1,664,000 expats hold driving license in Kuwait; Kuwaitis own more cars

Expats in this country hold a total of 1,664,000 valid driving licenses, while those issued to Kuwaitis is only 624,000.

Interior Minister Sheikh Khaled AlJarrah said the total number of vehicles registered to Kuwaitis is 1,039,000, while those owned by expats number only 616,000. He added 22,000 driving licenses of Kuwaitis and 15,000 of expats were withdrawn for committing severe traffic violations.

Sheikh Khaled elaborated that licenses held by Kuwaitis include 607,000 private licenses, 10,000 general, 6,400 for bikes and 146 for construction machinery, while those issued to expats include 909,000 general licenses, 730,000 private ones, 6,200 for bikes and 18,000 for construction machinery.

Interior ministry and the manpower authority are electronically linked to verify applicants’ job titles and minimum salary conditions for expats. Degrees are verified through applicants’ embassies and the foreign ministry. Licenses issued to expat drivers and mandoubs are cancelled if they change their profession or their residencies expire. If an expat returns to Kuwait, they can file a new application for a license after two years.