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Decree-Law No. 89 of 2026, published in issue No. 1808 of the official gazette Kuwait Al Youm, took effect immediately upon its release and establishes a 44-article framework governing the registration, manufacture, import, sale and operation of unmanned aircraft as well as light sport aircraft and related air sports, according to the legislation. The law requires all such aircraft to be registered with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, to carry identification markings and to meet airworthiness standards before any use is permitted. Operators must also secure prior approval from the Ministry of Interior alongside a license from the civil aviation authority, while importing, manufacturing or programming drones and their components demands explicit authorisation from both bodies.
Certain violations fall into a serious category that includes unlicensed commercial operations, manufacturing or importing aircraft without permits, conducting air sports activities without approval and flying near airports or in restricted areas, the decree states. These offences carry penalties of up to three years’ imprisonment and fines ranging from KD3,000 to KD5,000 or either punishment. A second tier of breaches, such as operating without required approvals, violating pilot obligations or disregarding photography restrictions, can result in up to two years in prison and fines between KD1,000 and KD2,000 or either penalty, according to the published text.
Lesser infractions involving breaches of registration, licensing, safety, reporting or night-flight provisions may lead to imprisonment for up to six months and fines of KD300 to KD700 or either sanction, the law specifies. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, will oversee implementation, and the legislation explicitly grants security and military authorities the power to respond to any unmanned aircraft judged to pose a threat. Kuwait Times reported that the Director General of the Public Authority for Civil Aviation, Sheikh Hamoud Mubarak Al-Hamoud Al-Sabah, described the measure as an important and pioneering step toward strengthening aviation safety in the country.
The new decree arrives months after the Ministry of Commerce and Industry banned the sale and trade of drones across all shops and commercial markets in April 2026 amid security considerations, according to Arab Times. That earlier resolution, which carried penalties including shop closures, reflected ongoing concerns about unregulated unmanned aircraft that the current law now addresses through a structured licensing regime. Owners of existing drones and light aircraft receive a one-year grace period to achieve compliance with the registration and certification requirements.
Executive regulations detailing the bylaws of the decree must be issued by December 31, 2026, the legislation states. The framework also prohibits piloting or assisting in the operation of covered aircraft without a proper license and bars any use before Interior Ministry approval is obtained. Gulf News reported that the measure forms part of a broader effort to protect Kuwait’s airspace while accommodating legitimate recreational, commercial and sporting uses under regulated conditions.
