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The official gazette Al-Kuwait Al-Youm published Decree-Law No. 102 of 2026 on October 4, 2026, establishing a single legal framework for media activities ranging from publications and broadcasting to content creation, digital advertising and artistic production. The decree assigns the competent minister to issue executive regulations within six months of publication along with any necessary implementing decisions. This step consolidates oversight of a sector transformed by technological change since the earlier laws were enacted.
Article two of the decree requires owners of existing media activities to regularize their status in line with the new provisions within six months from the issuance of the executive regulations. Failure to meet that deadline carries automatic license cancellation, according to the published text. The transition arrangement gives operators a defined window to adapt their operations to the updated requirements.
The legislation repeals Law No. 3 of 2006 on publications and publishing, Law No. 61 of 2007 on visual and audio media, and Law No. 8 of 2016 regulating electronic media. It also voids any other provision that conflicts with its terms, the gazette stated. Earlier coverage in Al-Jarida noted that the three separate statutes had grown unable to address evolving concepts, licensing needs and violations driven by digital convergence.
Al-Jarida reported that the new law introduces graduated penalties that begin with warnings and monetary fines before reaching license revocation, offering media outlets opportunity to correct violations. The statute brings social media influencers, online advertisers and artificial intelligence applications in content under regulatory oversight for the first time. It further establishes a unified electronic platform to simplify licensing, reduce processing times and link applications to relevant authorities.
Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Omar Al-Omar said in September that the legislation creates a modern unified system keeping pace with industry transformations while balancing media freedom, professional responsibility and societal protection. The framework avoids prior censorship for most activities but retains advance approval requirements for cinematic films and non-periodical printed books. Local outlets described the measure as part of wider legislative modernization aligned with digital-space governance priorities.
The decree-law contains 15 chapters and 79 articles that also address broadcasting services, re-broadcasting and related fields, according to summaries published by Al-Jarida. It specifies that a media license from the Ministry of Information does not exempt operators from other regulatory approvals required under separate commercial or activity-specific laws. The publication completes a drafting process that began with cabinet approval in early September.
