The government issued Decree-Law No. 85 of 2026, published in the Official Gazette Kuwait Today, to modify provisions in the law regulating the General Fire Force. According to the decree, the changes tackle deficiencies identified through operational practice while aiming to raise institutional efficiency, workforce discipline and fire prevention standards. The amendments also update appointment rules for medical and professional staff within the force. The original 2020 statute had replaced earlier civil defense arrangements with a dedicated regulatory body focused on fire safety and emergency response.
The published decree revises the disciplinary penalties applicable to General Fire Force members up to the rank of colonel. The tiered sanctions begin with an alert, a reprimand and a warning before progressing to assignment of additional services not exceeding 15 per violation according to organized rules. Salary deductions of up to 15 days per offense form another available measure. These options expand the existing framework to provide proportionate responses to infractions.
A new article introduced by the decree grants financial rewards to individuals enrolled in the force’s educational and training programs throughout their period of study. The competent minister must issue a decision specifying the reward value and conditions after coordination with the Ministry of Finance. This measure seeks to encourage greater participation by Kuwaiti nationals in fire safety and emergency specializations. The incentive forms part of a longer-term investment in national human capital for the service.
The decree adds a further article that permits settlement of fire safety violations when no death or injury has occurred. Settlement requires payment of a sum not exceeding 10,000 Kuwaiti dinars together with elimination of the violation causes and may be accepted before criminal proceedings start or while they continue. Upon completion, the settlement prevents initiation of prosecution or ends any ongoing case, although it leaves civil rights untouched. The minister will later determine the list of eligible violations and the detailed procedures through a separate decision.
Additional clauses in the decree allow physicians to be appointed directly at the rank of captain, with holders of higher specialization certificates entering at major. The decree also organizes affairs related to professional staff serving in the force. These personnel provisions aim to ensure rapid availability of medical expertise during emergency operations and incidents. The full decree text appeared in the Official Gazette edition released on September 12, 2026.
The General Fire Force handled 3,468 fires across 2025, of which 819 occurred inside residential buildings, according to data cited in Al-Anba newspaper reports. Ahmadi Governorate accounted for the largest share with 542 fires, followed by Farwaniya with 534 and Mubarak Al-Kabeer with 531. Vehicle fires totaled 742 during the same period, frequently linked to electrical chargers and flammable household substances. The amendments coincide with sustained inspection campaigns that have included recent closures of non-compliant industrial sites to enforce safety compliance.
