The new Kuwaiti media regulation law unifies legislation and eliminates prior censorship of most activities

The new Kuwaiti media regulation law represents a comprehensive reformulation of the media system. It unifies in one piece of legislation the regulation of the press, publications, audio-visual media, and electronic media, and repeals the three previous laws regulating these sectors.

The law expands the scope of regulation to include social media platforms, advertisements, content industry, news agencies, reporters, production and cinema companies, and artistic concerts, while tightening penalties for violators of the provisions of this law, and those who engage in media activity without a license, with financial fines, in addition to imposing administrative penalties.

The new law abolishes prior censorship on media activities (as stipulated), and on books and publications that are displayed in official book fairs, while maintaining censorship on the activity of showing cinematic films, books, and non-periodical publications that are printed or published within the country.

On Sunday, the Official Gazette (Kuwait Al-Youm) published Decree Law No. 102 of 2026 issuing the media regulation law. The decree repeals the three previous laws in the field of printing and publishing, audio-visual media, and electronic media.

The explanatory memorandum explained that this law aims to address the legislative gaps resulting from rapid technological developments, while consolidating the constitutional principles governing press freedoms and freedom of expression.

The memorandum indicated that this law was based on flexible legislative engineering. The legislative text focused on establishing comprehensive principles and provisions, referring emerging detailed, procedural and technical issues to its executive regulations, to ensure keeping pace with technical changes quickly and efficiently.

The explanatory memorandum indicated that this law devoted space to affirming the general and constitutional principles governing media activity, foremost of which is ensuring freedom of opinion and expression, the press, printing, and publishing.

The explanatory memorandum specified the scope of organizing media patterns that have emerged over time, such as technical terms related to broadcasting, rebroadcasting, frequency, channel, station, and programs, in addition to the new concepts, such as electronic media, the electronic media outlet, its owner, its user, the electronic domain, and social media platforms.

The explanatory memorandum affirmed that freedom of opinion is guaranteed, and that every person has the right to express his opinion and publish it verbally, in writing, or otherwise, without prejudice to rights and freedoms, and within the limits determined by law to protect public order and morals, respect the rights, dignity and reputation of others, and preserve national security and national unity.

The memorandum stressed that “freedom of the press, printing, publishing, and media is guaranteed and regulated by the provisions of this law. Neither the media activities stipulated in it, nor the books and publications that are displayed in official book fairs, are subject to any prior censorship, while the activity of showing cinematic films, books, and other non-periodical publications that are printed or published within the State of Kuwait is subject to prior approval from the competent ministry, before they are printed, circulated, and published.”

The explanatory memorandum referred to the provisions related to newspapers and publications, audio-visual media, technical services for broadcasting and rebroadcasting, electronic media, the activity of advocates and advertisers on social media platforms, news agencies and correspondents of Arab and foreign newspapers and channels, artistic production companies, cinema films, cinema theaters, artistic, musical and singing concerts, and propaganda and advertising.

The explanatory memorandum referred to violations, crimes, and penalties for violators of the provisions of this law, and those who engage in media activity without a license, stating that they will be punished with financial fines, in addition to the imposition of administrative penalties.

Minister of Information: Responsible freedoms

For his part, Omar Al-Omar, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology and Acting Minister of Information and Culture, stressed that “the issuance of the media regulation law represents an important step in the process of developing and modernizing the media legislative system in the State of Kuwait, and establishes a new phase that enhances media freedoms and establishes responsible professional practice.”

Minister Al-Omar said in a statement that the new law embodies the state’s keenness to provide a more open and developed media environment, based on a balance between preserving freedoms, protecting rights and professional responsibility, in a way that enhances the role of the media as an essential partner in the development process, and keeps pace with the rapid transformations in the media and digital landscape.

He explained that the new legislation reflects a trend towards greater freedoms, reducing restrictions, and developing the regulatory environment for media work, while providing a clearer legal framework for media institutions, journalists, and media workers, in a way that supports creativity and diversity of content, and enhances the status of Kuwait and its media environment.

He pointed out that unifying the legislation regulating the media into one law contributes to simplifying procedures, achieving greater legislative clarity and stability, in addition to creating a stimulating environment for investment and innovation in the media and content industry sector.