EPA detects 7 violations in Wafra and Arifjan deserts

18/01/2026

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 18: The Environment Public Authority (EPA), in coordination with the Ministry of Interior and Kuwait Municipality, detected seven environmental violations in Wafra and Arifjan deserts in the south of Kuwait during an inspection campaign of campsites at these locations. Sheikha Al-Ibrahim, Director of Public Relations and Media at EPA, explained that the campaign was a joint effort to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and adherence to the Environmental Law.

Camps found violating the law were issued fines and removed. Violations of Articles 33, 40, and 41 of the Environmental Protection Law were recorded at 11 campsites, which are related to waste disposal, the use of construction materials harmful to the desert environment, and general non-compliance with environmental regulations.

Article 33 prohibits dumping garbage or waste of any kind outside designated containers, with penalties ranging from a minimum fine of KD 50 to a maximum of KD 500. Article 40 of the law prohibits anyone visiting desert areas, whether to set up camps or for other purposes, from engaging in activities that could damage the soil, alter its natural properties, or pollute it in a way that affects its productivity.

The executive regulations of the law specify the standards and requirements that must be followed. Violating Article 40 carries a fine ranging from KD 250 to KD 5,000, and the violator is required to remove the effects of the violation within the timeframe set by EPA. If the violator fails to do so, EPA will restore the area at the violator’s expense. Article 41 prohibits grazing, irrigated agriculture, or any activity that could harm the quantity or quality of vegetation cover in the area, and lead to desertification or degradation of the terrestrial environment.

Article 41 also prohibits the destruction of crops, plants, and trees, the picking of flowers in public squares, streets, and facilities, and the uprooting of trees and wild plants on public lands. Exceptions are allowed, as outlined in the executive regulations of the law, for development purposes, and compensation must be provided for any uprooted green spaces or trees. The penalty for violating Article 41 ranges from KD 250 to KD 5,000. Al-Ibrahim affirmed the importance of adhering to the Environmental Protection Law and its executive regulations to preserve the environment, ensure its sustainability, and prevent violations. She urged citizens and residents to avoid camping in undesignated areas, obtain the necessary permits, and protect the desert environment in accordance with the Environmental Protection Law and its implementing regulations.