Kuwait mulls raising government fees on 10,000 services

Dubai: Kuwait is considering a major revision of fees across more than 10,000 government services in a move aimed at boosting fiscal sustainability and strengthening non-oil revenues.

The proposal, discussed at a high-level meeting at the National Library Theater, follows a Cabinet directive to reassess cost recovery mechanisms throughout the public sector.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the Ministry of Finance presented a detailed review estimating that the potential fee adjustments could generate KD400 million ($1.3 billion) to KD 500 million annually for the state treasury.

The proposed changes would cover a broad spectrum of services, ranging from the issuance of official certificates to the provision of public utilities.

The Ministry outlined a three-pillar framework for the reassessment: Calculating the actual cost of service delivery, setting appropriate adjustment margins based on service type and importance, and evaluating the social impact to ensure affordability and equity.

Each government entity has been instructed to conduct its own cost review and submit recommendations to the Ministry of Finance. These findings will be consolidated and presented to the Council of Ministers for final approval.

While boosting non-oil income is a core goal, officials have stressed that maintaining access to essential services and preserving social balance will guide the final decision.

-- Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE.