Kuwait issues stricter rules for gyms and salons, with focus on child safety

Dubai: Kuwait’s Ministry of Health has issued sweeping new regulations for gyms, health institutes and beauty salons, mandating stricter safety standards and banning a range of common practices — particularly for children.

Among the most immediate changes: salons must display licenced price lists inside their premises, require staff to wear visible ID badges and ensure employees hold health fitness certificates proving they are free of contagious diseases.

Certificates, managed through the government’s Sahel app, must be obtained before new hires can begin work. The rules, endorsed by Health Minister Dr. Ahmad Al Awadhi and coordinated with the Ministry of Commerce, also prohibit the use of homemade herbal treatments.

Salons may only apply ministry-approved products with clear expiry dates, and every opened item must carry a label noting when it was first used. Hair dyes, henna and other cosmetic products must be licenced and traceable to suppliers.

Tattooing, permanent make-up, cupping and ear-piercing devices are barred without special permits.

Children’s facilities face some of the toughest restrictions. Gyms and health centres must require parental consent, certified trainers and valid health certificates from government clinics.

Bodybuilding machines are banned, as are protein supplements unless prescribed by a specialist. Pools must have both a coach and a lifeguard on duty.

In children’s salons, only mild, fragrance-free products are allowed; hair dye, spray tans and intensive skin treatments are banned. Products with parabens or phthalates are prohibited. A parent or guardian must be present.

The measures reflect growing concern about cosmetic and fitness trends among children, some of whom are already undergoing treatments once reserved for adults.

Health experts warn that children’s skin is thinner and more absorbent than adults’, making them more vulnerable to irritation, allergens and even hormone disruption from prolonged exposure to certain chemicals.