Kuwait has officially introduced commercial licensing for sea taxis, marine recreation, and coastal waterborne enterprise, unlocking private-sector investment across its Arabian Gulf coastline and setting up crucial connectivity for inbound leisure packages.
The legal framework was enacted under Ministerial Resolution No. 184 of 2026, issued by Abdulaziz Al-Marzouq, Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment and Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry.
The decree introduces commercial activity codes across passenger transit, experiential leisure, and maritime logistics. Authorises have licensed sea taxi service operators to launch point-to-point waterborne transit, scenic coastal circuits, and scheduled passenger routes.
Operators are cleared to establish seasonal water sports hubs, anchored leisure platforms, and floating beach clubs. The decree formalises certifications for maritime sports, diving academies, and coastal leisure navigation, and more.
For regional destination management companies (DMCs), hotel concierges, and charter brokers, the resolution resolves a long-standing regulatory bottleneck that restricted inter-coastal leisure itineraries.
The immediate commercial beneficiary is Kuwait's offshore island tourism. State-owned Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC) is currently accelerating the mega-redevelopment of Failaka Island into an eco-heritage and luxury resort hub, alongside ongoing waterfront revitalisation projects stretching across Balajat Beach, Al-Jahra Corniche, and Ras Al-Ardh.
With legal sea taxis now permitted, tour operators can transition from chartering ad-hoc industrial barges or private fishing boats to packaging scheduled, high-end water taxi excursions linking mainland marina hotels directly with Failaka’s heritage archaeological sites and southern coastal resorts.
The resolution took effect upon its publication in the official gazette, Kuwait Alyoum, with licensing applications now open to domestic and regional operators.