KUWAIT: An Amiri decree has been issued abolishing the Public Authority for Roads and Transport, established under law no. 115 of 2014, and transferring its departments to the ministry of public works and the ministry of interior. Under the decree, departments whose mandates were transferred to the authority will move to the ministry of public works, with the exception of the land transport department and supervision of the traffic bank project, which will be transferred to the ministry of interior.
The decree stipulates that the two ministries will assume all rights and obligations of the authority, with assets and movable property allocated accordingly. The final accounts of the authority’s budget will be prepared for the period from April 1, 2025 until the decree comes into force, and the budget will be transferred to the two ministries in coordination with the ministry of finance. The minister of public works will issue decisions transferring employees within a period not exceeding six months, while preserving all their rights and job grades.
Separately, the interior ministry on Wednesday issued a stern warning to Kuwaiti bird hunters to get approvals from Iraqi authorities before hunting in the Iraqi desert. The ministry said in a statement that Kuwaitis who fail to get the official approvals from Iraqi authorities will be subjected to legal procedures in Iraq and also when they return to Kuwait.
The ministry pointed out that a number of citizens have defied regulations by hunting within Iraqi territory without the necessary permits, adding that this exposes the perpetrators to legal actions in Iraq including the confiscation of the vehicles, weapons, birds and equipment, besides taking legal action against violators. Over the past few months, Iraq has arrested a number of Kuwaitis for violating the law by hunting without prior approvals. In October, Iraq said it arrested three Kuwaiti hunters for violating the rules.
Public holiday on January 1
The Cabinet announced a holiday for government bodies and entities on Thursday, January 1, 2026, for New Year celebrations. Regular work will resume on Sunday, January 4, 2026, according to a decree by the Cabinet during its weekly meeting on Wednesday.
More diesel tankers seized
The interior ministry said Wednesday security forces, as part of a crackdown on a recently-dismantled diesel smuggling gang, sized 10 more tanker trucks in Khuwaisat in the northern Jahra governorate. The tankers were intercepted before smuggling diesel outside the country, the ministry said, noting that their customs data were rigged.
Death sentences upheld
The court of appeals on Wednesday upheld the death penalty against four Iranians convicted of attempting to smuggle 322 kg of hashish. The men were arrested by Kuwait’s coastguards in March 2024 while trying to smuggle the drugs by boat into Kuwait. The case will now go to the court of cassation, the highest court in Kuwait, for a final verdict.
