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The proposed legislation focuses on creating a centralized oversight body and tightening controls across the charitable sector to safeguard donor information and block potential channels for money laundering or terrorist financing. It would set up the National Center for Charitable and Humanitarian Work to supervise operations along with a new Kuwaiti Fund for Humanitarian Work. No individual or organization could conduct any charitable activity or collect donations without first securing a license and completing registration, according to the draft examined by Times Kuwait. Existing charities would need to align their structures and internal rules with the updated requirements within three months of the executive regulations being issued.
Financial accountability receives particular attention throughout the 96 articles that span seven chapters. Charities must keep comprehensive records on all fundraising campaigns and donor details for a full decade. They would also need to report the outcomes of each drive to the National Center within 15 days of its conclusion, backed by certification from an accredited auditor except for certain small-scale exceptions. These steps build on regulatory adjustments introduced by the Ministry of Social Affairs in 2025 that included temporary suspensions of unauthorized donation collections to reorganize procedures.
Violators face significant penalties under the proposed framework. Misappropriating money raised during a campaign could result in up to seven years in prison. The maximum penalty would increase to 10 years for actions involving unlicensed campaigns, impersonating a registered charity or employing the name of a previously recognized organization that has lost its status. The draft law stresses data protection for both donors and beneficiaries as part of its core objectives.
The overhaul continues a series of measures taken over the past year to improve governance in the sector. The Ministry of Social Affairs has dissolved around 42 associations, nearly 20 percent of the roughly 210 registered groups, citing inactivity or failure to deliver on stated goals, Al Jarida reported earlier this month. Additional decisions targeting seven more associations and six foundations were in preparation as of early September, reflecting sustained efforts to ensure only effective entities remain operational.
Reforms align with Kuwait’s commitments to international standards on financial transparency. Earlier actions included new bylaws for charitable foundations that require prior ministry approval for all donation drives and mandate annual audited reports, as detailed in Times Kuwait coverage from June 2025. The ministry also expanded financial disclosure obligations for charity board members to the Public Authority for Combating Corruption through amendments issued that same year.
Minister of Social Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah addressed the draft law in a statement marking the International Day of Charity on September 5. She described charitable work as a national legacy that has evolved into an institutional system supporting human dignity locally and abroad. Al-Huwailah added that updated regulations and enhanced oversight mechanisms help protect the integrity of giving and ensure assistance reaches intended recipients.
