Kuwait's New Charitable Work Law: A Reading from the Perspective of the Global Charity Environment Index
Over the course of three reports I contributed to on the charitable work environment in the State of Kuwait, as part of the Global Philanthropy Environment Index (GPEI) published by Indiana University, the discussion of a new law regulating charitable work was present almost every time. We referred to the draft legislation and awaited its transition from debate and review into enforceable law, given its potential to represent a significant leap for a sector with a long history and a prominent local and international presence. Therefore, the issuance of Law-Decree No. 87 of 2026 concerning the regulation of charitable and humanitarian work attracted my attention, not only as a long-awaited new legislation, but also because, while reading its provisions, I found myself automatically measuring them against the questions and criteria we typically use to assess the enabling environment for charitable work in Kuwait.
Perhaps the first aspect worthy of attention in the law is the clear presence of issues related to governance, transparency, and the rights of donors and beneficiaries. I have called more than once, including in an article I published on Al Jazeera Net prior to the recent changes witnessed by the charitable sector (https://aja.ws/tqcghc), for enhanced transparency in the sector, not as a supervisory burden on institutions, but as one of the most important means of building trust between them, society, and donors. From this perspective, I believe the new law has taken important steps by regulating financial disclosure and records, overseeing fundraising campaigns, protecting the data of donors and beneficiaries, and making certain information available to the public.
Another important aspect is the move toward institutionalization and partnership with the charitable and humanitarian sector, the establishment of the National Center for Charitable and Humanitarian Work, alongside attention to governance, training, research, and capacity building within the sector. Here, good legislation should not be limited to regulating violations and penalties; it should also help institutions grow, develop, and achieve sustainability.
Based on my experience with the Global Philanthropy Environment Index, I found myself measuring the law’s provisions against the six pillars on which the index is based: ease of operating charitable organizations, tax incentives, cross-border charitable flows, the political environment, the economic environment, and the social and cultural environment. These criteria provide a comparative research framework that raises important questions worthy of study and follow-up. However, I do not treat them as an ideal or sole reference for judging legislation. While the law enhances institutionalization and transparency, for example, one must also consider the impact of certain procedures on the ease of establishing associations and registration timelines, as well as the multiplicity of approvals required for certain activities, particularly those related to cross-border donations, transfers, and partnerships. The equation always required is to achieve the highest levels of integrity, oversight, and asset protection, without allowing procedures to become obstacles to the speed and efficiency of charitable and humanitarian work.
On the other hand, the provisions of the new law have taken, albeit partially, the recommendations contained in our latest report on Kuwait within the 2025 Global Philanthropy Environment Index. Specifically, the creation of a national regulatory and supervisory center, coupled with granting associations autonomy in implementing their programs and rights to cooperate and operate outside the country, largely aligns with the call to maintain a hybrid system for charitable work that combines centralization and oversight with flexibility, creativity, and freedom in external charitable operations. Furthermore, the law refers to electronic records and data and the Center’s website, which aligns with the call to integrate technology, digitalization, and artificial intelligence into operational processes.
It is too early to issue a final verdict on the new law, as a significant part of its true impact will be determined by the executive regulations and actual practice. However, in my view, the issuance of the law itself represents an important milestone and the beginning of a new phase for Kuwaiti charitable work. It provides a real opportunity to enhance transparency, institutionalization, trust, and partnership, building upon Kuwait’s significant legacy in humanitarian work.
I eagerly look forward to placing this law and its implementation experience before the Global Philanthropy Environment Index criteria in our upcoming report, God willing, and perhaps in a new study that complements what we previously published at Kuwait University on “Freedom of Kuwaiti Charitable Work from the Perspective of Charitable Association Leaders.” This will allow us to rigorously compare, through research, what we recorded in previous reports and studies with the impact the new legislation will have on the ground.
Laws are not measured solely by the quality of their texts, but by the extent to which they create an environment of greater trust, transparency, and empowerment for charitable and humanitarian work to serve humanity. It is hoped that the new law will contribute to the development of the sector, preserve Kuwait’s status and legacy, and enhance the continuity of the Kuwaiti model in charitable and humanitarian work.
