The Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued Ministerial Resolution No. 109 of 2026 to create a comprehensive legal framework governing intermediary electronic platforms and applications involved in offering, ordering and delivering products across Kuwait. KUNA reported that the measure defines key terms such as electronic platform, service provider, customer, delivery provider, commission and delivery fee while outlining the rights and obligations of all parties in digital commerce transactions. The resolution responds directly to the rapid expansion of e-commerce by promoting transparency, consumer protection and fair competition in a sector that has seen substantial activity in recent years.
Service providers must obtain the necessary licenses and adhere to all applicable laws along with regulatory requirements under the new rules that the ministry announced. Platforms are required to disclose prices, commissions, delivery charges and any additional fees clearly before an order is finalized according to the resolution. They must also display merchant information, publish their terms and conditions and ensure that product and service details remain accurate at all times.
The regulations impose specific caps on platform commissions limiting them to 17 percent when the platform handles delivery and to 10 percent when merchants manage deliveries themselves, KUNA reported from the ministry document. Consumer delivery fees cannot exceed KD 1 per order with any additional charges beyond this limit strictly prohibited. These financial restrictions form part of a broader effort to standardize practices that had previously varied widely across different platforms.
Platforms must establish clear policies for exchanges, returns and refunds while setting up complaint-handling mechanisms that operate within defined timeframes as detailed in the resolution. The rules require protection of consumers’ personal data and the maintenance of detailed records for all electronic transactions and payments. Delivery service providers face obligations to ensure safe handling and timely delivery of products with platforms tasked to oversee these operations and coordinate effectively among all involved parties.
Ministerial Resolution No. 109 of 2026 repeals an earlier measure focused solely on restaurant and ready-food delivery replacing it with this wider framework that covers all forms of intermediary electronic commerce, according to the explanatory memorandum cited by KUNA. Licensed operators will need to update their business activity designation to “Management of Delivery Services via Electronic Platforms.” The ministry will issue an accompanying implementation guide to clarify compliance steps for platforms, service providers, delivery companies and consumers alike.
The explanatory memorandum accompanying the resolution noted that the new rules tackle challenges created by e-commerce growth including inconsistent commission rates, delivery fees and opaque commercial terms while aiming to build greater confidence in digital transactions. A 2025 assessment from the Arab Monetary Fund placed Kuwait’s e-commerce market among the fastest growing in the GCC with transaction volumes having more than doubled since 2020 amid rising consumer adoption of online shopping. The ministry retains inspection and enforcement authority including the ability to request information, carry out checks and apply administrative penalties to ensure adherence across the sector.
