Kuwait to replace 591 street names with numbers under new naming policy

Dubai: Kuwait has approved the replacement of hundreds of street names with numerical identifiers, phasing out personal names from most roads and squares across the country.

The decision aims to implement a uniform and depersonalised system for naming public areas.

The initiative was formally endorsed by Kuwait’s Committee for Studying Proposals and Requests for Naming Cities, Suburbs, Districts, Streets, and Public Squares during a meeting held on June 23. The meeting was chaired by Acting Director-General of the Municipality, Engineer Manal Al Asfour.

According to local media reports, the committee approved the renaming of 591 streets to numerical labels. An additional three streets will be named after Arab capitals or cities, in accordance with the latest Cabinet directives.

The effort stems from a May 20, 2025, Cabinet decision that mandates the use of numbers instead of personal names on streets and public locations.

While the Cabinet guidelines allow for some flexibility, including naming public spaces after historical figures, Kuwaiti ruling family members, or leaders of allied nations, such cases will now be subject to stricter scrutiny and will generally require reciprocity from the countries involved.

Naming public areas after individuals will be significantly limited going forward. Instead, a default numbering system will be applied to new and existing roads, with exceptions granted only for cases deemed diplomatically or historically significant. Existing names that do not reference individuals are expected to be retained.

The Cabinet has formally approved the proposed naming framework and has directed the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs to present the amendments to the Municipal Council for final adoption.