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The Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued Ministerial Resolution No. 10 of 2026 after monitoring revealed monopolistic practices by certain food delivery platforms. Minister Khalifa Al-Ajil signed the decision, which followed consultations with platform operators, restaurants and delivery companies. The resolution seeks to create a fair competitive environment in a sector that has expanded rapidly in recent years, according to the ministry’s announcement.
Delivery platforms must fix fees and commissions for a three-year period under the terms of the resolution. Operators are required to submit their pricing schedules to the ministry within one month. Companies must also amend their licensed activities to reflect management of delivery services through electronic platforms in line with international standards.
The resolution prohibits unapproved fees, side agreements and any discriminatory technical practices that could distort competition. All such arrangements must be eliminated to ensure transparent dealings between platforms, restaurants and consumers. The ministry described these measures as essential to stabilising the digital food delivery market.
Enforcement actions under the resolution range from initial warnings to potential suspension or revocation of operating licences. The ministry stated that the decision provides the legal basis for all regulation of restaurant and ready-made food deliveries via electronic platforms. Officials indicated that platforms would need to update their operations promptly to achieve full compliance.
A P&S Market Research report projected the GCC online food delivery market to expand from USD 19.2 billion in 2025 to USD 30.2 billion by 2032 at a compound annual growth rate of 6.7 percent. Kuwait’s regulatory intervention addresses platform dominance that emerged during this growth phase across the region. The Kuwaiti framework is the first comprehensive binding regime introduced in any GCC state.
The resolution builds on the ministry’s analysis of market developments in the restaurant and ready-made food delivery sector. It requires uniform application across all licensed operators to prevent uneven competitive conditions. Compliance monitoring will continue as the three-year fee stabilisation period begins.
