Aided by elevated oil revenue and the resumption of economic activity after the Covid-19 pandemic, Kuwait was able to narrow its budget deficit for FY 2021/22 year and record GDP growth in excess of 8% in 2022. With a newly elected Parliament in place and a new Cabinet appointed, there is renewed hope that the country will undertake the reforms needed for long-term economic growth and diversificat
The New Kuwait 2035 vision aims to deploy the nation’s oil wealth to diversify the economy. The private sector is vital to this, with partnerships and privatisation, improvements to the business environment, and efforts to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and harness knowledge from abroad all being key moves. Kuwait seeks to attract $200bn in FDI during 2020-35 to become a global centre f
After years of abundant public spending, GCC economies experienced a direct hit on their fiscal balances caused by the 2014 fall in oil prices. As such, Kuwait is following the regional trend of pursuing economic and fiscal reform programmes. Multiple government-led initiatives seek to support economic diversification, strengthen the private sector’s contribution to the economy and help keep…
Interview:Alok Chugh What steps is Kuwait taking to engage in new international tax regulations and practices? ALOK CHUGH: Tax authorities from various jurisdictions have introduced regulations for customer tax transparency and to curb tax avoidance, such as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and the Common Reporting Standard (CRS). FATCA promotes tax compliance by implementing…
After years of abundant public spending, GCC economies experienced a direct hit on their fiscal balances caused by the 2014 fall in oil prices. As such, Kuwait is following the regional trend of pursuing economic and fiscal reform programmes. Multiple government-led initiatives seek to support economic diversification, strengthen the private sector’s contribution to the economy and help keep the…
With 6% of the world’s proven oil reserves and 1% of its natural gas, hydrocarbons continue to form the backbone of Kuwait’s economy. Given that the energy sector accounts for 90% of exports and government revenues, state coffers have been under strain as a result of the 2014 fall in oil prices. However, the resurgence in global commodity markets bodes well for the future and has led to a to a
The question on the mind of many observers is what is next for tax in Kuwait and how will international tax regulations and practices impact business in Kuwait? As an expected outcome of the current economic changes, the geopolitical situation, the Arab Spring and the dramatic drop of oil prices, the GCC region has introduced new reforms. The proposed value-added tax (VAT) may compensate or…
With oil making up approximately 60% of the country’s GDP, Kuwait, like its Gulf neighbours, has had to adjust to the new economic realities caused by lower oil prices. However, strong financial buffers have ensured that the country has been able to weather the storm, while a renewed appetite for investment reform bodes well for private sector players. In its long-term policy document, New Kuwai
This chapter contains an overview of the tax framework under which local and foreign investors operate, including a look at the value-added tax being rolled out in Kuwait and across the GCC, a rundown of the remittance, excise and corporate taxes in place and an outline of the tax incentives and credits under the new investment law.…
The tax environment in Kuwait and in the rest of the Middle East and North Africa region is different from the rest of the world. Taxation in Kuwait consists primarily of corporate income tax, which is governed by Decree No 3 of 1955 as amended by Law No 2 of 2008. The law does not impose taxes on income earned by individuals, whether they are Kuwaiti or foreign nationals. Kuwaiti financial…