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Your guide to the employment landscape, working customs and local labor laws in Kuwait.
Capital
Kuwait City
Currency
Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD)
Languages
Arabic, English
GDP per Capita
$33,193.64
Employer Tax
11.5%
Payroll Frequency
Monthly
Lying in the Gulf region, Kuwait is a developed country, and it is the 5th most prosperous country in terms of Gross National Income per Capita. Kuwait houses the world’s 6th largest high reserves. The national currency of Kuwait, the Kuwaiti Dinar, is the highest valued currency in the world.
Major economic hubs:
Al, Farwaniyah, Al Fahahil, Kuwait City, Ar Riqqah
Skills in demand:
Local: 1
World: 2394
Local: 2
World: 5930
Local: 3
World: 6436
Local: 4
World: 7409
Local: 5
World: 10983
982,000
Top Local Job Boards:
Top Local Job Boards
Number of LinkedIn users:
Number of LinkedIn users
Top Recruitment Agencies:
| Job Title | Average Monthly Salary (in KWD) | Average Monthly Salary (in USD) |
| Financial Manager | 2,460 | 8,012 |
| General Manager | 2,190 | 7,133 |
| Business Development Manager | 2,020 | 6,579 |
| Financial Analyst | 1,730 | 5,635 |
| Business Analyst | 1,640 | 5,341 |
| Project Manager | 1,520 | 4,951 |
Listed below are the key points an employer must keep in mind while seeking employees in Kuwait.
The employment contract must be written in Arabic and a second language at the employee’s request.
The probation period for Kuwaiti employees is up to 100 days.
| Date | Name | Type |
| 1 Jan | New Year’s Day | Official holiday |
| 7 Feb | Isra and Miraj | Official holiday |
| 25 Feb | National Day | Official holiday |
| 26 Feb | Liberation Day | Official holiday |
| 10 Apr | Eid al-Fitr (Tentative Date) | Official holiday |
| 11 Apr | Eid al-Fitr holiday (Tentative Date) | Official holiday |
| 12 Apr | Eid al-Fitr holiday (Tentative Date) | Official holiday |
| 16 Jun | Waqfat Arafat Day (Tentative Date) | Official holiday |
| 17 Jun | Eid al-Adha (Tentative Date) | Official holiday |
| 18 Jun | Eid al-Adha holiday (Tentative Date) | Official holiday |
| 19 Jun | Eid al-Adha holiday (Tentative Date) | Official holiday |
| 8 Jul | Islamic New Year (Tentative Date) | Official holiday |
| 16 Sep | The Prophet’s Birthday (Tentative Date) | Official holiday |
| Type of Leave | Time Period | Mandatory |
| Annual Leave | 30 days | Yes |
| Sick Leave | 15 days | Yes |
| Maternity Leave | 10 weeks | Yes |
Payroll cycle
Kuwait follows a monthly payroll cycle.
Minimum wage
The minimum wage in Kuwait is set at 60 KWD per month for domestic employees and 75 KWD for private sector employees.
Overtime pay
The standard working hours in Kuwait are 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week. During the month of Ramadan, employees are expected to work a maximum of 36 hours per week. Overtime is permitted in the country with a cap of 180 hours a year, 3 days a week or 90 days a year. The overtime pay is 125% above the regular rate during daytime on weekdays and 150% above the regular rate during weekends.
| Details | Contributions |
| Social Security | 11.5% |
| Details | Contributions |
| Social Security | 10.50% |
No personal income tax is imposed on Kuwaiti individuals.
There is no VAT applicable in Kuwait.
Employers in Kuwait are not mandated to release a 13th-month salary to their employees.
Employment in Kuwait can be terminated both by the employee and the employer. The employer can terminate the employment on substantial grounds. If the employment is terminated without any grounds, the employer must pay a severance to the employee.
A 3-month notice is mandatory for all salaried employees.
Upon termination by the employer, a Kuwaiti employee is entitled to 15 days salary for every working year (maximum of one-and-a-half year’s wages) as severance pay.
A work visa and a NOC from the General Administration of Criminal Investigation at the Interior Ministry are required to work in Kuwait. Apart from this, the employee will also need a Police Clearance Certificate from the Regional Passport Office.
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