The company registration and establishment service in Kuwait is available through the Business Center or through the Department of Partnerships at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Citizens and foreigners can complete the registration procedures after fulfilling all conditions and requirements, submitting the required documents, and obtaining the necessary licenses.
How to Register a Company in Kuwait via Department of Partnerships
To register a company in Kuwait via department of partnerships, Just follow these easy steps:
Step 1: Visit the Department of Partnerships of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Step 2: Submit the required documents.
Step 3: The applicant then submits his application to the Department at the Ministries Complex with the required document attached.
Step 4: Choosing the trade name of the company.
Step 5: The related entities and the Kuwait Municipality will be addressed to check the location.
Step 6: The Ministry of Interior will be addressed to issue the certificate of police record for the partners.
Step 7: Any other entities that are required for approval will be addressed before issuing the license.
Step 8: After taking the required approvals, the bank will be addressed to reserve the capital of the limited liability company.
Step 9: The Ministry of justice to register the company.
Step 10: After registering the contract and submitting it to the Ministry, the license is issued.
Step 11: Fees of 30 dinars must be paid.
Requirements to Register a Company in Kuwait
The following table shows the requirements to register a company in Kuwait:
Category
Requirements
Establishing a new company via department of partnerships
It must be between two persons or more.
Partners must have clear criminal records and must not have any convictions.
The share of the non-Kuwaiti partner must not exceed 49%.
The foreign partner must have a valid residency visa.
The managing partner must not be a government employee.
Each partner must submit a proof that he paid his share in the capital.
A limited liability company may not be established between a husband and a wife, unless there is a third partner.
The manager must be Kuwaiti or from GCC countries.
Establishing a one-person company
The applicant must be a person who holds the capacity of owner or manager of the company.
The owner of the company must be only one person – a natural person or a legal person.
The manager must be 21 years of age or older and not work in the government sector.
The Gulf citizen is treated as a Kuwaiti citizen.
The company’s activity must be among the activities permitted to be practiced within the State of Kuwait.
The criminal record of the company’s owner and manager must be free of criminal convictions (commercial cases) stipulated in accordance with the laws of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Establishing a Limited Liability Company
The applicant must be a person who holds the title of owner or manager of the company.
The number of partners must not be less than 2 and the percentage of Kuwaiti ownership must be more than 51%.
The manager must be 21 years of age or older and not work in the government sector.
The Gulf citizen is treated as a Kuwaiti citizen.
The company’s activity must be among the activities permitted to be practiced within the State of Kuwait.
The criminal record of the company’s owner and manager must be free of criminal convictions (commercial cases) stipulated in accordance with the laws of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Establishing a joint-stock company
The applicant must be a person who holds the capacity of the owner of the company, its manager or his representative.
The number of partners must not be less than 2 and the percentage of Kuwaiti ownership must be more than 51%.
The manager must be 21 years of age or older and not work in the government sector.
The Gulf citizen is treated as a Kuwaiti citizen.
The company must have a commercial address.
The company’s activity must be among the activities permitted to be practiced within the State of Kuwait.
The criminal record of the company’s owner and manager must be free of criminal judgments (commercial cases) stipulated in accordance with the laws of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Establishing a sports club company
The applicant must be a person holding the position of the company manager or his representative.
The company owner must be a sports club.
The manager must be 21 years of age or older and not work in the government sector.
The trade name of the company must be the name of the sports club.
The company’s activity must be one activity, either advertising and marketing sports clubs (single person) or playing football (limited liability).
The criminal record of the company’s managers must be free of criminal convictions (commercial cases) stipulated in accordance with the laws of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Establishing a professional company – Accounting
The applicant must be a person who holds the capacity of owner or manager of the company.
The number of partners must not be less than 2 and the percentage of Kuwaiti ownership must be more than 51%.
The manager must be 21 years of age or older and not work in the government sector.
The company must be owned by accountants registered in the accountants’ registry.
Getting the automatic approval of the Kuwait Accountants Association.
The company’s activities must be limited to professional activities only.
