Cairo: Traffic departments in Kuwait have been instructed to stop issuing new driving licences for foreign students and nurses in line with a decree adopted last March, a local newspaper has reported.
A related ministerial decree was issued on March 18, but did not take effect at the time due to an outbreak of the new coronavirus that prompted shutdown of governmental services, a traffic official told Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jarida.
“Now that life is gradually returning to normal, the decree on non-issuance of driving licences for foreign students and nurses has been implemented,” Maj. Gen. Jamal Al Sayagh, the assistant undersecretary for traffic affairs, said.
Exempted from the ban are children, spouses, widows and divorcees of Kuwaitis as well as illegal residents who hold cards issued by the Central Agency readjusting their status, he elaborated.
Driving licences already held by foreign students and nurses will not be withdrawn, the official said. “The decree is applied only to new applications presented after the issuance of the ministerial decree,” he added.
The ban is among several steps aimed at curbing traffic congestion in Kuwait. There are 2.29 million registered cars in the Gulf country. Maj. Gen. Al Sayagh said that driving licences issued for Kuwaiti nationals stand at 648,383 against 822,694 for foreign residents.
