KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued a binding decision on Sunday regulating restaurant and ready-made food delivery services, including fees and commissions, in a first-of-its-kind step in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Ministerial Decision No. (10) of 2026 aims to ensure consumer protection, support the national commercial sector, and establish a fair and transparent competitive environment in Kuwait’s digital economy. The ministry said the decision followed extensive monitoring and analysis of the country’s rapidly growing food delivery sector, revealing monopolistic practices, discriminatory algorithms, opaque fee structures, and exclusive conditions that harmed both merchants and consumers.

The regulations are legally binding and cover operations via e-commerce platforms. They include freezing fees and commissions for three years, requiring platforms to submit fixed annual fees for 2026, adopt a single annual service schedule, prohibit side agreements, ban forced exclusivity, and ensure equal treatment for all customers. Platforms must also document all fees in clear contracts, maintain annual price lists, and guarantee service quality and safe delivery.

The ministry emphasized that restaurants and ready-made food outlets have the right to access their operational data free of charge and may contract with multiple platforms. Consumer protections include transparent pricing before order completion, standardized fees, guaranteed fulfillment, and clear complaint mechanisms with defined timeframes, covering cancellations, returns, and financial responsibilities.

All companies licensed to operate electronic food delivery platforms must amend their license activity to “Managing Delivery Services via Electronic Platforms” under internationally recognized classification No. 532013 within two months. The ministry said violations could result in warnings, closures, or license revocations, positioning Kuwait as a regional leader in regulating the digital economy and ensuring market stability.