The Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued Ministerial Resolution No. 74 of 2025 permitting any natural or legal person who owns more than 50 percent in subsidiary companies or branches to employ one headquarters and a unified automated number for a maximum of five licenses. This change applies to activities that do not each require a separate physical location while maintaining necessary regulatory checks on the shared premises. The ministry announced the decision through the Kuwait News Agency as part of ongoing updates to commercial regulations.
According to the ministry the resolution aims to alleviate operational burdens on investors that arise from renting multiple sites with particular benefits directed at owners of small and medium-sized enterprises. Many such projects operate without the need for distinct addresses for every licensed activity thereby lowering overhead expenses. The step also seeks to foster a more supportive business environment across Kuwait.
Implementation of the resolution requires the Public Authority for Civil Information to review the attached lease contract and confirm that it satisfies all regulatory conditions. Once verified the authority can issue up to five separate civil identification numbers for the licensed entities operating from the unified location in accordance with the approved lease information. This structured verification process preserves government oversight during the simplification.
The ministry characterized the resolution as an initial measure within a wider program to improve organization of the business sector and cut operational loads on activity owners. It took effect immediately upon issuance and must appear in the official gazette to complete formal procedures. Additional instructions may follow to guide its rollout to eligible businesses.
A KUNA report on government reforms placed the decision alongside the February 2025 launch of the Smart License Project which consolidates all required approvals into one digital document with matching expiry dates. That project reduces processing times by naming the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as the primary issuer while establishing digital linkages to other agencies. Such initiatives align with broader digital transformation objectives.
The same report referenced Decree-Law No. 106 of 2024 that amended the Companies Law to ease requirements for limited liability companies by lowering quorum thresholds for extraordinary general meetings and authorizing the ministry to convene them if needed. These legislative adjustments contribute to a series of measures designed to create more predictable conditions for investors. The ministry continues to advance similar facilitations as part of economic development priorities.
