The Union of Cooperative Societies dispatched a letter to chairpersons of cooperative society boards on August 29 requesting comprehensive details on all state properties allocated to each entity. The union acted upon a directive from the Ministry of Social Affairs that requires submission of an updated table covering multiple data points for every contract. This inventory encompasses the cooperative name, land area, contract and plot numbers, automated address, beneficiary details including civil identification number, and current site status as either occupied or vacant.
According to the union’s communication, cooperatives must also maintain strict adherence to unified engineering and technical specifications when replacing carports at their facilities. The required dimensions and standards mirror a sample installation located at the central market parking lot in Mubarak Al-Kabeer, Block Seven. Contractors and consulting firms bear responsibility for guaranteeing workmanship quality while fully implementing all applicable safety and security regulations.
The letter further instructed executive bodies within the societies to thoroughly review ministry guidelines and the unified regulatory guide governing carport replacements. Such compliance aligns with parallel directives issued by both the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Social Affairs to ensure consistency across cooperative infrastructure. Officials have highlighted that uniform technical parameters prevent deviations that could compromise structural integrity or public safety in shared spaces.
This latest request reflects intensified regulatory engagement by the Ministry of Social Affairs with the cooperative sector throughout 2026. Ministerial Decision 196 of 2026 introduced a fresh framework for organizing cooperative activities that emphasizes enhanced governance, standardized contracts and digital platforms for oversight, according to a legal assessment published by Wefaq. The regulation replaced an earlier 2021 decision and established six-month transition periods for system updates and guide preparations.
Central Statistical Bureau figures for 2023 placed annual sales across Kuwaiti cooperative societies at roughly 903 million dinars with trading profits approaching 100 million dinars. Industry compilations indicate the presence of approximately 77 registered consumer cooperative societies operating more than 400 branches and over 80 central markets that function as primary retail outlets for residents. The collected property data is expected to support authorities in tracking asset utilization and verifying proper management of state-allocated resources.
Comparable circulars have addressed Kuwaitization targets for key positions, adherence to approved salary scales and correction of labor irregularities at cooperative branches in recent months. The ministry has executed multiple unannounced inspection visits to selected societies in coordination with the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition to confirm regulatory conformity. Public Authority for Civil Information statistics list 374 cooperative society facilities within the country’s broader infrastructure inventory as of the end of 2025.
