The total number of drivers holding valid roaming taxi permits in the country is 9,647 as of March 28. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah informed this as a response to an inquiry by MP Abdulkareem Al-Kandari.

Sheikh Khaled added that the conditions for roaming taxi permit includes holding a general driving license, having a good reputation, not be convicted for disgraceful crimes or felonies, not being involved in serious accidents or driving under the effect of drugs, alcohol or mind-altering substances, passing a test on Kuwait’s geography, being able to speak both Arabic and English, work full time and renew the permit annually.

The ministry followed some measures to help reduce traffic congestions, including suspending the issuance of further roaming taxi commercial licenses and limiting the maximum number of taxis owned by a company to 30.