The criminal record of the company’s owner and manager must be free of criminal convictions (commercial cases) stipulated in accordance with the laws of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The company’s entity must be one of the following forms: (liability company – closed joint stock company – simple limited partnership – limited liability company).
Documents needed to Register a Company in Kuwait
The following table shows the documents needed to register a company in Kuwait:
Category
Documents needed
Establishing a new company via department of partnerships
Copies of civil IDs of the partners and the manager
Capital certificate for joint ventures and limited partnerships; the capital of the limited liability company is reserved during the establishment period.
Certificate from the Public Institution for Social Security for the manager
Lease contract and receipt
Certificate of the address automatic number from the Public Authority of Civil Information
Certificate of sponsor’s approval for the foreigner to enter in partnership with others approved by the Kuwait chamber of commerce and industry
Signature authorization of the sponsor.
Work permit for the foreign partner.
Transferring the manager residence to the company.
Establishing a one-person company
If the director works as a faculty member in the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training for the consulting activity, he shall attach an official approval from the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training for him to assume the management clause in the application submitted to establish the company.
If the director works for a company with the same activity, he shall attach a general assembly report approving his assumption of the management clause for another company with the same activity.
Establishing a Limited Liability Company
If the director works as a faculty member in the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training for the consulting activity, he shall attach an official approval from the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training to assume the management clause in the application submitted to establish the company.
If the director assumes the management of more than one company with the same objectives, he shall attach the minutes of the general assembly of the company he manages with the approval of all partners to assume the management clause in the application submitted to establish the new company.
If the partner is a foreigner, he shall attach a criminal record certified and approved by the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in the foreign partner’s home country and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the State of Kuwait.
Establishing a joint-stock company
If the director works as a faculty member in the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training for the consulting activity, he shall attach an official approval from the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training to assume the management clause in the application submitted to establish the company.
If the director assumes the management of more than one company with the same objectives, he shall attach the minutes of the general assembly of the company he manages with the approval of all partners to assume the management clause in the application submitted to establish the new company.
If the partner is a foreigner, he shall attach a criminal record certified and approved by the Embassy of the State of Kuwait in the foreign partner’s home country and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the State of Kuwait.
Establishing a sports club company
A certificate from the General Sports Authority to whom it may concern, as the legal representative of the sports club.
Establishing a professional company – Accounting
Certificate of registration in the register of accountants.
If the director works within the teaching staff of the Public Authority for Applied Education for the consulting activity, he shall attach an official approval from the Public Authority for Applied Education for him to assume the management item in the application submitted to establish the company.
If the director works for a company with the same activity, he shall attach a general assembly report approving his assumption of the management item for another company with the same activity.
Fees to Register a Company in Kuwait
The following table shows the fees to register a company in Kuwait:
Category
Fees
Establishing a new company via department of partnerships
30 KWD
Establishing a new company via department of partnerships
Free
Establishing a one-person company
Free
Establishing a Limited Liability Company
Free
Establishing a joint-stock company
Free
Establishing a sports club company
Free
Establishing a professional company (accounting)
Free
Link to Register a Company in Kuwait via Kuwait Business Center
You can go to the Incorporation of Companies – Kuwait Business Center service via the link moci.gov.kw directly to view the available company categories and then start applying.
Conclusion
The company registration service in Kuwait is available through the Business Center or through the Department of Partnerships at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Applications can be submitted electronically through the Ministry’s website after preparing all documents and fulfilling the conditions.
Questions & Answers
Can a Gulf citizen register a company in Kuwait?
Yes, a Gulf citizen can register a company in Kuwait, and he is treated as a citizen who holds Kuwaiti citizenship.
Can a foreigner register a company in Kuwait?
Yes, a foreigner can register a company in Kuwait after obtaining residency and fulfilling all the conditions and requirements.
How much are the company registration fees in Kuwait?
The company registration fees in Kuwait vary according to the required licenses, the type of company, and other details.
Where are companies registered in Kuwait?
Companies in Kuwait are registered at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as the authority responsible for this sector.
Is the company registration service available online in Kuwait?
Yes, the company registration service in Kuwait is available online through the electronic portal designated for this purpose on the website of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
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