No political exploitation of places of worship
Nine Prohibitions
Decree-Law No. 72 of 2026, issuing the Law Regulating the Establishment and Management of Places of Worship, was published in the Official Gazette, “Kuwait Today.” The decree-law consists of five chapters and 30 articles.
The decree-law aims to establish a clear legal framework for regulating the establishment and management of places of worship, enabling the practice of freedom of belief—a constitutional right—in a safe and equitable manner. It seeks to prevent arbitrary proliferation of such institutions and to stop certain groups from monopolizing religious discourse.
It also aims to regulate the establishment and management of places of worship transparently, with the goal of enhancing freedom to practice religious rites and ensuring equality among citizens in this regard, while preventing the exploitation of places of worship for political or non-religious purposes.
Article One of the law stipulates that its provisions shall apply, except to places of worship established or managed by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
Article Two provides that the executive regulations of the law shall be issued by a Cabinet decision, upon the proposal of the competent minister, within six months from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. Until these regulations are issued, existing legislation shall continue to apply insofar as it does not conflict with the provisions of the accompanying law.
Article Three stipulates that those responsible for places of worship in operation at the time this decree-law takes effect must regularize their status in accordance with the provisions of the accompanying law and its executive regulations, within six months from the date these regulations come into force. The competent Ministry shall close down and liquidate the assets of any places of worship that violate the preceding paragraph, and return the funds to their owners, unless this proves impossible, or take over their management or entrust it to whom it deems appropriate, in accordance with the rules and procedures outlined in the aforementioned executive regulations.
For further details: The executive regulations will be issued within six months, with the exception of places of worship established prior to the enactment of the law by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. Law Regulating the Establishment of Places of Worship... Prohibits Their Exploitation for Political or Non-Religious Purposes
The Official Gazette “Kuwait Al-Yaum” issued Legislative Decree No. 72 of 2026 promulgating the Law Regulating the Establishment and Management of Places of Worship, consisting of five chapters and 30 articles, with the executive regulations to be issued within six months.
The legislative decree aims to establish a clear legal framework for regulating the establishment and management of places of worship to practice freedom of belief—a constitutional right—in a safe and fair manner, to prevent arbitrary distribution, and to prevent certain groups from monopolizing religious discourse. The text of the legislative decree’s articles follows.
It also aims to regulate the establishment and management of places of worship transparently, with the goal of enhancing freedom of religious practice and equality among citizens in this regard, and to prevent the exploitation of places of worship for political or non-religious purposes.
The following are some of the law’s articles:
**Article 1:** The provisions of the accompanying law regarding the regulation of the establishment and management of places of worship shall apply, except for places of worship established or managed by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
**Article 2:** The executive regulations of the accompanying law shall be issued by a Cabinet decision based on a proposal from the competent Minister within six months from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. Until these regulations are issued, the existing legislation shall continue to apply insofar as it does not conflict with the provisions of the accompanying law.
**Article 3:** Those in charge of places of worship existing at the time this legislative decree enters into force must regularize their status in accordance with the provisions of the accompanying law and its executive regulations within six months from the date of entry into force of these regulations.
The competent Ministry shall close and liquidate the funds of places of worship that violate the preceding paragraph and return the funds to their owners, unless this is impossible, or manage them or entrust their management to whomever it sees fit, according to the rules and procedures specified in the aforementioned executive regulations.
**Article 4:** Any provision conflicting with the provisions of the accompanying law is repealed.
**Article 5:** The Ministers shall implement this legislative decree within their respective jurisdictions, and it shall enter into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
**Chapter One: General Provisions**
**Article (2):** This law aims to regulate the establishment and management of places of worship transparently, with the goal of enhancing freedom of religious practice and equality among citizens in this regard, and to prevent the exploitation of places of worship for political or non-religious purposes.
**Chapter Two: The Ministry**
**Article (3):** A committee named the “Places of Worship Committee” shall be established within the Ministry, chaired by the Deputy Minister concerned, and comprising the following members:
* A representative from the Ministry of Justice.
* A representative from the Ministry of Interior.
* A representative from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
* A representative from the Kuwait Municipality.
* The head of the competent unit within the Ministry.
* Three individuals with expertise and specialization.
The committee may invite any Ministry employees or other competent and experienced individuals to attend its meetings to participate in discussions, without having the right to vote. The competent Minister shall issue a decision establishing the committee, its system, and its working procedures, as well as the majority required for its valid convening and issuing decisions, and the allowances for participants in its work.
