Kuwait E-Commerce Compliance Checklist

The 18 Compliance Requirements

Decree 10/2026 establishes 18 distinct requirements that every online seller in Kuwait must satisfy. Below is a detailed explanation of each item, why it matters, and practical steps you can take to achieve compliance.

1. MOCI Registration

You must register your online selling activity with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This is the foundational requirement — without it, you are operating illegally. Registration involves submitting your commercial license details, your selling channel URLs, and your business contact information through the MOCI digital portal. Solo traders can use a simplified registration path. Once approved, your MOCI registration number must be displayed on your storefront.

2. Arabic Business Name Displayed

Your official business name must appear in Arabic on every selling channel you operate. This includes your website header, Instagram bio, marketplace profile, and any other public-facing touchpoint. If your business name is originally in English, you must provide an official Arabic translation or transliteration. This requirement ensures that all consumers in Kuwait can identify who they are buying from.

3. Arabic Product Descriptions

Every product or service listing must include a description in Arabic. This goes beyond simple translation — the description must be substantive enough for a customer to understand what they are purchasing, including key specifications, materials, dimensions, and any relevant warnings. You may also include English descriptions, but the Arabic version must always be present.

4. 14-Day Return Policy Published

You must publish a return policy that grants customers a minimum of 14 calendar days to return most products after delivery. The policy must be easy to find on your storefront — ideally linked from the navigation menu, product pages, and checkout page. The policy should clearly state which products are eligible for return, any conditions (such as unused or in original packaging), and the refund timeline.

5. Return Process Documented

Beyond having a return policy, you must document the specific steps a customer must follow to initiate and complete a return. This means providing clear instructions: how to contact you, how to package the item, where to ship it (or how to arrange pickup), and when to expect the refund. The process must be published on your storefront, not just provided on request.

6. Licensed Payment Processor

All electronic payments must be processed through a payment gateway that is licensed by the Central Bank of Kuwait. The most commonly used licensed processors in Kuwait include KNET, MyFatoorah, Tap, and Hesabe. If you are using an international processor that is not licensed in Kuwait, you must switch to a licensed one. Cash on delivery remains permitted but cannot be the only option for digital storefronts.

7. No Surcharge on Payments

You are prohibited from adding any surcharge, convenience fee, or processing fee when a customer pays electronically. The price displayed must be the final price regardless of whether the customer pays by KNET, credit card, Apple Pay, or cash. This is a frequently violated requirement that MOCI has flagged as a priority enforcement target.

8. Arabic Invoices for Every Transaction

Every sale must generate an invoice in Arabic. Digital invoices are acceptable — they can be sent via email, WhatsApp, or any other messaging channel. The key requirement is that the invoice exists, is in Arabic, and is delivered to the customer at or immediately after the time of purchase.

9. Invoice Includes All Required Fields

Each invoice must contain specific information as defined by the decree: your business name and MOCI registration number, the customer's name, a clear description of the product or service, the unit price, the quantity, any applicable taxes or fees, the total amount, the date of the transaction, and a unique sequential invoice number. Missing any of these fields makes the invoice non-compliant.

10. Influencer Contracts Documented

If you engage any influencer, content creator, or social media personality to promote your products, you must have a written contract in place before the promotion begins. The contract should specify the scope of work, the compensation (whether monetary or in-kind), the timeline, and the disclosure requirements. Verbal agreements are not sufficient.

11. Influencer Records Kept 5 Years

All documents related to influencer engagements — including contracts, communications, payment receipts, and copies of the promotional content itself — must be retained for a minimum of five years from the date of the last interaction. This retention requirement applies even after the influencer relationship ends. Digital storage is acceptable provided the records are easily retrievable.

12. Customer Complaint Process

You must establish and publish a formal process for handling customer complaints. This process should include how to submit a complaint, what information the customer should provide, the expected response time, and the escalation path if the initial response is unsatisfactory. MOCI may review your complaint handling records during audits.

13. Privacy Policy Published

If you collect any personal data from customers — and virtually every online seller does — you must have a published privacy policy. The policy should explain what data you collect, why you collect it, how you store and protect it, whether you share it with third parties, and how customers can request deletion of their data. The policy must be linked from your storefront and accessible before the customer completes a purchase.

14. Terms and Conditions Published

Your storefront must include a terms and conditions document that covers the key aspects of the buyer-seller relationship: order processing, payment terms, delivery logistics, liability limitations, intellectual property rights, and dispute resolution procedures. This document protects both you and your customers and is a standard requirement under the decree.

15. Delivery Timeline Disclosed

For every product or service, you must disclose the expected delivery timeline before the customer completes the purchase. This can be a specific date range (e.g., 3–5 business days) or a maximum delivery time. The actual delivery must be within the disclosed timeframe. Persistent delivery delays without updating the disclosed timeline can be treated as a violation.

16. Product Warranty Information

For products that carry a warranty — either manufacturer's warranty or seller's warranty — you must clearly disclose the warranty terms before purchase. This includes the warranty duration, what it covers, what it excludes, and how the customer can make a warranty claim. Products without a warranty should state this clearly to avoid misunderstandings.

17. Contact Information Visible

Your storefront must display clear contact information that allows customers to reach you for questions, support, or complaints. This should include at minimum a phone number or WhatsApp number and an email address. A physical address is recommended but not strictly required for online-only sellers. The contact information must be easy to find, not buried in small print.

18. After-Sales Support Process

You must have a documented after-sales support process that covers how customers can get help after their purchase. This includes support for defective products, warranty claims, usage questions, and any other post-purchase needs. The process should be published on your storefront alongside your return and complaint policies.

How to Use This Checklist

We recommend going through each item systematically. For each requirement, ask yourself three questions: (1) Do I meet this requirement today? (2) If not, what specific action do I need to take? (3) When will I complete that action? Set a deadline for each item and track your progress weekly. By working through two to three items per week, you can achieve full compliance in six weeks.