 2026 and takes effect from the date of publication.

The decision rests on the Public Tenders Law No. 49 of 2016 and its Executive Regulations issued by Decree No. 30 of 2017. It follows Decree No. 32 of 2026, issued on 24 February 2026, which attached CAPT to the Minister of Finance, and a Ministry of Finance approval of the proposed fees conveyed by letter No. 11206/2026 dated 10 May 2026.

Article 1 sets document prices in four tiers by estimated value: KD 10 for purchases below KD 2,000, KD 20 for values up to KD 5,000, KD 30 for values up to KD 30,000, and KD 50 for values up to KD 75,000. These bands cover low-value procurement conducted through CAPT's internal purchase channels; contracts above KD 75,000 remain subject to the full tender procedures of Law No. 49 of 2016.

Article 2 introduces filing fees for grievances: KD 250 for grievances concerning prequalification, KD 125 for requests to add a company to a limited practice, and KD 500 or KD 1,000 for challenges to practice procedures, depending on whether the estimated value sits between KD 5,000 and KD 30,000 or between KD 30,000 and KD 75,000. Article 3 repeals any conflicting provisions.

WEFAQ's view: suppliers and contractors competing for low-value government purchases should treat the new fees as part of their bid economics and diarise the grievance route. A priced challenge mechanism tends to filter out casual objections while giving serious bidders a clearer procedural path.

Source: Ministerial Decision No. 35 of 2026; Kuwait Al-Youm Issue 1801, dated 26 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.