**Article (4):** The committee is tasked with providing opinions on the following:
1. Criteria and conditions for establishing and managing places of worship, after coordination with relevant public entities.
2. Determining the locations of places of worship in the State, after coordination with relevant public entities, provided that the number of places of worship for each religion or sect corresponds to the number and density of resident populations.
3. Determining the records kept by places of worship.
4. The report prepared by the competent unit regarding applications for licenses to establish and manage places of worship.
5. The report prepared by the competent unit regarding applications for renewing licenses to manage places of worship.
6. Fees for issuing, granting, and renewing licenses and permits.
7. Matters referred to it by the competent Minister.
The committee shall submit its recommendations to the competent Minister for consideration and approval.
**Article (5):** The competent unit within the Ministry shall work to implement the provisions of this law, its regulations, and implementing decisions, specifically:
1. Proposing criteria and conditions for establishing and managing places of worship.
2. Proposing locations for places of worship in the State.
3. Proposing the records to be kept by places of worship.
4. Studying license and permit applications to ensure compliance with prescribed conditions and procedures, prior to presenting them to the committee.
5. Studying license renewal applications to ensure compliance with prescribed conditions and procedures, prior to presenting them to the committee.
6. Proposing fees for issuing, granting, and renewing licenses and permits.
7. Monitoring, supervising, and inspecting places of worship to ensure compliance with the provisions of this law, its regulations, implementing decisions, and issued licenses.
8. Closing a place of worship found to have violated duties, prohibitions, and conditions stipulated in this law, if it poses a permanent threat to public order, public health, or public morals, until the causes of the violation are removed, and upon the Minister’s approval.
9. Other competencies stipulated by this law and its executive regulations.
**Article (6):** The competent unit within the Ministry shall prepare forms and maintain the necessary records and registers to carry out its duties.
**Article (7):** The Minister concerned shall determine by decision the employees who hold the status of judicial police officers to monitor the implementation of this law, its regulations, and implementing decisions. These employees shall have the right to enter relevant premises, conduct inspections, and review documents and records without interfering with the worship activities of the place of worship, to document facts violating this law, its regulations, and implementing decisions, prepare violation reports, and refer them to the Public Prosecution for appropriate action.
**Article (8):** All public entities in the State are obligated to provide the competent unit with any data, reports, statistics, or information it requests regarding their work.
**Article (9):** The committee and the competent unit within the Ministry may use electronic means to perform their duties according to the rules specified in the executive regulations.
**Chapter Three: Places of Worship**
**Article (11):** It is prohibited to establish, expand, enlarge, reinforce, repair, manage, or demolish places of worship without obtaining prior approval from the competent Minister or his delegate, based on a recommendation from the committee, in accordance with the provisions of this law and its executive regulations. Granting approval under this law shall not affect any other conditions, licenses, permits, or obligations stipulated by any other law. The executive regulations shall specify the conditions and procedures for obtaining and renewing approval.
**Article (12):** A place of worship acquires legal personality from the date its license is issued. The executive regulations shall specify the effects thereof and the limits of liability for the legal representative of the place of worship.
**Article (13):** Each place of worship must have a bank account with a local bank subject to the supervision of the Central Bank of Kuwait, into which all its financial resources shall be deposited. This account shall be subject to the supervision of the competent unit within the Ministry, and no financial transactions with the place of worship shall be conducted except through this account only. The executive regulations shall specify the rules for opening, withdrawing from, and supervising the account.
**Article (14):** The legal representative of the place of worship must keep records, registers, data, programs, and electronic systems related to all its activities at its administrative headquarters for a period of no less than ten years. None of them may be destroyed without the approval of the competent unit, according to the procedures specified in the executive regulations.
**Article (15):** The legal representative of the place of worship must comply with the following:
1. Spending its funds on activities that achieve the purposes for which it was established.
2. Using the place of worship for the purposes specified in the license.
3. Providing the competent unit within the Ministry with all data and information it requests regarding the affairs of the place of worship.
4. Allowing employees of the competent unit within the Ministry to enter the place of worship’s premises, and to review and audit its documents, records, and registers.
5. Submitting its annual budget and financial statements to the competent unit within the Ministry within a period not exceeding three months from the end of the financial year.
