Food trucks now limited to five sites • No tolerance for trucks violating regulations
KUWAIT: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has canceled more than 1,100 food truck licenses after finding they were inactive, expired or failed to meet regulatory requirements. The move is part of what the ministry described as an integrated plan to “clean up commercial records, redirect opportunities to eligible operators, and strengthen discipline in the food truck sector.”
Commerce and Industry Minister Khalifa Al-Ajeel said the ministry is continuing its regulatory work to develop the food truck sector and create “a more fair and sustainable business environment.” He said the aim is to improve service quality and ensure better use of locations and spaces allocated to food trucks. Al-Ajeel made the remarks after a field visit to newly designated food truck sites. He was accompanied by Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Abdullatif Al-Meshari and Minister of Public Works Dr Noura Al-Mashaan.
The minister said the ministry’s actions are driven by a core objective: supporting entrepreneurs and serious project owners who comply with the law and approved conditions. Protecting compliant businesses is a regulatory priority, he said, adding that there would be no tolerance for practices that create unfair competition or harm legitimate operators. “We will not allow licenses to be exploited at the expense of those who comply with the law,” Al-Ajeel said.
He said the cancellation of more than 1,100 licenses followed periodic and ongoing reviews. Al-Ajeel said the ministry is also adopting strict monitoring measures to detect violations and prevent fraud or misuse of licenses. Anyone attempting to circumvent the law or use a license in a way that harms the market or compliant projects will face “clear and strict procedures, without leniency,” he said.
The minister said five new food truck locations will be designated starting in January 2026, as part of an effort to ensure fair spatial distribution and make oversight and regulation easier. He said the sites will be distributed geographically across several areas of the country, but the ministry has not yet announced their locations. — KUNA
