Kuwait Introduces 15-Year Investor Residency Under Cabinet Resolution No. 651 of 2026

Kuwait has established a long-term residency pathway for foreign investors. The Council of Ministers issued Cabinet Resolution No. 651 of 2026, published in the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm, which authorises the General Directorate of Residency Affairs at the Ministry of Interior to grant an “Investor Residency” permit valid for up to 15 years upon referral from the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA). The measure was adopted under Law No. 116 of 2013 on the Promotion of Direct Investment.

Eligibility extends to owners of the investment entity, partners, and directors and senior managers holding KDIPA-approved positions, together with their immediate family members. To qualify, the total investment volume must be no less than KD 5 million and the entity’s capital at least KD 1 million.

On process, KDIPA reviews each application and must issue a decision within five working days of receiving a complete file. An applicant’s failure to provide requested information within 30 days results in automatic rejection. Renewal applications must be filed at least 60 days before expiry and remain contingent on the entity’s continued operation and ongoing legal, financial and regulatory compliance.

The framework aims to strengthen foreign direct investment and support economic diversification under New Kuwait 2035, aligning investor residency with the long operational horizons of major KDIPA-licensed projects — bringing Kuwait into line with GCC peers that use long-term residency to attract capital.

WEFAQ’s view: the resolution places KDIPA at the centre of both the licensing and residency tracks, so investors should plan the two workstreams together from the outset.