Kuwait has seen strong economic growth in recent years through support for the national economy and foreign investment. At the local level, a one-stop shop was established to streamline business licensing, and laws were amended to facilitate procedures. This led to increased company registrations and licenses issued between 2016-2017, especially in sectors like food, textiles, and construction. For foreign investment, the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority was created to promote opportunities. As a result, the World Bank reported Kuwait improved its business environment ranking from 102 to 96 and starting a business ranking from 173 to 149.

1. Economic Growth in the State Of Kuwait
Kuwait Business Center
2018

2. State Of Kuwait
Capital : Kuwait City
Language : Arabic
Population : 2016 estimate ; 4,1
Religion : Islam
Total Area :17,818 km2
Currency : Kuwaiti dinar (KWD)
GDP : 2018 estimate ;Total of $125.86 billion

3. Over the past few years, Kuwait has witnessed remarkable
economic growth through its support for the national
economy and foreign investment.

4. At the local level :
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has coordinated with the relevant authorities a plan for
the development of services and the development of new services that have directly affected the
improvement of the business environment inside the State of Kuwait, including:
1. Establishment of a one-stop shop (Kuwait Business Center) which receives all applications for
establishing companies within the State of Kuwait electronically and through the website of the
Kuwait Business Center ; www.kbc.gov.kw.
2. Electronic linkage with the relevant bodies to establish companies and issuing the necessary
licenses to carry out their work.
3. Legislative amendments in the Companies Law, the Licensing Law and the Kuwait National
Fund for Small and Medium Enterprise Development, which facilitates the work procedures.

5. 0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
2016 2017
Licenses for major companies
Limited liability companies Joint Stock Companies Other business en@@es

6. 0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
2016 2017
Branches licenses
Limited Liability Companies joint stock companies Other Business en@@es

7. 2017 Revenues :
• Licenses: 552.493.500 KWD
• Company’s Registration: 3.614.977.200 KWD
• Insurance Policies: 687.542.901 KWD
• Free Zone: 923.293.452 KWD
• The Insurance Companies: 1.900.633.891 KWD

8. 13%
6%
12%
6%
2%
1% 2%
2%
7% 4%
21%
0%
24%
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY LICENSES SECTOR 2016
Food sector Animal and plant products sector
Tex@les and accessories sector Furniture and electronics sector
Intertainment and media sector Security, safety and medical supplies sector
Equipment and machinery sector Construc@on materials and equipment sector
Construc@on Sector Business Services Sector
Marke@ng, Banking and Hotels Sector consolace sector
CraR services sector

9. 13%
15%
2%
2%
5%
19%
27%
7%
6%
1% 3% 0%
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY LICENSES SECTOR 2017
Food sector
Tex@les and accessories sector
Intertainment and media sector
Equipment and Machinery sector
construc@on sector
Marke@ng, Banking and Hotels sector
CraR services sector
animal and plant products sector
Furniture and electronics sector

10. 0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2016 2017
Import Licenses
individual licenses limited liabilty companies Joint stock companies

11. 0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
2016 2017
Commercial Agency
new registra@on Renew registra@on

12. At the level of support for foreign investment in the State of
Kuwait :
Kuwait direct investment promotion authority (KDIPA) established in
accordance with Law No. 116 of 2013 regarding the promotion of direct
investment in the State of Kuwait, as a specialized public authority with
financial and administrative independence.
Minister of Commerce & Industry is the Chairman of its Board of Directors.
KDIPA is one of the economic implementing arms of the country
performing developmental, promotional, regulatory, and advocacy roles.

14. As World Bank report ;
Kuwait
DB 2018:
Kuwait made starting a business easier by establishing a one-stop shop
and improving online registration.

15. The State of Kuwait achieved a remarkable improvement
in the level of government performance of the indicators
of improving the business environment at the World Bank
during the 2018 report, bringing the State of Kuwait index
by 6 points from 102 to 96

16. As for the sub-index of the Starting Business, at the
World Bank 2018 report, the State of Kuwait has
achieved a great improvement . The level of
improvement was 24 points and the status of the State
of Kuwait rises from 173 to 149

17. For further information
Local Investment :
www.kbc.gov.kw
Foreign Investment :
www.kdiba.gov.kw

18. Thank you