KUWAIT CITY, Dec 24: The Kuwaiti Cabinet has approved a draft decree-law imposing a 15% tax on multinational entities operating across multiple jurisdictions, aligning with global tax regulations. This law, aimed at curbing tax evasion and ensuring tax revenue retention, will take effect in Kuwait on January 1, 2025.

During its weekly meeting at Bayan Palace, chaired by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Abdullah, the Cabinet also emphasized the importance of expediting infrastructure projects. It instructed the Ministry of Public Works, in coordination with the Public Institution for Housing Care, to fast-track contracts for sewage treatment plants serving new and planned residential areas, ensuring timely project completion.

In other matters, the Cabinet approved the minutes of the Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Nationality. This included decisions to revoke Kuwaiti citizenship from individuals who had obtained it through fraud or forgery, as per the provisions of Decree Law No. 15 of 1959 and its amendments. Several other topics were discussed, with some referred to relevant ministerial committees for further study and action.

His Highness the Prime Minister pointed to a defense memorandum of understanding signed between the Kuwait and Indian governments, in addition to a sports executive program for 2025-2028 and other deals on enhancing cooperation between the two sides. His Highness the Prime Minister also told the ministers that Kuwait and India agreed, during a joint statement, on upgrading their ties to the strategic partnership based on deep-seated and cordial relations. Furthermore, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah detailed the ministers about the results of his official visit to Saudi Arabia on Sunday and Monday, and official talks with Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz. He said they discussed some security topics of mutual concern and reviewed security ties between the two countries, and means of boosting them. He further stated that they focused on a mechanism of coordinating joint efforts to face international and regional challenges in a manner that achieves security and stability in the two states. Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef affirmed the deep-seated relations between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, and the keenness of their leaders and governments on bolstering security integration and continuing joint coordination in all issues of mutual interest, Al-Mousherji noted.

The First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah briefed the cabinet on the results of his official visit to Iraq’s Basra Governorate last Wednesday. Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef inaugurated the Surgical Hospital in Basra, which was granted by the Kuwaiti government, stressing that the opening of the hospital reflects the depth of fraternal ties between the two countries and embodies the State of Kuwait’s firm belief in the importance of cooperation and joint work with the Republic of Iraq. In light of the Council of Ministers’ interest in implementing infrastructure projects for housing cities, reducing the waiting period and accelerating the distribution of housing units to those entitled to housing care, the Cabinet decided to assign the Ministry of Public Works, in coordination with the Public Institution for Housing Care, and the entities it deems appropriate, to quickly conclude contracts to implement permanent sewage treatment plant projects for cities, areas and residential suburbs that are currently being built or planned, in a manner that ensures the delivery of these projects on time.

On another front, the ministers reviewed the visual presentation submitted by Minister of State for Communications Affairs Omar Saud Al-Omar regarding the executive position of the framework agreement between the State of Kuwait and Google Cloud Company, and listened in this regard to an explanation provided by the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee for the Implementation of the Agreement, Sheikh Abdullah Sabah Al-Sabah, and a member of the committee, Mohammad Al- Rashed, about the projects that have been started in this regard, in addition to some of the challenges facing the implementation of the agreement. The Council of Ministers decided to assign ministers and government agencies to cooperate with the Supervisory Committee to implement the agreement and overcome all obstacles facing it, provided that the committee provides the Cabinet with a report every three months that includes the latest developments regarding the implementation of the agreement. Meanwhile, the ministers reviewed a number of topics on the agenda and decided to approve them, and decided to refer a number of them to the relevant ministerial committees for further scrutiny. The Cabinet approved the minutes of the Supreme Committee for the Investigation of Kuwaiti Nationality, which includes cases of loss and withdrawal of Kuwaiti nationality from some persons who obtained it through fraud and forgery, in accordance with the provisions of Decree Law No. (15) of 1959 regarding Kuwaiti nationality and its amendments.