According to the Kuwait News Agency, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah led the session that focused on the latest developments in coordination among state agencies responsible for meeting anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism obligations. Discussions treated full compliance as a strategic national priority while addressing observations outlined by the Financial Action Task Force in its evaluations. Participants reviewed measures intended to strengthen the country’s alignment with global standards and improve its overall readiness for international scrutiny.
The gathering included Minister of Justice Nasser Yousef Al-Sumait, Minister of Electricity Water and Renewable Energy Dr. Subaih Abdulaziz Al-Mukhaizeem and Minister of Commerce and Industry Osama Khaled Al-Boudai. Advisor to the Prime Minister’s Diwan Sheikh Dr. Basel Hamoud Malik Al-Sabah attended alongside Director General of the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority Sheikh Dr. Meshal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. Central Bank of Kuwait Governor Basel Ahmad Al-Haroun joined other senior officials at the Bayan Palace meeting.
A February 2026 statement from the FATF placed Kuwait under increased monitoring following its 2024 mutual evaluation report that identified gaps in the AML/CFT regime. The FATF noted that Kuwait had already recorded significant progress on the majority of recommended actions including adoption of a new national AML/CFT strategy and enhancements to its framework for targeted financial sanctions on terrorism and proliferation financing. Officials have also expanded risk understanding and conducted targeted outreach and supervision of financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions.
Remaining items on Kuwait’s FATF action plan require additional work in specific sectors according to the same international assessment. Priorities include stepped-up outreach to real estate agents and dealers in precious metals and stones with sector-specific indicators for suspicious transaction reports. The plan further calls for ensuring accuracy of beneficial ownership data held in official registries together with proportionate sanctions for violations and an increase in money laundering probes tied to cross-border currency and bearer negotiable instrument movements.
MENAFATF published its second enhanced follow-up report on Kuwait in May 2026 to track improvements in technical compliance since the prior full evaluation. The document examines re-ratings across recommendation categories as authorities pursue removal from the list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring. Inter-agency collaboration has intensified in response to these assessments with regular high-level reviews guiding implementation efforts.
Similar coordination meetings have taken place in recent months as Kuwait advances its commitments to both the FATF and the regional MENAFATF body. The Central Statistical Bureau and other entities contribute data that supports risk assessments and policy adjustments across the financial sector. Sustained engagement at the ministerial level underscores the priority assigned to addressing the identified deficiencies in a structured manner.
