KUWAIT CITY, Aug 25: Kuwait’s Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs, Abdullatif Al-Mishari, issued Ministerial Resolution No. 490 of 2025 amending the rules for naming cities, suburbs, regions, roads, streets, and squares, the Official Gazette reported. The decision took effect upon publication.

The resolution replaces Articles 4 and 5 of Ministerial Resolution No. 507 of 2023. Under the new rules, cities, suburbs, and regions may only be named after individuals who have held the positions of Emir or Crown Prince of Kuwait. Roads, streets, and squares may be named after rulers of Kuwait, kings, sultans, governors, princes, heads of sister and friendly states, historical figures, and selected sheikhs from the ruling family. Names of countries, cities, and capitals are also permitted based on the principle of reciprocity. Roads, streets, and squares not named after people will retain their existing names.

Article 5 stipulates that, except for the aforementioned categories, the naming of roads, streets, and squares will be discontinued, with a transition toward numbering these locations instead.

The resolution directs all competent authorities to implement the new rules immediately, emphasizing adherence to the updated guidelines and ensuring publication in the Official Gazette.