Kuwait
Kuwait Introduces New Media Law, Bringing Influencers, Bloggers and Vloggers Under Clearer Regulations: Kuwait has introduced a comprehensive new media regulation framework that brings social media influencers, bloggers, vloggers, digital publishers and online advertisers under clearer legal requirements, marking a significant development in the country’s rapidly evolving media landscape.
Decree-Law No. 102 of 2026, promulgating the Media Regulation Law, was published in Kuwait’s Official Gazette, Kuwait Al-Youm, in early October. The legislation consolidates several existing media laws and extends the regulatory framework to digital publishing, social media advertising, online news services and other forms of professional media activity.
The law reflects the growing influence of digital platforms, where individual creators and online publishers can reach large audiences, promote commercial products and shape public opinion without operating through traditional media organisations.
For Kuwait’s expanding community of content creators, influencers and digital entrepreneurs, the new framework introduces clearer responsibilities concerning licensing, advertising disclosures, accuracy and professional conduct.
A Unified Framework for Traditional and Digital Media
The new legislation replaces three previous laws: Law No. 3 of 2006 governing publications and publishing, Law No. 61 of 2007 governing audiovisual media, and Law No. 8 of 2016 regulating electronic media.
By bringing these areas together under one framework, Kuwait aims to address regulatory gaps created by technological developments and the rapid expansion of digital media.
The law covers a broad range of activities, including newspapers, publications, broadcasting, electronic news platforms, news agencies, foreign media correspondents, artistic production companies, cinema, advertising and social media promotional activities.
It also establishes provisions for violations and penalties involving unlicensed media operations and breaches of applicable requirements.
The legislation is scheduled to take effect six months after its publication in the Official Gazette. Executive regulations are to be issued to establish the detailed procedures and technical requirements necessary for implementation.
Existing media operators covered by the law will have a further six months from the issuance of those executive regulations to regularise their status.
Who Qualifies as a Social Media Influencer?
One of the most significant aspects of the new framework is its treatment of professional social media influencers.
The law addresses individuals who create, produce, publish or broadcast media, advertising, promotional or marketing content for the public as part of professional or commercial activities.
This includes content promoting people, products, services, brands and commercial events. The framework covers activity conducted through a creator’s own account as well as promotional work undertaken on behalf of businesses or other organisations.
The detailed criteria for determining which creators require licences will be established through the executive regulations.
Importantly, the legislation distinguishes ordinary personal social media use from professional or commercial activity. Personal accounts used exclusively for personal expression are exempt from media outlet licensing requirements. However, creators who use their accounts for commercial promotions may fall within the licensing framework.
This distinction will be particularly important for individuals who have gradually transformed personal Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or other social media accounts into professional businesses.
Licensing Requirements for Influencers and Advertisers
The law introduces licensing requirements for covered social media advertising and promotional activities.
The rules apply to relevant activities targeting audiences in Kuwait, including those conducted by Kuwaiti citizens, residents and visitors. Overseas creators and international promotional campaigns targeting the Kuwaiti market may also be affected.
The framework addresses both paid and unpaid promotional arrangements, including circumstances in which influencers receive gifts, free products, complimentary services, trial experiences or other benefits in exchange for promotional content.
Licences for influencers and advertisers are stipulated to be valid for two years and renewable for successive two-year periods. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, and the Ministry of Information is required to decide on applications within 60 days of receiving them. If no decision is issued within that period, the application is considered rejected.
The detailed application procedures, eligibility criteria and administrative requirements are to be clarified through the implementing regulations.
Sponsored Content Must Be Clearly Disclosed
A central objective of the new framework is to improve transparency in digital advertising and protect consumers from misleading promotions.
Influencers and advertisers must distinguish commercial content from ordinary personal posts and disclose relevant sponsorship arrangements. The rules address financial payments, gifts, free trials and other benefits connected with promotional activity.
Advertising must provide accurate information about the products or services being promoted. False, exaggerated or misleading claims that could deceive consumers are prohibited.
For example, a creator promoting a restaurant, hotel, beauty treatment, property, healthcare service or consumer product may need to consider whether the content constitutes regulated advertising rather than an independent personal recommendation.
Businesses and agencies working with influencers also have responsibilities. Under Kuwait’s separate Digital Commerce Law, Decree-Law No. 10 of 2026, relevant businesses must maintain influencer agreements and transaction records for at least five years and use verifiable payment methods consistent with applicable banking and anti-money-laundering requirements.
The digital-commerce legislation also addresses misleading commercial practices and the information supplied to consumers through online advertising.
Together, the two laws establish a more structured environment for influencer marketing and digital commerce.
Rules Cover Giveaways, Children and Consumer Protection
The new media framework also addresses promotional activities that have become common across social media platforms.
Online contests, prize draws and giveaways may require prior permits. The law includes provisions intended to protect children involved in commercial marketing, including requirements for written parental or legal-guardian permission when minors are featured.
