The Ministry of Interior deployed teams from its General Department of Criminal Investigation’s Juvenile Protection Department to conduct the operation in cooperation with the Public Authority for Manpower. Inspection teams focused on commercial establishments across the Jahra Industrial Area, Shuwaikh Industrial Area, Fahaheel Industrial Area and Farwaniya to verify adherence to both labor market rules and residency requirements. All 56 individuals apprehended were referred for legal and administrative procedures in line with Kuwaiti statutes, the ministry reported.
Ministry figures show the campaign resulted in 10 juveniles taken into custody along with three violators of Article 22 covering family and dependent residency. The tally further listed 17 breaches of Article 18 related to private sector residency and 24 violations of Article 20 governing domestic worker residency, plus one absconding case tied to an Article 20 holder and one entry visa infringement. These components sum exactly to the total of 56 detentions, according to the ministry’s breakdown.
The latest action forms part of sustained enforcement efforts that have intensified in recent weeks. A separate Ministry of Interior campaign in the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh area earlier this week led to the arrest of 1,253 individuals wanted for security reasons and residency or labor violations, the ministry said in a statement covered by Khaleej Times on August 2. Coordination with multiple state agencies has remained central to these operations.
Public Authority for Civil Information data places Kuwait’s expatriate population at roughly 3.3 million, representing more than two-thirds of all residents and placing added emphasis on residency compliance. A Newland Chase legal overview published in January 2025 detailed updated penalties for residency breaches that include daily fines of 2 Kuwaiti dinars in the first month, rising to 4 dinars thereafter with a cap of 1,200 dinars. Articles 18, 20 and 22 respectively address private sector employment visas, domestic worker arrangements and family sponsorship rules.
The Ministry of Interior has indicated that similar joint campaigns will proceed in coordination with the Public Authority for Manpower and other bodies to identify infractions and maintain regulatory standards. No details on the nationalities of those detained in the August 5 operation were released in the ministry’s account. Follow-up administrative outcomes for the individuals remain pending under applicable legal processes.
