The Ministry of Interior announced on July 30, 2026 the outcome of a coordinated campaign in the Capital Governorate that closed six houses used as unlicensed grocery stores. The operation resulted in the arrest of 11 people on labor-law violations, according to the ministry. The Capital Governorate Security Directorate led the effort with support from the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition and Kuwait Municipality after patrols identified the properties during field inspections. Legal permits were obtained in advance and all procedures followed established protocols, the ministry added.
The ministry’s tally listed two vehicles seized for distributing food and goods along with one motorcycle wanted in a theft case. Kuwait Municipality impounded two further motorcycles while the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition issued 26 violation reports against the sites. All individuals and cases were referred to competent authorities for legal follow-up, the statement noted.
The action forms part of continuing joint security campaigns conducted across Kuwait’s governorates in coordination with relevant agencies. A separate inspection campaign by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on April 1, 2026 targeted multiple shops and grocery stores, producing 35 violation reports for offenses that included missing Arabic-language invoices, unapproved promotions and failure to issue receipts, according to that ministry. Such operations aim to address unlicensed commercial activity in residential zones.
Public Authority for Food and Nutrition figures from comparable recent drives show repeated enforcement against informal food outlets that bypass licensing and safety standards. The latest Capital Governorate campaign followed similar municipality actions, including the impoundment of seven mobile groceries in South Subhan by the Ahmadi Municipality, as reported in municipal statements. These efforts have intensified in response to growing concerns over unregulated retail in populated areas.
The Ministry of Interior stated that joint security campaigns would continue across Kuwait’s governorates in coordination with relevant government agencies, as part of efforts to enforce the law and protect the security and safety of the community. Earlier campaigns have also targeted illegal home-based restaurants and food trucks, resulting in closures and fines, according to ministry releases. Data from the Public Authority for Civil Information places Kuwait’s large expatriate population, which frequently participates in the retail workforce, at approximately 3.3 million people.