6. The effective legislation in the State.
7. Obligations specified by the executive regulations.
8. Obligations stipulated in the license.
**Chapter Four: Licenses and Permits**
**Article (17):** Applications for licenses and permits stipulated in this law must be studied and decided upon within a period not exceeding sixty working days from the date of completing all data, documents, approvals, conditions, and procedures, and paying the prescribed fee; otherwise, the application shall be deemed rejected. The executive regulations shall specify the procedures for submitting and responding to this application. The expiration of the aforementioned period without a response from the unit shall be considered a rejection of the application. In case of license rejection, a new license application may not be resubmitted as prescribed in the first paragraph until six months have passed from the date of rejection.
**Article (19):** Licensees and permit holders under this law must comply with the provisions of the license or permit issued to them.
**Article (20):** The Minister may, based on a recommendation from the committee, suspend licenses or permits granted under this law for a specific period not exceeding ninety days, or cancel them, in the following circumstances:
a. If necessity or security reasons require it, based on a reasoned decision from one of the security authorities.
b. If the licensee or permit holder loses any of the conditions for the license or permit.
c. If any provision of this law, its regulations, or implementing decisions is violated, and the licensee or permit holder refuses to remove the violation within the period specified by the competent unit.
d. If the licensee or permit holder violates any provision of the license or permit issued to him, and refuses to remove the violation within the period specified by the competent unit.
The executive regulations shall specify the procedures for suspending and canceling licenses and permits, and the effects of suspension and cancellation, without prejudice to the Ministry’s right, in case of license cancellation, to close the place of worship, liquidate its funds, and return them to their owners unless this is impossible, or to manage them itself or entrust their management to others.
**Article (21):** The license or permit shall terminate in the following cases:
1. Expiration of its term.
2. Disappearance of the purpose for which it was issued.
3. Cancellation of the license or permit.
**Article (22):** The licensee or legal representative is prohibited from doing the following:
1. Transferring the license to others, or modifying the specifications of the licensed place of worship, in any manner, before obtaining prior written approval from the Minister based on a recommendation from the committee, according to the rules specified in the executive regulations.
2. Hosting persons from outside the State of Kuwait in the place of worship before obtaining a permit from the competent unit within the Ministry, according to the rules specified in the executive regulations.
3. Using the place of worship’s premises or part thereof for purposes other than the licensed activity.
4. Residing in the place of worship’s premises or allowing any employees to reside or stay there, before obtaining a permit from the competent unit within the Ministry.
**Chapter Five: Penalties**
**Article (23):** The Public Prosecution alone, and no other authority, shall have the competence to investigate, prosecute, and bring charges for all violations stipulated in this law.
**Article (24):** Without prejudice to any harsher penalty stipulated in any other law, the violations stipulated in the following articles shall be punished with the penalties prescribed therein.
**Penalties**
**Article (25):** Whoever, without obtaining a license from the Ministry, establishes or manages a place of worship, or modifies the specifications of the licensed place of worship in any manner, shall be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years and a fine not less than 5,000 (five thousand) dinars and not exceeding 10,000 (ten thousand) dinars, or with one of these two penalties.
Whoever continues to manage a place of worship in violation of the provisions of Article 3 of the articles of this law’s issuance shall be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years and a fine not less than 5,000 (five thousand) dinars and not exceeding 10,000 (ten thousand) dinars, or with one of these two penalties.
**Article (26):** Whoever violates the provisions of Article (16), items numbers (1, 2, 3, 7, 8), or intentionally discloses, publishes, or broadcasts any information obtained by virtue of their position or because of it in the field of places of worship in violation of Article 10 of this law, or transfers the license issued to them under this law to others without obtaining written approval from the Ministry, or violates the provisions of Articles (13, 14), shall be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years and a fine not exceeding 10,000 (ten thousand) dinars, or with one of these two penalties. This is in addition to the ruling to cancel the license regarding item (3) of this article.
**Article (27):** Whoever violates the provisions of Article (1/15), items numbers (1, 2, 3, 4); or Article (16), items numbers (4, 5, 9); or Article (22), items numbers (2, 3, 4), shall be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and a fine not exceeding 5,000 (five thousand) dinars, or with one of these two penalties.
**Article (28):** The person responsible for the actual management of a legal entity shall be subject to the same penalties prescribed for acts committed in violation of this law if their knowledge of such acts is established, or if their failure to fulfill the duties imposed by that management contributed to the commission of the crime. The legal entity shall be jointly liable for the payment of fines and compensation imposed.
**Article (29):** The penalties stipulated in this law shall be doubled in case of recidivism.