These measures reflect concerns about transparency, consumer protection and the commercial use of social media audiences.
Creators and businesses will need to assess their activities carefully as the detailed implementation rules become available.
Digital News Platforms and Bloggers Face Separate Considerations
The legislation also clarifies the position of electronic news services, news agencies and digital publications.
An individual occasionally sharing personal opinions online is not necessarily operating a professional media outlet. However, an account that systematically publishes news, current-affairs reporting or specialised information as a professional operation may fall within a different regulatory category.
Digital publishers and news organisations must therefore determine whether their activities require media licensing and comply with the applicable standards.
The distinction is particularly relevant to independent journalists, online newspapers, niche industry publications and digital news platforms that operate across national borders.
For publishers, accuracy, verification, responsible reporting and respect for privacy remain important professional considerations. Content published online can spread rapidly, and unverified photographs, videos or allegations can cause significant reputational and legal consequences.
The law also provides for potential restrictions on media accounts and websites in certain circumstances involving violations, subject to the applicable legal provisions and procedures.
Artificial Intelligence Adds a New Dimension
The regulatory changes come as artificial intelligence increasingly influences the production and distribution of digital content.
AI tools can generate realistic photographs, videos, voices, interviews and other material that may be difficult for audiences to distinguish from authentic recordings.
For professional publishers and creators, these developments increase the importance of checking the authenticity of material, avoiding deceptive representations and considering whether audiences should be informed when content has been substantially generated or altered.
The broader modernisation of Kuwait’s media framework reflects the need to address new publishing technologies and forms of public communication. The specific obligations applicable to AI-generated material will depend on the relevant provisions and implementing rules.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The new legislation establishes financial and administrative penalties for specified violations.
Under Articles 55 and 56, violations involving covered commercial advertising, brand promotion, product reviews or contests conducted without the required licence, as well as certain failures to disclose sponsored content or the publication of misleading information intended to deceive consumers, can attract fines ranging from KD 1,000 to KD 50,000.
The framework also provides for administrative measures, including notices, warnings, suspension or revocation of licences, depending on the violation and applicable procedures.
In certain cases, courts may order a news website or social media account to be temporarily blocked or closed for up to one year. Repeat violations within the period specified by law can lead to more severe consequences.
The penalties underscore the importance of understanding the licensing requirements rather than assuming that activity conducted through a personal social media account is automatically exempt.
Government and Journalists’ Association Welcome Modernisation
Kuwait’s acting Minister of Information and Culture, Omar Al-Omar, described the legislation as an important step towards modernising the country’s media regulatory framework.
The government has presented the law as an effort to balance media freedoms with professional responsibility, protection of individual rights and the requirements of a changing digital economy.
The Kuwait Journalists Association has also welcomed the new framework in principle, noting that the previous laws had struggled to keep pace with technological changes. The association has expressed hope that the executive regulations will support a contemporary media environment while preserving press freedom and professional standards.
The law affirms the principles of freedom of opinion, expression, press, printing and publishing within the legal limits relating to public order, individual rights, national security and other protected interests.
The implementing regulations will be important in determining how the new requirements operate in practice.
What Content Creators and Media Businesses Should Do
As Kuwait prepares to implement the new framework, influencers, bloggers, vloggers, publishers, marketing agencies and businesses should review their activities and establish whether they fall within the licensing requirements.
Key practical steps include:
- Review account activity: Determine whether a social media account is used exclusively for personal expression or for professional media and commercial promotion.
- Check licensing obligations: Identify the relevant media or advertising licence requirements once the implementing procedures are issued.
- Disclose commercial relationships: Clearly identify sponsored posts and relevant benefits, including gifts and free products or services.
- Verify advertising claims: Ensure product descriptions, endorsements and promotional statements are accurate and not misleading.
- Maintain business records: Preserve relevant contracts, payment records and campaign documentation in accordance with applicable law.
- Protect privacy: Exercise care when filming or publishing material involving children, private conversations or personal information.
- Review cross-border campaigns: International creators and agencies targeting Kuwait should assess whether their activities fall within the country’s regulatory scope.
These steps can help creators and businesses prepare for the transition, although the precise obligations will depend on the final implementing regulations and the nature of each activity.
A New Chapter for Kuwait’s Digital Media Industry
Kuwait’s new Media Regulation Law represents a significant change in the relationship between digital content creation and professional media regulation.
Influencers and online publishers have become important participants in advertising, journalism, entertainment and public communication. As their audiences and commercial influence have grown, questions surrounding transparency, accountability and consumer protection have become increasingly important.
The new framework seeks to bring traditional media and newer digital activities under a more unified regulatory structure while retaining legal protections for freedom of expression.
For creators and media businesses, the central message is clear: digital platforms offer substantial opportunities, but professional and commercial activity carries responsibilities.
As the executive regulations are developed and the law approaches implementation, the coming months will be important for influencers, publishers, advertisers and businesses seeking to understand and comply with Kuwait’s evolving media requirements.
