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Talent Wiki - Kuwait

Your quick guide on talent and labor compliance norms in Kuwait

Capital

Kuwait City

Currency

Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD)

Languages

Arabic, English

Payroll Frequency

Monthly

GDP per Capita

$38,123.22

Employer Tax

11.5%

Talent Overview

Lying in the Gulf region, Kuwait is a developed country, and it is the 5th most prosperous country in terms of Gross National Income per Capita. Kuwait houses the world’s 6th largest high reserves. The national currency of Kuwait, the Kuwaiti Dinar, is the highest valued currency in the world.

Major economic hubs:

Al, Farwaniyah, Al Fahahil, Kuwait City, Ar Riqqah

Skills in demand:

Engineering, Information Technology, Medicine, Surgery, Real Estate.

Local Universities

Below are the top universities in Kuwait:

Kuwait University

Ranking

Local: 1

World: 2776

American University of Kuwait

Ranking

Local: 2

World: 6673

Gulf University for Science and Technology

Ranking

Local: 3

World: 7286

Australian College of Kuwait

Ranking

Local: 4

World: 8520

Maastricht School of Management Kuwait

Ranking

Local: 5

World: 11390

Salary Data

Job Title Average Monthly Salary (in KWD) Average Monthly Salary (in USD)
Financial Manager 2,460 8,041.84
General Manager 2,190 7,159.20
Business Development Manager 2,020 6,603.46
Financial Analyst 1,730 5,655.44
Business Analyst 1,640 5,361.23
Project Manager 1,520 4,968.94

Talent Sourcing Tips

Top Local Job Boards:

1KuwaitJobs, GulfTalent, Bayt

Number of LinkedIn users:

895,000

Top Recruitment Agencies:

Cons Consulting Company, SOS HR Solutions, HRInvest

Employing in Kuwait

Listed below are the key points an employer must keep in mind while seeking employees in Kuwait.

Employee Contract

The employment contract must be written in Arabic and a second language at the employee’s request.

Probation Period

The probation period for Kuwaiti employees is up to 100 days.

Public and Provincial Holidays

Date Name Type
1 Jan New Year’s Day Official holiday
18 Feb Isra and Miraj Official holiday
25 Feb National Day Official holiday
26 Feb Liberation Day Official holiday
22 Apr Eid al-Fitr (Tentative Date) Official holiday
23 Apr Eid al-Fitr holiday (Tentative Date) Official holiday
24 Apr Eid al-Fitr holiday (Tentative Date) Official holiday
28 Jun Waqfat Arafat Day (Tentative Date) Official holiday
29 Jun Eid al-Adha (Tentative Date) Official holiday
30 Jun Eid al-Adha holiday (Tentative Date) Official holiday
1 Jul Eid al-Adha holiday (Tentative Date) Official holiday
19 Jul Islamic New Year (Tentative Date) Official holiday
27 Sep The Prophet’s Birthday (Tentative Date) Official holiday

Employee Leaves

Type of Leave Time Period Mandatory
Annual Leave 30 days Yes
Sick Leave 15 days Yes
Maternity Leave 10 weeks Yes

Payroll

Payroll Cycle

Kuwait follows a monthly payroll cycle.

Minimum Wage

The minimum wage in Kuwait is set at 60 KWD per month for domestic employees and 75 KWD for private sector employees.

Overtime Pay

The standard working hours in Kuwait are 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week. During the month of Ramadan, employees are expected to work a maximum of 36 hours per week. Overtime is permitted in the country with a cap of 180 hours a year, 3 days a week or 90 days a year. The overtime pay is 125% above the regular rate during daytime on weekdays and 150% above the regular rate during weekends.

Bonus

13th Month Pay

Employers in Kuwait are not mandated to release a 13th-month salary to their employees.

Employee Benefits

  • Sick Leave
  • Vacation Leave
  • Maternity Leave
  • Paternity Leave
  • Health Insurance

Taxes

Employer Payroll Tax

Details Contributions
Social Security 11.5%

Employee Payroll Tax

Details Contributions
Social Security 10.50%

Employee Income Tax

No personal income tax is imposed on Kuwaiti individuals.

VAT

There is no VAT applicable in Kuwait.

Offboarding & Termination

Employment in Kuwait can be terminated both by the employee and the employer. The employer can terminate the employment on substantial grounds. If the employment is terminated without any grounds, the employer must pay a severance to the employee.

A 3-month notice is mandatory for all salaried employees.

Upon termination by the employer, a Kuwaiti employee is entitled to 15 days salary for every working year (maximum of one-and-a-half year’s wages) as severance pay.

Visa and Immigration

A work visa and a NOC from the General Administration of Criminal Investigation at the Interior Ministry are required to work in Kuwait. Apart from this, the employee will also need a Police Clearance Certificate from the Regional Passport Office.

Streamline payroll and compliance for your international workforce

Payroll

Minimum Wage

Overtime Pay

Visa & Immigration