KUWAIT CITY, Aug 17: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has exempted 175 activities from the requirements for licensing commercial stores to consider them self-employment activities (microbusinesses and activities of a special nature) and to grant them licenses valid for four years. Ministerial Resolution No. 168/2024 stipulates the issuance of a self-employment license, provided the holder must not be less than 21 years old unless he is authorized to practice trade by the court.

The license holder must specify his address or a post office box or e-mail registered with the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) according to the latest update, with the approval of the property owner if the address is a private residence, and present evidence of payment of the prescribed fees. He must sign a pledge according to the form prepared for this purpose. The decision allows the addition of more than one activity; provided the added activity is one of the freelance activities specified in the decision and is similar, complementary or related to the licensed activity. The license holder must also disclose the license number in the account designated for practicing the activity on electronic and social media platforms.

All commercial transactions conducted by the company holding the license must be through electronic payment methods only. The ministry also allowed reducing the capital required to practice freelance activities licensed under this decision to half of the capital for similar activities applicable to companies.