New driving license validity periods: 15 years for Kuwaitis, 5 for expats, 66,584 driving licenses cancelled

KUWAIT CITY, July 27: The Official Gazette Kuwait Alyom has published Ministry of Interior Resolution No. 1257 of 2025, introducing amendments to Clause 1 of Article 85 of Ministerial Resolution No. 81/76, which outlines the Executive Regulations of the Traffic Law and its amendments.

According to the revised clause, a "Private License" is now defined as a license issued to operate private vehicles carrying no more than seven passengers, transport vehicles with a load capacity not exceeding two tons, taxis, and ambulances.

The updated regulation sets new validity periods based on the holder’s residency status:


15 years for Kuwaiti citizens and citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries,
5 years for expatriates (non-Kuwaitis),
Valid according to card review for stateless (Bedouns)
The resolution also authorizes the acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior to enforce the decision, which takes effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette.

In a related update, the Ministry confirmed the cancellation of 66,584 driving licenses, though no further details were provided regarding the reason for the cancellations.