Kuwait’s Commercial Register Overhaul Boosts Transparency to 98.62% Compliance

From 42.8% to 98.62% in record time—how Kuwait’s bold reforms reshaped corporate accountability. Millions in fines later, the system is finally working.

, and Administrator

2025 November 23 . 9:25 PM

1 min read

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Kuwait’s Commercial Register Overhaul Boosts Transparency to 98.62% Compliance

Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has completed a major overhaul of its commercial register. The project management running from 2024 to 2025 aimed to improve transparency and ensure accurate identification of company owners. Registration rates for beneficial owners have now climbed from 42.8% to 98.62% after targeted awareness efforts and stricter enforcement measures.

The first phase of the cleanup removed 73,712 inactive companies from the register. Each was fined KD 1,000, resulting in total penalties of KD 2.845 million. A second phase followed, targeting 1,836 additional entities, with each fined KD 2,000—adding another KD 3.672 million in fines.

The project management has strengthened Kuwait’s business transparency and accountability. With near-universal registration compliance, regulators can now monitor ownership more effectively. The next workshop will focus on maintaining these improvements and addressing new challenges in corporate oversight.